Page 11 of My Princeling Brat (Tales from the Tarot #2)

“The vampyre have untold resources in their human conquests, refugees of the War of the Realms, who would throw themselves on the sword to protect their masters. And the fae would be difficult to rule if conquered. Besides that, I am content with my lands and our plentiful resources. These measures are only defensive for now. I have found that the best way to maintain peace is to make the prospect of war as undesirable as possible.”

I found myself nodding along with him. This sort of exchange was not encouraged back home. Usually, I’d make a suggestion to my mother, and she’d tell me to leave battle strategy to her advisors.

“What are your threats then?” I asked.

“In addition to my aunt Catrin and cousin Sinclair, who’ve always had designs on my lands, there are several trade guilds who’ve grown quite powerful as of late and an extremist group called the Keepers of the Light who regard me as a half-breed imposter and wish to usurp me in favor of a full-blooded elvish ruler. ”

Idiots, I thought to myself, for allowing their own bigotry to challenge Lord Vasil’s birthright.

“Are they powerful?” I asked.

“A few years ago, I’d have said no, but they are good at recruiting. I have some spies among their ranks to stay abreast of their plotting.”

That sounded highly suspicious.

“How do you handle the guilds?” I asked.

“I try to maintain good relations with their union leaders. Usually we can come to an agreement before a strike is ordered. When people are hungry and out of work, that’s when they’re more likely to organize.”

“That is a lot of weaponry at their disposal.”

He nodded, looking impressed by my deduction.“Indeed it is.”

“I see now why you don’t allow us to trade directly with the guilds,” I observed.

“I want to know what inventory we’re shipping to other realms, not to mention the tariffs. We rely on trade, but with every weapon we send off, there is a risk that it will be used against us.”

“If my mother were to ever become friendly with your cousin…”

“Then they’d have me sandwiched between their lands and I’d be forced to fight a war on two fronts,” Vasil concluded.

“With the sea at your back and the mountains at your front,” I observed.

“Our borders serve as a barrier, but also as a potential hurdle.”

“A siege,” I mused. “That’s how I’d attack elvish lands. Set fire to the surrounding villages and slowly make my way to your fortress, cut off your supply routes and starve you until you surrender.”

He smiled. “I’m glad I have you as my betrothed and not my opponent, Cedrych, but I’m comforted to know you would not choose assassination.”

“Assassination is for cowards. And whomever you install as ruler would forever be seen as illegitimate.”

“I agree with you on all points, which is why we have military units stationed at our borders, and I employ spies in every realm. Our stores are plentiful and we are nearly self-sufficient in our own production.”

“Always thinking ahead, Lord Vasil, be it battle strategy or the taming of one wayward prince,” I said with admiration.

“Yes, but the latter I do for pleasure.”

He winked suggestively and any witty response I might have conjured vanished in a rush of nerves, for his innuendo always disarmed me. Thankfully, we were interrupted then by a sharp rap on the door.

“Enter,” the lord said, and a woman with a long black braid trailing out of her peaked cap entered the room.

Her skin was the same burnished copper as the lord’s and her eyes were dark as well, which made me wonder if they were somehow related.

I recognized the woman from last night, one of the guards posted outside my bedchambers.

“Cedrych, this is Anika Farrow, my cousin on my father’s side and commander of the elvish guard. Anika, this is Prince Cedrych Avondale of Bivenbriar, my betrothed.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” Anika said with a neat bow.

“You as well, Commander.”

“M’lord,” she said with a nod to Vasil, “training has resumed for the royal regiment and the tournament is on schedule. Messengers have distributed the invitations. We’re still waiting to hear back if the Kazimir clan will be sending a delegation.”

“That would include my cousin, Sinclair,” Vasil said to me. “Any word from the guilds?”

“They’ll each be sending a party, along with their latest technology to be used in demonstrations and displayed at the fair.”

“Excellent. I’d like to arrange a tour of their facilities as well.

I think my betrothed would enjoy the excursion.

” He turned to me and I nodded with enthusiasm.

I looked forward to seeing the elvish innovations and attending the tournament alongside Vasil.

“And what clandestine activities are the Keepers up to these days?” Vasil asked.

“Rumor is, they’ve appointed a new leader, an elemental sorcerer of some kind, though their identity has not been made known. The man—we think it’s a man—wears a mask.”

“Coward,” I couldn’t help but remark.

Anika’s gaze shifted to me. “They’re using this betrothal as a way to stir up anti-fae sentiment and recruit more members.”

That last bit surprised me for my kind certainly had our prejudices, but nothing this organized.

My mother had significant influence over what the daily scrolls published and any opposition to her rule was carefully monitored.

It made Vasil’s commitment to security protocol all the more understandable and my own role in spreading good will, an imperative.

“I’ll speak with my scribe about releasing some profiles on the prince to soothe their ire,” Vasil said. Glancing briefly at me he added, “We’ll commission a betrothal portrait as well. His face is rather pleasing.”

I schooled my expression, lest he revel in the delight that compliment inspired. “I have a question, my lord. Regarding the Keepers, why not have them arrested?” I asked.

The lord smiled indulgently. “Independent thinking is what inspires elvish innovation. And it’s bad form to arrest dissenters who’ve committed no crimes. It’s a slippery slope into extremism.”

I didn’t necessarily disagree; I only knew my mother would have quelled their efforts effectively and immediately.

“I have another favor to ask you, Commander,” Vasil said to Anika. “Cedrych is interested to learn more about our military operations, having served as a captain in the fae forces. I was hoping you could incorporate him into your morning drills?”

“I’d be delighted,” she said warmly.

Vasil then scrutinized me closely. “That said, Cedrych is my betrothed, so any training will need to be done with the utmost care and the explicit instructions not to harm him.”

“Naturally,” she agreed.

“I’m not some new recruit,” I said to them both. “I’m skilled enough to defend myself.”

“No slight intended, Cedrych,” Vasil said. “But my instruction stands. You will not be harmed, nor will you harm yourself while under my protection. Is that understood?” His steadfast gaze held mine.

“Fine,” I said with some bitterness.

“Commander, why don’t you take Cedrych down to the training yard and get him outfitted? Perhaps some light exercise might be in order?” Vasil said.

“Yes, m’lord.”

I nodded tersely at the lord and followed Anika out of the study.

In Emrallt Valley, I was the one who gave orders to my attendants and guardsmen, but not here, not anymore.

Anika opened the door to the metal contraption I’d ridden in last night with Vasil to our rooms. We boarded it again, and I held on tightly to the railing as it lowered us several stories to the ground floor.

At home, I’d have simply flown or taken the stairs, but everything was built differently here, as if an attack were imminent.

I’d memorized the layout of Vasil’s fortress on my previous visit and knew every obvious entry and exit point, including a few that were hidden.

At Crystal Castle, I’d roamed freely throughout the grounds and come and gone at will.

Despite my mother being nosy and overbearing, I’d never been restricted in my movement. I wasn’t sure I’d get used to it.

“How long have you been commander of the elvish guard?” I asked Anika.

“Ten years now. Ever since Lord Vasil took over the crown. It was at a time when there were enemies all around us.”

“And you’re related?”

“First cousins on his father’s side. My mother, his sister, passed away when I was young, and I was raised here in the fortress alongside Lord Vasil by my aunt and uncle. ”

Was Anika the lord’s only true ally in the entire elvish realm?

“Lord Vasil said there are still threats being made on his life,” I said.

“Every few years an attempt is made. Thankfully, none have been successful, but each time, we must tighten security, which only heightens his isolation. I was happy to learn of this betrothal. He tries not to show it, but he is a very lonely man.”

I didn’t want to pry too much into Vasil’s personal life–I knew what it felt like to have people talk about me behind my back.

“We don’t have women in our military forces,” I informed Anika.

Something else my mother and I had butted heads on.

Women were better suited for domestic duties, she’d said, ironic because I’d never seen her do anything of the sort her entire life.

“How unfortunate. Surprising too. I thought the fae were more open-minded about gender roles,” she remarked.

“When it comes to procreating, yes, but apparently not when it comes to battle.”

“Perhaps your brother will be more forward-thinking when he inherits the crown?” she mused.

“Perhaps,” I said, but part of me doubted it. For as long as she lived, my mother would have influence over Godfried and the ruling of the fae. Godfried tended to go along with her missives, rather than confront her head-on. That was always me.