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Chapter twenty

Nerys

S alt was not a remedy for insomnia.

Despite Qiana’s assurances, the salt didn’t help Nerys ignore the creatures wandering the house.

Salt was a condiment, not a magical protection barrier.

Dutifully, she laid it in a line across the threshold of her door and windows with the enthusiasm of a beaver packing its dam with mud, and she checked with her newfound sight to make sure that nothing crossed them.

For better or worse, she had the sight—it was time for her to learn to live with it.

It seemed Qiana was right about the salt, for nothing entered her room.

Though that didn’t stop her from seeing dark shadows, visible only with her stone eyes, moving along the crack under the door.

Nerys didn’t sleep until the sun rose.

Once midmorning arrived, she stirred and yawned. Her face felt puffy—she needed more rest. Lots more. Like peeling back the layers of a rotten onion, the events of the prior night crashed into her memory. If only she had hit her head and it was all a nightmare.

She wasn’t that lucky.

Yet, there was no point in hiding. Just when she had dressed and was about to go hunt down some breakfast, a knock sounded at her door.

“Come in,” Nerys said. It was likely one of the servants coming to check on her.

To her surprise, Idris stepped in and closed the door behind him.

“Oh,” Nerys said with a raised eyebrow. “What do you want?” Idris was dressed fancier than normal, in tight breeches and a velvet coat, and a fine cotton shirt opened at the top, revealing his sculpted chest. Probably to impress Sun Holder Qiana.

They were already on a first name basis—they were probably on other bases too.

As if Prince Idris would notice her, now that someone like the Sun Holder was around.

“I wanted to see how you’re doing,” Idris said, his brow knitted.

“Good. Tired.”

“Were you able to sleep? ”

Nerys rubbed her eyes. “No. I kept seeing things. Under the door.”

“Qiana told you about the salt.”

“Would you trust it?”

Idris grinned. “No. I imagine not.”

Nerys smoothed out her skirts. If only she had time to fix her hair. “I take it you’re not here for pleasantries.”

“No, not quite.” Idris nodded, as if bracing himself. “Qiana and I spoke this morning. She wants to delay travel to court by a week.”

Nerys frowned. “Do we have time to wait? Why does she—” Oh.

Oh. That “speaking” was probably done while the two of them were in bed.

Together. And they probably wanted to take a week to “speak” some more.

It was nothing for her to think of. She had too much to worry about now to be bothered by petty jealousy.

And Idris…he was beyond her now. In every way.

“No,” Idris said, “we don’t have the time. We aren’t sure how many sacrifices Abnar has already obtained, or how many he has left to fulfill his bargain. But Qiana’s concerned that you won’t be able to adjust to your sight before you arrive to court. Not enough to hide it from courtiers.”

“I can do it. We don’t need to wait.”

“Really?” Idris crossed his arms. “Do you really think that you’ll be able to pretend to be a noble woman and gain Abnar’s attention, while hiding the fact that you can see the demons and whatever the fuck else is lurking there?”

Well, when he put it like that….

“Do I really need to hide it?” Nerys asked. “Would it be such an issue, if it were found out?”

Idris scratched his chin and sighed. “Maybe. Maybe not. But it will attract attention and raise questions as to why you weren’t brought to court sooner. Sight Bearers are tools—we want to keep you from garnering attention except in the ways that matter.”

“Makes sense.” It was Nerys’s turn to cross her arms. She missed the days when the potential court “horrors” consisted of potentially eating peacock tongue. “I promise—I can do it. I’ll hide it.”

Idris paused, and then let his arms drop to his side. “You’ve been through a lot, Nerys. This is something neither of us expected.”

“I always knew about Sight Bearers.”

“You never knew what they did. That is, all of it. ”

“I can manage. I’ve been through—and seen—worse.”

“I know.” Idris stepped towards Nerys, close enough that he could touch her, if he wanted. Traitorous heat curled in her stomach. “Which is why I’m coming with you.”’

“What? To court?” Nerys raised her voice. “You won’t. You can’t.”

Idris smirked at the challenge. “Oh, I most certainly can.”

“You’re a prince of Cerdoran, and you are going to court with me…as I try to kill the R?ll.” Nerys scoffed. “I never thought you were stupid.”

“Apparently, there are still new wonders for you every day.”

“Is this for the Sun Holder?”

“What?” Idris’s eyes widened.

Nerys put her hand on her hip. “You’re a handsome prince—surely laying with the Sun Holder isn’t worth risking your neck. Find someone else. Back in Cerdoran.”

Idris paused, his eyes widening further, and then he took a couple steps back.

His mouth fell open—another pause—and then he erupted in laughter, a magnificent chorus that filled the room.

Nerys’s eyes descended into slits. There was a metal candlestick on her nightstand—that would sound lovely colliding with the Cerdorani prince’s head.

“No” ?Idris wiped his eyes once he could speak? “Qiana and I are not lovers. She’s practically a sibling.”

“What? How…”

“Oh, if only I could have someone paint a picture of your face. Horrified and confused at once. And embarrassed! My—that’s an accomplishment? Are you sure you are ready for court?”

“This isn’t funny. How do you know each other, then?”

Idris smirked. “So, the only way Qiana and I could know each other is through fiery romance? Come now, Nerys. Our families are old friends. I knew her parents well. She even spent a couple summers in Cerdoran as a child, long before the latest conflict. She has Cerdorani heritage herself.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, ‘ oh .’” Idris grinned. “But at least you admitted I’m handsome. Today is going quite well for me. And you were jealous, too…”

“I was not jealous.”

“Whatever you say.”

Nerys looked him in the eyes. “And Fina is letting you go? Does she know that you are planning on committing suicide? ”

At the mention of Fina, the grin melted off his face. “That’s dramatic—”

“Is it? Fina showed me the maps of the palace—I have a chance of getting out of the R?ll’s rooms. I have a place at court as a ward.

” What Nerys did not bring up was that “a chance” was unfortunately accurate—it was likely she wasn’t going to escape.

“But you—what are you planning on? Being our bard?”

“Of course not—my magic doesn’t extend to singing.”

Nerys shook her head. “You can’t hide at court. They’ll tell that you aren’t Ca’mailian in a second. That’s why you need me in the first place. And why you aren’t supposed to be there.”

Idris took another step closer to Nerys again, his broad frame mere inches from her own. His chest moved with his breath, his presence surrounding her in every way. “You know…I’m going to take this silly ranting as a sign you’re worried about me.”

“Is that so?” Nerys’s breath caught.

“Yes.” That bastard—didn’t he ever stop smirking? “Don’t worry, I won’t be in the court. I’ll be in the stables. Nice and safe, and able to watch out for you.”

“The stables?” Nerys had to have misheard. “With horses? What do you plan on doing there? Mucking shit?” She waved him away. “Then again…no, go to the stables. I’ll be happy for the sight. In fact, I’ll enjoy it. I’ll visit you often and gloat.”

“I’m sure you will.” A glint entered Idris’s eyes. “Don’t worry about me being found out. I can do an illusion on my eyes well enough, and for my appearance, and there won’t be anyone with the sight in the stables that will tell the difference.”

“In short, you’re going to hope no one with the sight notices a golden-haired giant mucking shit?”

“More or less.”

Nerys nodded, as much she hated to admit it, Idris could manage himself. He’d be fine. As for her…

“If there was a chance my illusion would work on everyone,” Idris said softly, as if reading her mind, “I’d kill Abnar myself.”

“Too many Sight Bearers,” Nerys muttered. No, it had to be her. “And are you sure the stables are better? There could be someone with the gift—you didn’t know I had the sight.”

“I’m pretty confident I will be undiscovered—as is Qiana.

She thinks it’s a good idea I come along, for your sake.

If anyone in the capital discovers they have the sight they won’t be in the stables long.

Having the sight, no matter how poor the person, means a chance for advancement, a better life in a lord’s household.

Who’d stay in the stables with an opportunity like that? ”

Someone who didn’t want to deal with seeing demons, that’s who.

She was starting to think that the wealthy thought that everyone wanted to be around them, and it would never occur to them that that might not be the case.

What he said was nothing new to Nerys, but there were times when it was best to let people talk.

Nerys nodded and stopped listening as Idris continued to discuss the social benefits of being a Sight Bearer.

Riches, positions at court—these were more than a little irrelevant to their issue.

He was avoiding talking about something—she could practically smell it.

“You still didn’t say what Fina thinks,” Nerys said, finally interrupting Idris.

“Didn’t I?” he asked.

“No.”

“Damn.” Idris suddenly found something outside Nerys’s window fascinating.

“You didn’t tell her, did you?”

“Who?”

“Dammit, Idris. Fina . She’s going to kill you.”

“Oh, why do you say that?”

“For one, you look like you want to jump out that window.” Idris nodded in agreement. “And two, she’s never going to agree. Besides, what can you do in the stables?”