Page 8

Chapter

Eight

C assius had been glad to be home when he’d sat atop his horse, surveying the city from the crest of the hill alongside Flora. Her obvious admiration had been satisfying.

Actually entering the castle was less satisfying. He could tell from the tightness of the servants’ eyes and the poorly concealed intrigue on the faces of passing courtiers that his father’s state of mind was no more settled than it had been on Cassius’s departure. And instead of returning with a clearly paved path to increase stable relations with their neighbors on the Peninsula, he was bringing back a crisis of his own.

Not that he intended for his father to ever learn the full extent of it. The tether would be his problem to manage and, ultimately, to solve. But the news of the attacks was bound to cause an uproar. He would have his work cut out for him to stop his father from doing something rash out of offense. The fact that he’d given Lord Armand reason to wish to keep his secret, and thus had found a way to enlist the nobleman’s help to defuse rather than escalate the situation, would certainly help. But it was no guarantee that the king would be reasonable.

Most of the guards parted ways with the prince outside the castle. Only a pair of Cassius’s personal guards, the delegation’s head guard, and Lord Armand remained with him as he strode across the broad entranceway.

And, of course, his new bodyguard.

Flora trotted along behind the prince, her presence strangely potent in his consciousness even though she wasn’t in his range of vision. He shouldn’t be surprised, given her presence was in fact a tangible matter. At any given moment, if he stilled his senses enough to bring his awareness of magic into focus, he could sense the invisible tether, with her at the other end of it.

Cassius and his entourage moved quickly out of the public area of the castle. Both he and Flora wore visible bandages, and he didn’t wish to encourage more gossip than was unavoidable. News of the attack on Carrack’s crown prince would spread quickly enough as it was.

He planned to report to his father immediately and in private, before any exaggerated rumors could reach the king. When he inquired with the king’s steward, he was surprised to learn that his father was in the armory. Why would he be there?

Cassius pushed back the premonition of trouble as he addressed the steward again.

“This young woman has joined my personal protection team,” he said smoothly. “She is skilled in defensive magic and was sent with us as a sign of goodwill from Siqual. You will arrange for her belongings to be taken to the suite next to my own, to allow her to best fulfill her duties.”

“The…the suite next to yours, Your Highness?” the steward repeated, his eyes moving between Cassius and Fl ora as he struggled to hide his surprise. “Would she not be better accommodated in the guards’ wing?” He paused, perhaps realizing the impracticality of putting a female guard in a wing filled entirely with men, most of whom were required to share berths. “Or perhaps the servants’ quarters?”

“No, she would not,” said Cassius. “You will place her in the suite next to mine, as I said.”

“Very good, Your Highness.” The steward bowed and made himself scarce. He at least could be trusted not to gossip, but that wouldn’t stop rumors from spreading like wildfire, Cassius knew. It couldn’t be helped, though, so he wouldn’t dwell on it.

Resisting the urge to cast a withering look at Lord Armand, Cassius turned back the way he’d come. The guards preceded him, with Lord Armand in their wake. But Flora waited for him to pass, presumably so she could walk behind him. Cassius tried to send her a silent encouragement, but she didn’t meet his eye, her face as expressionless as any guard’s as she scanned the path ahead watchfully. If not for her clearly feminine shape, she would look like a real bodyguard.

But she wasn’t a real bodyguard. At least, she wasn’t his real bodyguard. Thanks to their unusually candid interactions, he knew she had plenty of thoughts behind those uncommunicative eyes. He wished he could exclude her from the coming encounter.

They headed toward the armory through a maze of passages that Cassius knew well, although he didn’t often traverse them. As a teenager, he’d loved sneaking into the section of the castle dedicated to the royal guard. One of the senior guards in particular had taken pity on his desire to escape the tedium of his growing duties, and had encouraged him to spar with the younger trainees, even privately coaching him when his schedule allowed.

It had been a mutually beneficial arrangement. Cassius had learned to be a decent fighter, and the senior guard in question had in time won himself the role of heading up the crown prince’s personal guard. He hadn’t been part of the delegation to Siqual, however, so the joy of informing him that a young, slim, female bodyguard had been added to his command without consultation was yet before Cassius.

Not that Flora would be serving other duties in the squadron, or even training with the other guards. Not unless Cassius intended to stand around within twenty feet while she did so.

As they passed the training yard of the royal guard, Cassius glanced again at Flora. The thought danced through his mind that maybe he should do just that—it would be fascinating to watch her train. He suspected she would welcome the opportunity, given the interest with which she was studying the training area. But he didn’t like the idea of her pitted against the burly members of his personal guard squadron, however good her grasp of magic was.

Flora looked up suddenly, not quite meeting his eyes before her gaze flitted away, continuing to surveil their path. Cassius frowned. Why was she avoiding his eye? He watched her for a moment longer, noting that she was walking with an extra bounce to her step that didn’t match her somber expression at all. Suddenly he realized that the motion of her hair—the tight, brown tail swinging back and forth like a pendulum—was an intentional means of generating movement.

How useful .

He pulled his gaze away as the group entered the armory, his eyes searching the dim space for the king. Cassius heard his father before he saw him.

“Our military resources are unparalleled on the Peninsula, it’s true.” The king’s voice rang out clearly. “Torrens would be foolish to consider an open attack. But if we are to speak of the combined might of Torrens and Siqual…” His voice trailed off. “I will commission another shipment of weapons.”

Alarm raced over Cassius. Who was the king speaking to, and why was he bandying about casual suggestions of war on the Peninsula?

But Cassius had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly with whom the king was speaking. He rounded a ceiling-high storage shelf with one stride, his fears proved right as a pair of men came into view.

Sir Keavling.

Intense dislike rose up in Cassius, but he forced his expression to stay neutral as he greeted the two men.

“Father.” He bowed deeply to his father, then inclined his head to the foreign advisor. “Sir Keavling.”

“Cassius! You’ve returned at last!”

King Aelius’s enthusiasm didn’t carry much warmth as he greeted his only son with a firm hand on the shoulder. Cassius didn’t doubt his father was glad to have his heir secure, of course. But his next words supported Cassius’s suspicion that he was more interested in gaining information on the attack than actually seeing Cassius.

“So you were met with treachery, Cassius.” The king’s eyes narrowed on his son’s bandages. “Did I not express my doubts about this alliance with Siqual?”

Cassius took a moment to calm his frustration before speaking. “Father, there is no reason to suspect Siqual of treachery. Their own princess was the target of the attack that occurred within their borders.”

“Something they should never have allowed to happen,” King Aelius said. “Surely you agree, Lord Armand?”

The nobleman bowed. “I certainly do, Your Majesty. And I told the Siqualian prince so in no uncertain terms.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” said the king. “I expected no less from you.”

Lord Armand inclined his head. “I do share His Highness’s view, however, Your Majesty. I do not believe that Siqual is the aggressor in these attacks.”

The king acknowledged his words before turning to the delegation’s head guard. “Do you have anything to add?”

His tone was severe, and Cassius didn’t blame him. It had been a significant failure on the part of his guards that he’d been successfully hit by an archer.

“I am ready to make a full report to Your Majesty at your convenience,” the head guard said. “But in answer to your question, I agree with Lord Armand that we have no reason at present to suspect Siqual of involvement in either attack. Certainly none of the men involved wore any insignia or other uniform. Their appearances give little away, but if anything, they seem likely to be Torrenese.”

Cassius didn’t miss the pointed look that passed between King Aelius and Sir Keavling.

“We don’t know that they’re Torrenese,” he said quickly. “In fact, we know almost nothing.”

“A situation I trust will change after extensive investigation.” The king’s words, directed to the head guard, held a threat within them. “One might even wonder why the investigation has not already commenced.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

The guard bowed promptly before withdrawing. Taking that as their cue, the two members of Cassius’s personal guard left the room as well, although they would no doubt remain on either side of the armory door. Lord Armand stayed where he was, as did Flora. Cassius could sense her trying to make herself inconspicuous as she hovered behind him. The king didn’t seem to have noticed her yet, but the more astute Sir Keavling glanced at her from time to time. It bothered Cassius that the man was so perceptive and that he had Flora in his sights. There was no chance of the king remaining oblivious now—the uncomfortable moment was undoubtedly coming when Cassius would have to explain her presence.

“I hope we will know more after an investigation,” Cassius agreed with his father. “But in the meantime we should continue preparations for the marriage alliance between myself and Princess Miriam.”

Sir Keavling cleared his throat. “Surely that would be hasty, Your Highness.”

“I don’t believe so,” Cassius said coolly. “I was present during the attack on Princess Miriam. I am convinced that the Siqualians were as shocked and dismayed by it as any of our group. There is no reason not to continue with the planned alliance.”

“No reason?” King Aelius’s brows were drawn together in a scowl. “You said yourself that we know almost nothing. Do you think I wish to go into an alliance blind? Of course we need all the information before we proceed.”

“The delay is unfortunate,” Sir Keavling said smoothly. “As you are aware, I’m in full support of the alliance, if Siqual is truly innocent in the recent crisis. But surely a matter of a few more months will make little difference, to allow His Majesty to ensure he has all the facts. ”

In full support of the alliance, was he? Cassius held his gaze. And just what mischief will you achieve in those few more months? He didn’t speak the words aloud.

“I think it could make a difference,” he said instead.

The king raised an eyebrow. “Are you so eager to marry, Cassius? I hadn’t thought you motivated by personal interests in agreeing to the alliance. Am I to take it that the princess is just as beautiful as rumored, then?”

Cassius held back his impatience. “Princess Miriam’s appearance has nothing whatsoever to do with the matter. I am thinking only of the security and standing of Carrack.”

“As you should be,” his father said approvingly. “But you must see that rushing into an alliance that may disadvantage us is not to our benefit.”

“With respect, Father, there would be no rush. We have discussed and considered this alliance for many months. If we do not believe that Siqual had any hand in the attacks, then nothing has changed. In fact, I feel that there is all the more reason for haste.”

“All the more reason?” the king repeated, frowning.

“If, as you seem to imply, Torrens is behind the attack, the most likely reason is a desire to stop an alliance between Carrack and Siqual. Would you give the attackers what they seek?”

“Your Majesty, I believe Prince Cassius speaks wisely,” said Lord Armand. “I also was outraged at Siqual’s failure to prevent violence during our arranged meeting. But with reflection, I have come to acknowledge that it is most unlikely that the attack on Princess Miriam was at their behest.”

“So you believe that we should proceed with the marriage alliance?” King Aelius asked Lord Armand .

“I do, Your Majesty,” said the nobleman. “And I agree with the prince that we should act expeditiously.”

The king considered him, and Cassius felt a trickle of optimism. The king had long been in the habit of listening to Lord Armand’s advice.

But he’d reckoned without the king’s new favorite advisor.

“You are wise, Your Highness.” Sir Keavling’s bow in Cassius’s direction did not endear him. “But I believe there is an aspect of the matter you have not considered.”

“And what is that?” Cassius asked, resenting the inclusion of this man in their discussion.

“Lord Armand has acknowledged that he was outraged at the incident. I must assume that the two delegations parted ways under tense circumstances.”

“Of course we did,” said Cassius impatiently. “How could it have been anything else?”

“Perfectly natural,” Sir Keavling agreed. “But that was now some days ago, since which time an attack has occurred against you. If Torrens seeks to prevent an alliance between Carrack and Siqual, and failed to do so using violence, who knows what other means they may have employed since then? You say nothing has changed since your earlier deliberations regarding an alliance, but how can we be sure Siqual continues to be a safe ally?”

Cassius frowned. “You imply that Torrens has convinced Siqual to side with them against us? Why would Siqual cooperate with the kingdom that supposedly just tried to assassinate their princess?”

“You assume too much,” said the king, with a derisive laugh. “Siqual’s king is blind—his position at the furthest reaches of the Peninsula shelters him from understanding what’s really going on in our region. I doubt he has any concept of the subtle campaign of aggression the Torrenese crown has been perpetrating for months past.”

“And if the Torrenese are truly behind the attack,” Sir Keavling cut in, “they will be smart enough to try to convince the Siqualians that it was orchestrated by Carrack.”

Much like you’re trying to convince us that Torrens is the aggressor , Cassius thought angrily. But accusing the advisor aloud would end badly. His father was too much in the man’s thrall. He cursed his own ineffectiveness. Leaving had been a mistake. If he’d returned with a solidified alliance, it would have been worth it. But he hadn’t—all he’d achieved was to give the advisor space to increase his influence with the king. It was already clear to Cassius that he’d made excellent use of the opportunity.

“All of this is a great deal of assumption,” Cassius said, directing the words to his father alone. “We don’t know Torrens was behind the attack. We have no reason to think they’re working with Siqual now.”

“Which is why we must delay any further action on the alliance until we do know,” the king said. His tone was one Cassius knew well. The discussion was closed for the moment.

Cassius knew his father’s position made sense. Of course it was wise to have all the information. And in ordinary circumstances, the delay wouldn’t matter. But these weren’t ordinary circumstances. Returning to Crandell had only heightened his sense that Carrack was balanced on a precipice, and what they did next would have far-reaching consequences for the whole Peninsula. His father wasn’t proposing the delay for the sensible reasons he was saying. He was proposing it because he was being influenced by someone whom Cassius didn’t trust, and whose motivations for being there were unclear to him.

He didn’t like it. He wanted to solidify ties within the Peninsula as a matter of urgency, and the marriage alliance with Siqual was their most concrete way of doing so.

Not to mention , pointed out an uncomfortable voice in his mind, you have a personal stake in formalizing the alliance that your father doesn’t know about.

Cassius pushed back the unease he felt. Concealing the tether didn’t change anything. Its existence was an unfortunate result of Lord Armand’s meddling. It had nothing to do with the alliance itself, and it didn’t change the excellent reasons Cassius already had for wanting to finalize that alliance.

“I will look forward to discussing the matter with you further in the days to come, Father,” he said firmly. “But for now, I will retire to make myself presentable after my journey.”

“An excellent notion,” the king said. His face softened the tiniest amount. “I’m glad your injuries are not serious, Cassius. I know I need not assure you that those who dared to orchestrate an attack against you will be found and brought swiftly to justice.”

Cassius tapped a fist against his chest, his heart not really in the gesture. “May Carrack live forever.”

“May Carrack live forever,” the king repeated, copying the gesture.

Lord Armand and Sir Keavling did the same, but as Cassius turned to leave, the advisor cleared his throat.

“You do not express loyalty to Carrack?” Sir Keavling’s voice had a hint of sweetness that sent a prickle up the back of Cassius’s neck. He followed the other man’s gaze to see that the question had been directed at Flora .

“My new guard doesn’t know our ways,” Cassius said curtly. “I am confident no offense was intended.”

Flora inclined her head in acknowledgment, keeping her mouth closed as any sensible guard would do.

“Your new what?” The king was clearly incredulous, his brows rising as he noticed Flora at last.

“She is a gift from Siqual,” Cassius said, waving a hand as if the matter was inconsequential. “As a show of goodwill after the attack on Princess Miriam. As you have discerned, tensions were high. It was a gesture to demonstrate their continued desire to work together toward an alliance.”

He’d gone beyond stretching the truth now. He was mangling it. But having started down this road, he couldn’t be half-hearted in following through.

The king continued to stare at Flora in astonishment. “They sent a young woman as a supposed guard?”

“Yes,” said Cassius blandly.

“And you took no offense at that?” A familiar storm was growing on King Aelius’s brow. “Surely it is an insult.”

“If not worse,” interjected Sir Keavling. “Have you considered whether she is a spy, Your Highness?”

“Highly unlikely,” said Cassius dryly, “given it was Lord Armand’s idea that she accompany us as a sign of goodwill. If he hadn’t suggested it, she would have returned to Sindon with the Siqualian delegation, to continue her role as a bodyguard to Princess Miriam. She wasn’t even given any opportunity to receive instructions from the Siqualians after Lord Armand’s request was made and granted.”

“What?” The king turned to Lord Armand. “Make sense of this for me, My Lord, because I am at a loss.”

The nobleman cleared his throat, stepping forward. “It is as the prince says, Your Highness. I understand that the situation is unusual.”

“Unusual?” King Aelius repeated. “It’s improper to the point of offense. You mean to tell me that the Siqualian king assigned the role of his daughter’s bodyguard to a woman? One who looks barely more than a child?”

He cast a look of dislike in Flora’s direction, and Cassius had to bite back a retort that would have done no one any good.

“I also was surprised by the choice, Your Majesty,” Lord Armand assured him. “Until I witnessed the attack on Princess Miriam. This young woman’s intervention undoubtedly saved the princess’s life. She is clearly not a traditional guard. But her grasp of magic craft is remarkable, and makes her a valuable addition to any protective detail. She demonstrated as much when she was the sole member of the party to identify that archers were hidden in the trees prior to the attack on Prince Cassius.”

“Did she now?” The king cast a speculative glance over Flora. “She didn’t prevent them from harming the prince, though, did she?” His eyes lingered on her shoulder, although he didn’t deign to inquire about her injury.

“She’s not to blame for that,” said Cassius. “She provided a warning, and the rest of my guards took over management of the matter.”

“Mismanagement, you mean,” the king said darkly.

“Yes.” Cassius didn’t hesitate to agree.

His father let out a long sigh before apparently deciding he was done with discussion of the Siqualian girl.

“I still find the whole situation irregular and unbecoming,” he said. “But it is your affair whom you assign to your personal guard, Cassius.”

If only it was , Cassius thought wryly .

The king was giving a nod of dismissal. “You will have a real physician look over your wound.”

“Yes, Father, I will,” Cassius acknowledged. Was it pure optimism to search his father’s voice for a hint of true concern? He despised his own weakness in needing it.

With one last, shrewd look at Sir Keavling, Cassius turned away, Flora and Lord Armand following him as he left the armory. It felt strange to have the nobleman working with him to win his father over, but he was grateful for the other man’s aid. Galling as it was to admit, Lord Armand’s support had given him credibility in his father’s eyes. The king was used to thinking of the nobleman as being inflexible when it came to upholding Carrack’s honor.

“I will leave you, Your Highness,” Lord Armand said, once they were clear of the royal guards’ area.

Cassius nodded, eager to be rid of him. He would have been glad to be rid of everyone and to have some solitude to think. But that wasn’t an option just yet. He flagged down a passing servant.

“Arrange for the king’s physician to be sent to my suite,” he told the girl.

Her eyes darted between him and Flora as she bobbed a curtsy. “Yes, Your Highness.”

She scurried off, and Cassius turned to Flora. “Come,” he said. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She didn’t meet his eyes.

Cassius hesitated, confused by her stiffness. He hadn’t seen her hold herself so rigid since before she revealed the truth about herself to him.

“Are you all right?” he asked her.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Still bemused, Cassius began to walk. Flora followed a step behind, and the two guards who’d flanked the armory doors trailed behind her.

“Is your shoulder troubling you?” he tried again.

“No more than it has been, Your Highness.”

Flora’s face remained expressionless, and Cassius said no more until they reached the wing of the castle where the royal family slept. His own lavish suite stood on the northern side of the wing, with a view overlooking a pleasant garden and beyond it the northern district of the city. It was flanked by empty suites, occasionally used for important guests.

Or bodyguards forced by magic to remain within twenty feet of him.

“This suite is for your use,” he told her, opening the door before his own.

The receiving room beyond it had been made ready, no sign of the holland covers that would usually shroud it when unoccupied.

“I’m sure you’re eager to rest,” he added. “But it would be efficient for you to first attend my rooms to allow the physician to consider both of our wounds in the same visit.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The phrase grated on him, so woodenly was it spoken. Leaving the two other guards in the corridor to flank the doorway, Cassius strode into his own suite. He found two servants bustling about in his rooms, unpacking items from his trip.

“You can resume that task later,” he told them.

At once, they bowed and withdrew, casting curious looks at Flora on the way out. Cassius debated with himself for a moment, then strode forward and closed the door behind the servants with a snap. Privacy took precedence over propriety on this occasion.

He paused with his hand on the door, wondering why the room suddenly felt more full than it had before the servants had left. Flora’s presence filled his awareness, robbing the space of its usual sense of sanctuary.

Slowly, he turned, leaning back against the door and folding his arms as he took in the sight of Flora standing ramrod straight, her eyes fixed on a space above his head.

They were genuinely alone, for the first time since that initial night at the inn.