Page 73

Interference

Mehl sucked in a breath at the princess’s bold words. Even bound to the wall by a chain and huddled in a disheveled mess on the bed, Tes maintained her defiance. How would Toren react to her demand? Mehl cast an uneasy glance his husband’s way, but aside from the energy thrumming through the room, Toren showed no reaction.

“Very well,” Toren finally said, his expression closed. “Give your bound oath to it, and I’ll find your proof.”

Tes’s brows rose, and her lips parted as though his response had caught her by surprise. “I…I cannot. The chains suppress my magic too much for a formal binding.”

The muscle in Toren’s cheek twitched, and Mehl didn’t have to ask why—his husband dared not use his magic for the task, either. Without hesitation, Mehl stepped forward, catching Tes’s immediate attention, and pulled a simple binding spell into his palm. Hopefully, his well-known protectiveness would be a boon, for the princess was more likely to assume that was the reason for his interference rather than Toren’s troublesome magic.

“Princess Etessa,” Mehl said as he approached. “Do you bind soul and word into this oath, that you will reveal all you know about Ber’s plans and your presence here once provided proof of Ber’s betrayal?”

The hand she lifted trembled, but her eyes were steady on his. “I do so bind my soul and word,” she replied.

She touched a single finger to the swirling energy above his palm, and light flared around them. Power surged through them both, for a moment stealing his breath. His own magic thrummed in time with the binding, though the force of it was on her. Even so, Mehl knew his husband never could have borne it without losing control.

Once the light faded and the spell was complete, he stared down at the princess, and what he saw had him more than a little concerned. She was gasping for breath, her skin was practically gray, and her body shook and shuddered. Had she been in worse condition than he’d thought? Even with her magic suppressed, she should have withstood the spell with ease.

Mehl knelt before her. “Princess Tes?”

Ria rushed over and sat on the bed beside the princess. Quickly, Ria tucked the dagger in her belt and grabbed the other woman’s hand. “I knew I should have been the one to talk to you,” she muttered. “Mehl, what did you do?”

“No.” Tes freed her hand from Ria’s grip. “Not his fault. I haven’t eaten or slept in a day or two. I’ll be fine with rest.”

Behind him, Toren snapped a command out the door, and footsteps rushed over stone. Mehl focused on the princess. She kept her eyes averted, and her body swayed where she sat. Had she always been so thin? Her muscles were too well-formed to suggest her health had been neglected long—one of his first observations of her had been the visible signs of her training. Even so, something was off.

But he had the unfortunate feeling that they wouldn’t learn what until she told them the rest of it.

Things were obviously not what they seemed in Centoi, though Mehl had to admit that he’d always been uneasy in that land. Without fail, King Ryenil hosted perfectly pleasant state visits, but there was a slight edge to everything there that was difficult to quantify. Like his overly protected, mild-mannered daughter. Had the man done something to keep her that way? The defiance they’d seen here hadn’t been in evidence in Centoi.

Several servants bustled in, bringing pitchers of water, food, and a stack of plain-but-clean robes. Mehl stood and moved out of the way, tugging Ria up with him, so that a small table could be situated in front of the princess. One servant placed a plate of simple bread and cheese on the surface, and another set down a mug of water.

“You,” Toren said, pointing to one of the guards. “Stay in here until the servants have finished tending to her. The healer is on his way to examine her again, and you will guard him, as well. I will send a summons for Princess Tes later today. See that she is in good health.”

Toren spun on his heel and strode from the room, clearly expecting Mehl and Ria to follow. “Come on,” Mehl said softly.

“I wanted…” Ria began, but her voice trailed off as she watched Tes nibble weakly on a piece of bread. “Blast it.”

Silently, they left, but Mehl could guess some of what Ria wanted to say. She’d come here with intention, and it seemed they’d interfered with her goal. With luck, it wouldn’t be to their detriment.

* * *

Ria spentthe entirety of the walk to Toren’s study attempting to restrain her temper. Why had they marched in and so confidently messed up everything? She’d been so close to coaxing the truth out of Tes, and without a difficult binding spell, too. But as soon as the kings had walked in, the princess had turned guarded.

Had it been only worry for her that had brought the kings to the dungeon? Ria had known they would be upset by her actions, but she hadn’t expected them to charge in while she was there. Toren, especially. What did it look like to the courtiers to see their kings rushing to and from the dungeon right after the messenger’s news? Just the night before, Toren had chided Mehl for such a hasty action at dinner.

Ria thought back to the moment they’d entered Tes’s cell. Both men had looked for her immediately, and Toren’s face had been pinched with fear. Worry was most likely, then. And if she were honest with herself…Toren’s initial interference had been to see to the princess’s health. After that, though, one of them could have at least asked Ria about her plan. Something. Instead, they’d treated her like an annoying afterthought.

When they finally entered Toren’s office, Ria halted near the door, crossing her arms hard over her chest while the kings continued toward the desk. She could see why they might have been concerned about her, but she still had to fight the urge to flee before she lost her temper entirely. Only hurt ever came of that.

“The two of you should go rest,” Toren said as he turned, only to frown when he noticed her distance. “Ria?”

Ria’s fingers dug into her upper arms. “I hope you don’t think a nap is going to distract me from being annoyed at you. I think I could have gotten the full truth from Tes if you hadn’t interfered.”

Toren’s frown deepened, but unlike during their disagreement in the bedroom, he remained perfectly still. “You were the one interfering without permission.”

“Do I need permission for everything?” Ria demanded.

The High King froze, and his eyes grew shuttered. Had she challenged him too often? She glanced at Mehl to see his reaction. He’d stopped halfway between them, but he was looking back at her with a grimace. Whether in sympathy or annoyance, she couldn’t quite tell.