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Ber paled. “Not without me.”

“No,” Tes confirmed. “Not without you, my love. If your brother allows, we’ll leave Speran here in safety and go together.”

“My nephew is always welcome here,” Toren said, waving his hand. “That is not in question. However, you will be accompanied by a contingent of my warriors. I will no longer allow King Ryenil to pretend that Ber isn’t a prince of Llyalia. And you are part of my family, too, Tes. If either of you disappear, therewillbe war.”

Her breath caught at the fierce words. He meant them. Really, truly meant them. But why? What could she have possibly done to earn such regard? In a sense, she’d brought more trouble than anything to Toren and the others. Didn’t loyalty and caring need a reason?

“Shall I point out your misguided thinking now, dearest?”Ber sent.“Sometimes, love simply is. Strange, I know.”

Though she shot her husband a wry look, she turned a smile Toren’s way. Or at least she hoped she’d managed a smile. “I hope it won’t come to that, but thank you.”

He flicked his fingers in a quick dismissal. “Of course. It is only your right. In truth, I feel I should do more, and perhaps I will. But for now, we should continue our stroll through the gardens. I want as many nobles as possible to see us unified.”

Visible allies. Tes shook her head as they followed Toren out of the Monarch’s Garden. She’d never expected to gather support out in the open.

It felt surprisingly good.

Chapter 35

Old Friends

Once inside the palace, Toren made his excuses and hurried upstairs to join his spouses, but Tes nudged Ber toward the public corridors where the nobles often strolled. Like the gardens, there weren’t many people around. Tes wanted them to see her and her family, anyway. The more who recognized them, the better. Toren was resolved to help, and she would do her best to ensure that the nobles didn’t give him grief over it.

“Any encounters here call for charming, Ber,”she sent her husband.

“Yes,”he replied, his mental voice ringing with amusement.“I’d rather assumed I shouldn’t insult any of my brother’s subjects.”

A couple approached—the Earl and Countess of Balmaris. The lady gasped, and both drew to an abrupt halt at the sight of Ber. But their bow and curtsy were immediate and natural, and there was no hint of unpleasantness on their faces when Ber gestured for them to rise.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Highness,” Lord Balmaris said.

Ber smiled. “Indeed. Belated congratulations on your wedding.”

The lady’s lips twitched, and Lord Balmaris laughed. “It was nearly a century ago.”

“A few months over ninety-seven years, I believe,” Ber said. Tes studied his face in concern. The others didn’t seem to notice, but there’d been sadness in those words. “I tried to keep note of such things even though I was gone, and more so for friends. Perhaps soon, we might have time to converse at more length.”

“I would like that,” the lord said softly. “Congratulations on your own wife and child. I thought there was something familiar about the boy, but I couldn’t figure out what. Truly, we must trade stories soon.”

“And so we will.”

They continued on quickly, but there was a pensiveness to her husband’s demeanor after that. Tes couldn’t deny her own curiosity over the encounter. Had the two men known each other as children, or had they become friends during one of Ber’s visits home before he’d been banished? Either way, her husband hadn’t neglected the people here the way most assumed.

“How many life events do you have memorized?” Tes whispered as they turned the corner to the Grand Corridor.

“More than I have time to recount,” he answered, tipping his head close to hers. “For example, I could have added more good wishes for the birth of their child some twenty-two years ago.”

Tes lifted a brow. “Why keep such close account?”

“We trained together until I left for Centoi.” A slight smile curled Ber’s lips. “And explored the city often on later visits. He was one of the few who didn’t condemn me after my mother’s murder. One should never forget a friend.”

She leaned into him, at least as much as she could while walking, and let the warm sweep of happiness overtake her. Unfortunately, it didn’t last for long. As they stepped into themassive entry chamber in front of the throne room and dining hall, a commotion broke out at the broad front doors.

“How dare you detain me here!” an imperious voice cried.

Tes recognized it at once.

“Lady Hesslefyn, I’m afraid that you aren’t yet allowed entry to the palace.”