Page 26

CALLYN

Two days after I return from my visit with Alek, the Crystal Palace is alive with rumors. Nora and I usually have breakfast with little Sinna in her rooms, so we rarely hear much of anything before midday, but even the serving girls who deliver the food are gossiping under their breath to each other as they pour tea and spoon sliced fruit onto the delicate porcelain dishes.

“I heard they attacked the guards at the main gate,” one is whispering.

“I heard that, too!” the other says in a rush. “They had to call up a full regiment to stop them!”

“What happened?” I say.

“A full regiment!” Nora exclaims. “And we didn’t hear anything?”

“What’s a regiment?” says Sinna.

“A group of soldiers,” I say. “Here. Have a sweetcake.” I move away from the table and drop my voice. “There was an attack?”

The serving girls exchange a glance. One of them says, “The rumors say two soldiers from Emberfall attacked the main gate, and that the king himself had to confront them.”

Apparently we didn’t drop our voices enough, because Sinna cries, “Da!” and the worry in her voice is clear.

“He’s fine,” says Nora. She points out the window, where the sun is shining down on the training fields. “Look, you can see him with the soldiers. Just there.”

“Oh,” says Sinna, her worry forgotten. She goes back to her fruit.

I frown and shoo the serving girls toward the door, but I follow them. I haven’t seen the queen yet this morning, but perhaps she’s dealing with whatever happened. I’ve been engaged to make sure Sinna is safe, however, and if there are rumors about soldiers from Emberfall attacking the palace, I want to know.

“Has anything been confirmed?” I whisper to them once we reach the door.

They exchange another glance. “Nothing yet,” one says.

“The baker says it’s all a bunch of gossip,” says the other. “The king wouldn’t be out on the fields like it’s just another day if anything were wrong.” She pauses. “Though I heard in the kitchen that he sent a summons for half a dozen nobles to be brought to the palace—to be questioned.”

Her voice drops when she says this, and she exchanges a glance with the first. I wonder if questioned really means interrogated .

The first servant adds, “My cousin is a stable hand, and he said that the one who attacked the gates was the King’s Courier in disguise.”

“The King’s Courier!” I exclaim, though a thread of worry stitches its way through my heart. Tycho left Briarlock with Jax a few weeks ago. “That’s impossible. He was just sent to Emberfall.”

“Exactly,” says the second. “ And he’s a personal friend to the king.” She scoffs. “Why would he be in disguise? Why would he attack the gates?”

“I think it’s the Truthbringers,” says the other. “Someone is trying to get at the queen again.”

Behind us, Sinna gasps again, and I sigh, then wave the serving girls out the door. Before I turn, I paste a bright smile on my face and think of something that will distract the princess. “Sinna,” I say. “Should we practice your braiding before your lessons this morning?”

Her face lights up, and I tell Nora to fetch a comb.

While we practice, I wonder when we’ll see Queen Lia Mara—and whether it would be appropriate to ask for answers. When I returned from Lord Alek’s, she didn’t seem surprised by anything I told her. Not his attitude toward magic, not his near-accusations of her sister, not his whispered declaration that he has spies on both sides of the border. When I told her that he wanted me to return in three days with a response, she said, “Thank you, Callyn,” and then nothing more than that.

So I’ve been wondering. Waiting. Unsure if she’s going to have Alek arrested for treason against the throne—or if she’s going to send me back to discover more.

And now I suppose I’m going to wonder if Truthbringers are attacking the palace, dressed up as soldiers from Emberfall.

By late afternoon, we haven’t learned anything new, though the rumors are really quite spectacular. For the first time, I’m almost eager to go spar with Verin, because I imagine she’ll at least know the truth of some of it. She might break every bone in my body, but she’ll know if I need to worry about Truthbringers sneaking into the palace.

Unless she’s working with them.

The thought smacks me in the face, and I can’t even listen to Nora’s prattling as we head down the palace hallways in our sparring gear. Alek’s warnings about someone with power and access conspiring against the queen are suddenly whirling in my head in a new way. We turn the corner that leads away from the royal wing, and I’m so wrapped up in my thoughts that I don’t see the man emerging from a room until I nearly walk right into him.

“Forgive me, my lord,” I’m saying absently—but then I realize I recognize him. “Tycho!” I say in surprise. I have to catch myself. “I mean—Lord Tycho.” I really need to get it together. “ My lord. ”

“Callyn,” he says, and he sounds equally surprised. But then he gives me a tired smile. “I mean, Lady Callyn,” he adds, gently teasing. His eyes shift past me to my sister. “And Lady Nora.”

That makes my cheeks warm, and I’m not sure what to say. For a moment, we stare at each other. I forgot how striking he is—and I’m so shocked that he’s here. It’s only been a matter of weeks since I last saw him in Briarlock—if it’s even been that. There’s a part of me that expects to blink and discover it’s not really him, like I’ve mistaken him for someone else.

“Just Callyn is fine,” I tease back—just as Nora decides it’s completely appropriate to launch herself forward to tackle him with a hug.

“Tycho!” she cries, like she’s known him her whole life. “It is you! Did Jax come with you? Is Mercy here? You were so right about the sweet-cakes in the morning, but Cally-cal’s are better. I met your cat! But Salam is afraid of Princess Sinna, so I don’t see him very often. He runs whenever—”

“Nora!” I snap, grabbing her arm to pull her off him. “You can’t keep flinging yourself at people in the palace.”

“It’s all right,” he says to me. Even his voice is tired. For the first time, I notice a bit of tension clinging to his eyes. “I’ll take this kind of welcome any day.”

There’s a hint of bitterness when he says that, but before I can figure it out, he draws back to look at Nora. “Jax isn’t with me, but he’ll be very happy to know I got the chance to see you both. Mercy is here, though. Well, in the stables. And Salam will get used to you, I promise. Here.” He opens the door at his back, then makes a whispering pspsps sound. “Let’s see if he comes out.”

Nora gasps with delight, but I say, “We can’t stay long. Verin is expecting us in the arena.”

His eyes skip over our attire, as if only just realizing we’re in sparring gear. “You’re training with Nolla Verin?” he says.

I fight not to grimace. “Is that a surprise?”

He runs a hand over the back of his neck. “Ah . . . ?well, I’m not sure I’d pair Verin with a beginner —”

“She said she’s going to teach me how to peel the bones out of Alek’s fingers ,” Nora says, sounding a bit too delighted about that.

“And that’s why,” says Tycho, and Nora giggles.

I’m blushing again. I’m still too surprised to find him right in front of me.

“Come with us,” Nora says. She grabs his hand. “I can show you what I’ve learned.”

“Nora!” I say. “Honestly. Let the man go .”

“It’s fine.” Tycho’s eyes have actually lit up, and for a moment I think he might really join us. But then he draws back. “Next time, Lady Nora. I arrived with another soldier, and I should see if he’s awake yet.”

“Another soldier,” I say, remembering the serving girls and their gossip. “From Emberfall?”

He nods. “We rode through the night. We only arrived quite early this morning.”

Nora’s eyes go wide. “Then it was you who attacked the main gates!” she exclaims.

“ What? ” he says.

I put up a hand. “There are rumors all over the palace,” I say quietly, casting a glance at the end of the hallway, where two guards are stationed. “They say two soldiers from Emberfall attacked the guards at the main gate.”

Tycho scowls. “The rumors here are outrageous,” he says, and now he sounds aggrieved. He runs a hand back through his hair, and his strain is clear. “We just needed—” He breaks off, as if realizing perhaps he’s saying too much, to two people who really have no right to confidential information. “We arrived unexpectedly, and we were held at the gate. No one attacked. There’s no need for gossip .”

I frown. “I’m sorry.”

“Once people see you,” Nora says, “the rumors will stop.”

That doesn’t seem to improve his expression. He’s quiet for a moment. “I’m sure you’re right,” he eventually says.

I study him, wondering what’s behind the tired strain. I think of the queen and all her worries. I think of Alek and all his warnings.

Tycho probably won’t tell me if I ask—but he might.

“Nora,” I say. “You’re always first. Go ahead so we don’t keep Verin waiting. I’ll be there in a moment.”

“But I want to see Lord Tycho’s cat—”

“Go!” I snap, giving her a pinch.

“Ouch!” she cries, but she obeys, turning away. “Come watch tomorrow, Lord Tycho,” she calls behind her. “I can’t wait to show you! You’ll have to tell Jax!”

“I promise!” he calls back, but then she’s gone, and Tycho and I are alone in the hallway together.

It’s so odd to see him here—though I’m sure he feels the same about me. I remember the morning Jax blushed and admitted that he fancied the King’s Courier. It was right after Alek came to my bakery the first time, offering me the silver he’d been promising Jax. Alek stood there and told me about his mother’s death, and it was the first moment I began to trust him.

It’s jarring to remember that now , of all times. Everything got so twisted up so fast.

“What did you want to tell me?” says Tycho, and his voice is quieter.

I blink. “What?”

“You sent Nora away. I assumed there was something.”

I swallow. “I was wondering if you’d tell me why you had to ride through the night.”

He studies me for a long moment.

“ Is Jax all right?” I add.

He nods quickly. “He’s well. I left him safe in Emberfall. I had to return quickly.” He frowns, and for a moment, silence ticks between us. But then his eyes narrow slightly. “Wait—you said there’s been gossip all day. But you’re with Sinna, aren’t you? The king knows why I’m here. Doesn’t the queen?”

“I don’t know,” I say quietly. “All I’ve heard is that the King’s Courier attacked the gates, and that the king summoned people from the Crystal City for ‘questioning.’ ”

Tycho’s tired eyes flick past me, toward the royal wing, and he sighs. “Did something happen? Between them?”

When I say nothing, his gaze returns to mine. We stare at each other in the shadows of the hallway, and suddenly the weight of untold secrets descends on both of us.

But like the moment my silence inadvertently said too much to Alek, it does the same here. Tycho frowns, and he runs a hand across his jaw. “I knew there had to be a reason he was down in the east wing.”

“I really don’t know anything,” I whisper.

“You know enough.” He hesitates. “Is she all right?”

“Yes,” I say quickly—maybe too quickly, because his eyes skip over my face.

While we stand there, his orange cat comes slinking out from under his bed to wind around his ankles.

Tycho looks down and offers half a smile. “Nora will be so disappointed.”

“I think your cat has more sense than she does,” I say.

That makes his smile a full one. “Nora seems to be enjoying her lessons with Verin.”

I snort. “More than I am,” I say without thinking. Then I catch myself. “I mean—she’s not—”

“Oh, I know what you mean.” Now his smile turns into a grin. “She’s a good sparring partner if you don’t mind the bruises. When I was younger, Lia Mara tried to nudge us together, but it only took me five minutes to figure out that Nolla Verin will never be happy unless she finds someone as ruthless as she is. That is definitely not me.”

His tone makes me smile. “I don’t think it’s anyone.” The cat begins to wind through my own ankles, and I glance down, realizing how much time has passed. “I should go after Nora.”

He nods. “I should check on my soldier.”

As I move away, he calls after me. “Callyn. One thing.”

I stop in the hallway and turn. “What?”

The smile is gone from his face, and his eyes are cool and analytical again. “Prince Rhen told me that Lord Alek was released to return to Syhl Shallow. Has he caused any issues for you and your sister?”

I’m glad I’ve moved away, because I’m able to keep any hint of surprise off my face. “No,” I say, and I’m worried my voice sounds a bit breathy. I clear my throat. “No issues at all.”

“For the king and queen?” he presses.

I shake my head quickly. “No. Nothing.”

I hold my breath, wondering if he’s going to press, but he simply nods, then lets the door fall closed, heading in the opposite direction.

As I walk, I consider what I’ve learned. Because he’s right that the gossip is surprising. If the king and queen both knew he was here and the reason for his arrival, there likely wouldn’t be gossip at all. But I felt the weight of secrets between us. He has information he’s not sharing—though he obviously doesn’t have to tell me. I wonder if he’d tell the queen, or if his loyalty is to King Grey.

I hate that I’m thinking about them as being on separate sides.

When I reach the arena, Verin and Nora are sparring with practice blades, and I’m shocked at how much my sister has learned in such a short time. General Solt said that I looked just like my mother, but it’s Nora who moves like her. From a distance, she doesn’t look twelve at all, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was one of the recruits I train with when I join Jacob in the mornings. She’s quick and agile, and it’s clear she loves what she’s doing.

As I watch, however, Verin notices me by the railing, and something in her gaze darkens. I feel a clench in my gut, and I wish I could shake it off. It makes me think of Alek’s suspicions—and now, it makes me think of what Tycho said.

Nolla Verin will never be happy unless she finds someone as ruthless as she is.

He meant it as a point of humor. But just this moment, combined with what Alek said about the former queen and the way Verin was raised to take her place, it feels like a warning.