Unlike the Cedar Palace or the manors in Oulley, which were all a natural reddish color from their red-cedar construction, the grand manor of Eaund was painted a fiery red. The patinaed copper roof threw the red into sharp contrast. Many of the larger buildings in the surrounding village had been painted red as well. In front of the entrance to the manor, a yellow canopy had been erected, allowing the grandilord and grandilady, as well as most of their court, to form a welcoming party in spite of the autumn sprinkles.
Ken shifted in his seat as the dogcart passed a pair of garishly dressed guards at the gate. “I can already see why Mother likes it here.”
Lia chuckled. “As close as the grandilady is with her, we both need to exercise our best manners here if we don’t want more angry letters from the king and queen. Perhaps I should do the formal introductions this time. She may be offended that I chose not to come here, and I’d like to make a better impression here than in Oulley.”
He hated doing it himself anyway. “Excellent call, Mistress Secretary. I shall endeavor to behave in a manner appropriate to my princely station.”
She smiled and shook her head, causing her hood to slip back a little. “I’m serious.”
He waved a hand flippantly. “Well, there is no pleasing you then, for I cannot possibly adopt a more serious manner of speech.”
She looked at the crowd as they were pulling up. “I’m ignoring you,” she said, but the faint dimple in her cheek told him he’d won his endless game of making Lia crack.
“That is highly impolite,” he whispered with feigned shock.
The dimple deepened, and Ken grinned.
The cart stopped under the canopy, allowing them to exit and pull back the hoods from their ponchos. A towering man stepped forward. His rich cobalt jacket and pants were covered in silver embroidery, and his long black hair was pulled back in a thin braid. His wife wore a matching gown, and black, eagle-like wings sprouted from her shoulders.
Lia curtsied. “Your Highness, may I present Grandilord Roderick and Grandilady Wilmarie. Your Graces, may I humbly present His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Kennard, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Conora. They thank you for your generous hospitality.”
The noble couple bowed and curtsied, and their courtiers followed suit.
“The pleasure is all ours, Your Highnesses,” Grandilord Roderick said. “We are honored that you grace us with your presence. Our staff will take your things and have them arranged in your rooms while we show you the manor.”
No one else seemed to notice the look of panic that crossed Lia’s face. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Grandilady Wilmarie smiled. “Please, come inside.”
Ken waited until the nobles turned toward the entrance before leaning down and whispering to Lia, “Everything okay?”
“I don’t like people going through my things,” she whispered back as they followed their hosts inside.
She was as cagey as she’d been about the puzzle box a few months prior. When had she become so secretive with him? And what could she have to hide?
Grandilady Wilmarie opened a set of double doors into an opulent sitting room for Conora and Odelia. “Here we are. A maidservant should be up shortly to help Your Highness dress for dinner.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Odelia said.
Conora wasted no time finding the bedroom with her trunk.
“May I have a word with you, Mistress Odelia?” Grandilady Wilmarie ducked into the other bedroom and motioned for Odelia to follow.
Odelia nodded. “Of course.”
The grandilady closed the door behind them. “As I’m sure you’ve surmised, the queen expects me to watch you closely.” She kept her tone light and polite as though discussing the rain instead of a royal threat.
Odelia matched her tone. “Naturally.”
“Although you declined my help before, I would like to extend it again. I promised the queen I would after all.”
No help from Queen Melaine could be good for Odelia. “What would that entail, if I may ask?”
“I’m going to find you a suitable husband. Two months is a little less time than I envisioned before, but I already have a few suitors lined up for you to meet tonight.”
So soon? Odelia did her best to reign in her shock. “Thank you, Your Grace, but I must decline. I don’t plan to— I’m content with my current position.”
Grandilady Wilmarie smiled. “Ah, but what if you found the right man? You don’t expect to serve the prince forever, do you? The longer you wait, the more damage this situation will do to your reputation, and honestly, you won’t find a court more open to your circumstance than this one.”
Odelia frowned in confusion. “And what circumstance would that be?”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice that the prince summoned you to join him in his suite before dinner.”
“In an official capacity, I assure you.”
Grandilady Wilmarie put a patronizing hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, dear. There’s no need to lie about such things here. As long as the prince finds his bride, any pleasures the two of you share need not make it back to the queen.”
Odelia balled her fists behind her back. This was the second time in as many days that the implication had been made. What exactly was Queen Melaine—no, she was tired of giving her that power—what was Melaine telling everyone? “I am not, nor will I be, any man’s mistress. Whatever you may have heard to the contrary is nothing but lies and slander.”
“But reputations are built and destroyed by such things. What you do is irrelevant to what is told about you in terms of your social standing.”
“I cannot control what others say about me,” Odelia said.
“No, but you can distract them. If you act the model of propriety and demonstrate an interest in someone other than the prince in your spare time, you can build a new image for yourself.”
Odelia shook her head. “I don’t have the luxury of free time. When I’m not working directly with him, I’m corresponding with Meria or researching things.”
Grandilady Wilmarie laughed. “I see that the prince is getting his money’s worth with you. Stop worrying so much. Allow me to help with the matchmaking. I know everyone in this court and all of their reputations. And, unlike Doneron, I know how to throw a proper gathering. You can party en masse instead of holding all those little meetings like you did in Oulley.” She walked to the door. “Consider my offer while you change your clothes. We can speak again at dinner.”
Grandilady Wilmarie was gone before Odelia could reply. She sat in a nearby armchair and put a hand to her forehead. What had just happened? And what did she mean that Kennard was getting his money’s worth? Odelia was an official member of the royal court…wasn’t she?
Ken slammed the lid of his trunk. Why was he so angry? He’d enjoyed the convenience of having Lia close at hand in Oulley, but it was proper that her suite with Conora was on the other side of the manor. It was something else. Lia had been growing distant ever since he appointed her, but especially so today. If he could find out what was bothering her, perhaps that would settle his own mood.
Ken slid on clean boots and stalked out the door and across the sitting room.
“Dinner’s not for another hour,” Herman said.
“I know,” Ken clipped.
“Where are you off to in such a fine mood?” Val asked.
“I need to talk to Lia.”
Herman looked confused. “I thought she was coming here.”
Ken put his hand on the door. “I don’t feel like waiting.” He marched out, leaving his bodyguards to scramble after him. The halls were mostly empty as other guests readied themselves in their rooms and servants prepared the banquet downstairs. A pair of guards who stood sentry outside Conora’s suite bowed as he approached. He rapped on the door.
No one answered.
He pounded on the door.
Finally, a startled maidservant opened the door. “Your Highness!” She bobbed a curtsy and stood aside.
Conora stepped out of her room. “Goodness, Brother. What did our door do to offend you?”
Ken pointed to the other bedroom. “Is that Lia’s?”
“Yes, she’s been in there for a while now.”
He knocked on her door, more politely this time.
Lia popped her head and one bare shoulder out the door a few moments later, looking flustered. She’d pulled her hair out of its braid, and it fell around her face in tousled, rippled strands of gold. “I’ll be just a few more minutes. I’m not decent.”
Ken pulled at the edges of his jacket as the room suddenly got a little warmer. “You’ve had twice as much time to get ready as I have. You should be more than decent by now—fine, even.”
She shot him an annoyed look. “I’ll explain later, but for now, you can have a seat.” She shut the door in his face.
He huffed, then plopped into the nearest armchair.
“What is your problem?” Conora asked.
“I just want to speak to my friend. Why is everybody else making it a problem?”
“Maybe because you’re being weirdly aggressive about it?”
Ken took a breath and closed his eyes. Conora was right. He didn’t have a decent explanation for why things were so tense—yet.
“I’m going to finish getting ready,” Conora said. “Try to refrain from knocking my door down, please.” She returned to her room.
Ken waited for what felt like forever. He looked over at Val and Herman, who eyed him warily. Ken stood up. “What’s taking so long? She has to be dressed by now. What is she doing in there, playing solitaire?” He went to the door, put his hand on the knob, and knocked as he turned the handle. “Lia? Is everything okay?”
She didn’t object, so he opened the door. Inside, she had every article of clothing she owned—save for the white shirt and gray skirt she was wearing—strewn across the bed. The desk was spread with books and papers. Darting across the room, she rummaged through things and muttered curses between heavy breaths. She looked up at Ken, her eyes wide with horror. “It’s gone.”
“What is?”
“My puzzle box. It was in my trunk. This is why I didn’t want people going through my things. I—”
Ken gently grasped her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “It’s okay. We’ll get it back. I’m sure if you tell the grandilady—”
She tensed. “No!”
Val stepped in. “What’s wrong?”
“Her puzzle box is missing,” Ken said calmly, determined not to escalate her panic.
Val’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What!”
Ken put a hand up. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure—”
“I’ll take care of this,” Val told Lia, then hurried out of the room.
Ken ushered Lia toward a nearby chair. “What’s so special about that box that has you both so worried?”
Lia shook her head and looked at her feet. “Please, Ken. This is a family matter. There are just some things I can’t tell you.”
Ken scowled. “See, this, right here—this is what I came to talk to you about.” He closed the door.
She jumped up. “Ken! What are you doing? This isn’t home. You can’t close a bedroom door.” She moved to open it.
He put a hand in front of her. “I want a private conversation, Lia. You haven’t been open with me in months, and I’d like us to talk without Herman or Val for a change.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Ken moved out of the way so Lia could answer. It was Herman. “Are you all right? I saw the door close.”
“We’ll be fine, Herman. Thank you. Ken would like you to wait outside, please.” Her voice sounded tired.
Herman said gruffly, “Without Val here, this isn’t a good time for one of your games.” That was his word for their sparring sessions.
“Don’t worry, we’re not. I know how this looks. You and Val can cluck over me like mother hens about it later.” Lia closed the door, then turned back to Ken and crossed her arms. “I’ll give you ten minutes. Any more than that, and you might as well feed rumors to the grandilady yourself.”
“What’s changed? You used to tell me everything. Now you tell me nothing.”
“What do you want to know—besides what’s in the box?”
“What have I done wrong?” Ken asked quietly.
Lia frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You’ve been pushing me away. I feel like you’re always cross with me. What did I do to sour our friendship so?”
Lia covered her mouth with both hands, and her green eyes shone a little brighter. The expression pained him. She lowered her hands over her chest. “Nothing. You’ve done nothing wrong. I just have so many conflicting things to handle lately. Things that are my responsibility. And I don’t feel like I’m doing any of it right. And now you’re getting caught in the middle of my problems because I’ve let everything spill over. It’s not fair to you, I know, but it’s the truth.”
He took one of her hands in his. “Then tell me what you can. With everything you do for me, it’s only right that I share your burdens too. I want to know what you’re dealing with.”
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“Then start with the most recent.”
Lia exhaled sharply. “While you were dressing, Grandilady Wilmarie spoke with me. She already has suitors lined up at dinner tonight for me.” Lia put her hand over her stomach as though she might be sick. “She promised the queen to have me matched before we leave Eaund.”
“What did you tell her?” Ken asked.
“Nothing. She didn’t give me a chance to say no, but I can’t be matched with a nobleman. I can’t…”
It was a thought neither of them could ever complete aloud. They shared the same Gift, but as a woman, it could cost Lia more. No nobleman would marry her without expecting heirs, and childbirth could be risky for any woman, but according to Bertina, no woman with Healing had ever survived it. Wilmarie’s promise to Mother was a death sentence for Lia.
Ken squeezed her hand. “You are not going to be. It doesn’t matter what she promised Mother.”
“What if I’m dismissed for being uncooperative? The king already thinks I’m incompetent. It’s a wonder he hasn’t—” She stared at him, eyes wide.
“That won’t happen.”
“No, it won’t, will it? I thought Grandilady Wilmarie was mistaken when— The king never approved my appointment, did he?”
Ken looked away, guilty. “No, he didn’t. Your wages are still coming from my allowance.”
He hated the hurt in her eyes. It was the same look she’d given him when he’d told her secret to Conora and Bertina. Full of emotion but only one word: Why?
“You work hard,” he said, “and you’re good at it. Father is just being stubborn and spiteful. I didn’t say anything because you seemed so proud of what you do. I didn’t want to take that from you. If I had known it would cause you so much worry, I would have told you ages ago. ”
Lia gave him a cautious smile. “I can’t believe you’ve been paying all this time. ‘Thank you’ feels inadequate.”
“I’ll settle for a hug.” Ken smiled and opened his arms. “I would pay everything I have if I needed to.”
She wrapped her own arms around his middle, falling naturally into the embrace.
“Especially since you’re the one keeping me alive and healthy,” he teased.
Lia buried her face into his chest as she laughed, her bosom shaking against him in a pleasant way. A little too pleasant. Oh no. He hoped she wouldn’t notice, but that was unlikely with the evidence poking her in what was most likely…her womb? Great Giver, that was not helping! An apology would probably be best, but for once, he had no words. She looked up, drawing his gaze to her softly sculptured lips. What would they taste like?
No! He came here to repair their friendship, not destroy it. It was his urge to Heal confusing him. Their talk hadn’t healed all of her emotional wounds, and his instincts mistook his desire to repair them for an urge to Heal. That had to be it.
Then again, the urge to Heal had never made him want to kiss someone on the mouth before…or excited him…
Ken slowly opened his arms and leaned back. Lia lingered for a moment before pulling away herself. He decided to pretend nothing had happened. As long as she didn’t mention it, he wouldn’t either.
Lia smiled. “Thank you. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed to get that off my chest.”
Given the circumstances, Ken had to bite his cheek to keep from snickering at her choice of words as he sat on her bed. However, she must have picked up on it herself, because a touch of pink bloomed on her cheeks.
“I still need to decide what to tell the grandilady at dinner,” Lia said. “I doubt she’ll be pleased.”
“And you’re still worrying.” Ken shook his head. “Lia, when I gave you this position, I did it to set you free, not burden you. I know you won't tell me everything that’s bothering you, but whoever and whatever is weighing on you, I want to you forget about them all for a moment. Forget about your duty to me. What do you want to do?”
“I…” Lia’s eyes searched his as though the answer could be found there. Her breathing grew heavier. “I need to find that box.”
“Lia!” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about that right now. Val’s looking for it. Now, what were you going to say before you distracted yourself?”
“But I—” She put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. “Never mind.”
“Do you need me to talk to the grandilady for you?” Ken offered. “Because you only need to ask.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “I think I can manage it.”
Grandilady Wilmarie was inspecting table arrangements in the dining hall before the other guests had arrived for dinner. Odelia curtsied. “Your Grace, I must speak with you about your offer.”
The grandilady winked. “So eager, are we?”
Odelia stood up straight. “I appreciate the generosity, and the effort you must have gone to already, but I’m afraid I must decline again.”
The grandilady raised an eyebrow. “May I ask why?”
“I would not make a suitable wife for any of your lords or pettilords.”
She looked around, took Odelia by the arm, then led her out and down the hallway to an office, where she shut the door. “Is this about the prince?”
Odelia scoffed. “What? No. Why would it be?”
“Powerful men can get a little jealous when their favorites must find another bed, but—”
Odelia groaned. “Oh, for pity’s sake, I am not his mistress. I thought I made that clear before. My objection is for myself and my Healing.”
Grandilady Wilmarie crossed her arms. “Any of your suitors would see your Gift as an asset, especially if the stories about how Healing feels are true.”
“And because of it, I will die trying to produce an heir if I marry one of them,” Odelia blurted out. Not thinking about it made it easier to say.
Grandilady Wilmarie gaped. “Is that true for every Healer?”
Odelia clasped her hands in front of her, forcing her posture and voice to be as academic as she could. “According to what I’ve read, it is for women. No Healer has survived childbirth before.” Yet. If anyone could save her from it, it was Kennard, but not if she were separated from him. It was a large if, but it was all she had to keep the thought from terrifying her.
Grandilady Wilmarie laughed.
Odelia’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t find this funny in the least, Your Grace.”
The grandilady sighed. “Oh, dear, I’m not laughing at you. It’s that the queen has been wasting her time worrying about you. Obviously, the reason she wants to marry you off is to keep you from seducing the prince to distraction, but—” She cracked up again.
Odelia let out a breath and smiled, praying that Grandilady Wilmarie would not suspect the same loophole she had thought of. “Exactly. The queen has nothing to worry about. Does that mean I’m free to work in peace here? Despite all the rumors about what I actually do, I care about doing my job well.”
Grandilady Wilmarie put a hand on Odelia’s shoulder. “If all you say is true, I pity you, for you will never experience the most enjoyable part of life. Do as you like in my court.”
Ken and Herman found Val just outside the dining hall. “Any luck?” Ken asked.
Val shook his head. “No one will tell me anything. I don’t know if nobody’s seen it or if they just don’t want to speak to me.”
“We can help you look again after dinner,” Ken said. “Everyone else should be coming down any minute, and I wanted to speak with Grandilady Wilmarie before the hall is crowded.”
They entered the hall, and Ken approached Wilmarie near the head of the table. She stood and curtsied before returning to her seat. “Your Highness, I hope your rooms are to your liking so far. Please, have a seat here.” She motioned to the empty chair on her right.
Ken sat down. “It’s been more than satisfactory so far, thank you. Though I must admit, I haven’t spent much time in there yet. Have you spoken with Mistress Odelia recently?”
She chuckled. “Well, you do get to the point, don’t you?”
“She was quite distressed about the prospect of suitors being arranged for her.”
Wilmarie patted his hand. “Not to worry, Your Highness. We’ve already spoken, and I’ll let the men know I was mistaken. Had I known the curse she was under, I never would’ve made the arrangements in the first place.”
Ken scowled. “Curse?”
“Well, that’s what I would call it. I knew the cost of Healing was steep, but I didn’t realize it extended that far. It sounds miserable.”
“It’s a Gift, just like any other. It has its drawbacks, but I wouldn’t consider myself or Mistress Odelia miserable for it.”
As she reached for the cup in front of her, Wilmarie smirked. “You reveal your innocence, Your Highness. You wouldn’t be so quick to declare that if you knew what she was giving up.”
Ken’s cheeks warmed. His inexperience was none of her concern. He never thought he’d miss the quiet pretentiousness of Oulley. Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. “I was wondering if anyone in your court has found a puzzle box…”
Ken, Herman, and Val were on their way out the door the next morning when Grandilord Roderick approached them. “Your Highness, I was just looking for you. May we have a word?”
“Will it take long?” Ken asked. “We were on our way to escort my sister to breakfast.”
“It will be but a moment, but I think it best that we speak privately. Shall we?” Roderick motioned back to the room they’d left.
“Of course, Your Grace.” Ken waited until they were in the sitting room before continuing. “What is the matter?”
Roderick held out a large bag. “I fear I may have some bad news about your secretary. One of my servants found this in her trunk. We’d hoped to ascertain where she’d stolen it from before alerting you; then my wife told me last night that you were looking for it.”
Lia, a thief? That didn’t sound like her at all. Ken reached into the bag and pulled out the puzzle box. “Oh, thank the Giver. Mistress Odelia has been worried sick about this. She was tearing her room apart looking for it. I’ll return it to her right away.”
Roderick blinked. “It’s hers?”
Ken raised an eyebrow. “It’s clearly of Vistan design, with an image of Vist on the top, and was found in the trunk of one of the only two Vistans in the manor. Who else could it belong to—other than Valerzan here? And frankly, it looks a little delicate for his taste.”
Roderick shrugged. “It’s of finer quality than I would expect someone of her station to own.”
Ken clenched his jaw. “Her position doesn’t preclude her right to own nice things. If you must know, her father made it. I could’ve told you that if you’d asked. Next time you want to accuse one of my people of stealing, I suggest that you bring the matter to me before you steal from her.” He turned to the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return this, and I expect you to find a fitting punishment for the servant who did steal it.”
Without waiting for a response from Roderick, he headed straight for Conora and Lia’s rooms. As much as Ken had complained about Doneron’s hollow honorifics and rigid adherence to propriety, he would rather return to Oulley for the rest of the year than stay in Eaund.
He ran a hand through his hair to clear his head as he neared the door. It opened before he could knock, and a maidservant emerged and curtsied before going on her way. Inside the sitting room, Lia was writing in her notebook, facing away from the door. He approached her quietly and peered over her shoulder, then whispered, “Good morning.”
She instinctively threw her elbow back toward his head, which he deftly avoided.
Ken laughed. “You missed.”
Lia turned around to kneel on the chair with her arms across the back. She smiled. “I didn’t miss. I was aiming for the air in front of your face.”
Ken grinned. There was the Lia he’d missed. “I have something for you.” He held up the puzzle box.
She gasped. “Where was it?”
Val sneered. “One of the servants thought you stole it.”
“Well, it’s back now,” Ken said, “and I already admonished the grandilord for it.”
Lia took the box, inspecting it thoroughly. “Ken, may I speak to you alone?”
“Are you sure?” Val asked somberly.
Lia gave Val a stern nod. “Conora already left, so if you would wait outside with Herman…”
Clearly, Val knew something that Ken didn’t, but if so, why was Lia sending him out to wait with Herman? It was strange, but he preferred this cheerful strangeness to the tense mystery of before.
Lia ran her hands over the puzzle box. “You have no idea how important this is to me. Thank you for bringing it back.”
The way she smiled at him recalled the feelings he’d had yesterday, and heat rose from his chest to his hairline.
Ken cleared his throat. “Before you say whatever it is you wanted to talk about, there’s something I feel I should say.”
Lia pressed a portion of the box. “Oh?”
“I was too embarrassed to mention it at the time, but I feel the need to apologize for what happened in your bedroom yesterday evening. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable… I— It just…happened.”
Her cheeks turned pink, but she took his hand in hers. “It’s okay, Ken. It didn’t bother me.”
He took his hand back and shook his head. “I don’t want you to make the wrong assumptions. I don’t— It wasn’t that kind of— I don’t really feel that way.”
As she took a step toward him, her eyes met his, so bright and deep. “You don’t or don’t want to?” It sounded more like a challenge than a question.
“Lia…” he warned. What was she doing? This was a dangerous road to follow. It led to the one line he couldn’t cross. He’d put her at too much risk already; he couldn’t invite more of Father’s ire upon her. And he certainly couldn’t take advantage of her feelings while he looked for someone to marry. Lia deserved better than to be used and tossed away.
She slid a panel of the box. “You told me yesterday to think about what I wanted, to forget everything else.”
Ken put a hand up between them. “That was different.”
“How?” she asked softly as she pressed the box one more time until it clicked.
“You have me to overrule the demands others place on you. I don’t. My obligations stay with me.”
Lia looked at him earnestly. “It’s a simple question. Have you really never considered it?”
The longer he looked at her, the more tempted he was to say or do something he’d regret. He could lie and break her heart, or he could give her false hope. He took a step back. “No good can come from asking that kind of question, Lia. Either answer can only hurt both of us.”
As they had been talking, Lia had solved the box and reached inside. Without looking away from him, she slid the drawer closed and set it on the arm of her chair. She folded her hands in front of her. “Thank you again for returning my box. I have a letter to write, and then I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Ken furrowed his brow. “I thought you wanted to talk. Isn’t that why you sent Val and Herman out?”
Lia’s gaze turned impassive. “It doesn’t matter now.”
After passing her letters to a messenger, Odelia took her seat at breakfast as far away from Kennard as she could without abandoning the rest of the retinue. She wanted nothing to do with his cowardice this morning. If he couldn’t even reject her outright, how could he be expected to stand by her side as she claimed her throne?
Hopefully, Dad could send her the information she would need in Vist before they left Eaund. Without Kennard’s cooperation, she would need to focus on Vist to find a solution to her destiny. Revolutions didn’t spring from nothing. People there were prepared to fight, and if she found them quickly, she might be able to steer them to a more peaceful route.
A well-dressed man sat down next to her, his light brown hair neatly trimmed and a winsome smile reaching his striking blue eyes. “Mistress Odelia, I don’t believe we had the pleasure of meeting last night. My name is Rhonwin, and my father is the Lord of Atmos.”
Odelia smiled politely. “That’s nice.” Had Grandilady Wilmarie forgotten to speak to all of the suitors? Or maybe this Rhonwin thought he stood a better chance to win her over—and by extension gain access to Kennard—because he had a drop of Vistan blood somewhere in his line.
Rhonwin held up a hand, palm away from her, and wiggled his fingers, displaying a shiny gold wedding ring. “I actually wanted to speak to you about a school that my wife and I have started in Losuno.”
Odelia smiled for real. Thank the Giver. Finally, someone wanted to talk about business. Was his wife here to talk as well?
He pointed to a tall, elegant beauty further down the table, who smiled sweetly at him and waved back with her fingertips. “That’s my Moira. Isn’t she lovely? We’ll have been married for two months tomorrow.”
“Congratulations. You seem very happy.” Her smile faltered. If only Odelia could have that kind of happiness. She wished he would get on with whatever business he had instead of rubbing it in her face.
“The school we’re running is for training newly acquired Gifts. Nobles have tutors, but not the commoners, and too many preventable accidents have occurred from young people who don’t know what to do with their Gifts.”
A good idea, but what did this have to do with Odelia?
“Atmos is able to fund the school, but we are in need of teachers. Since you’re traveling around the kingdom, we thought you might help spread the word for us, especially since your position allows you to mingle with both noble and common alike.”
True, but they’d already visited Oulley. Would they want teachers from Vist? A lord with a drop of Vistan blood was not the same as flooding the school with full-Vistan teachers.
“I don’t care where the teachers come from. Losuno is at the edge of Atmos, close to Vist. It would do our students good to have more positive interactions with our neighbors.”
And those positive interactions might be just what she needed to keep Vist from pushing her into a full-fledged rebellion.
“Yes, they might,” Rhonwin said.
The hair on the back of Odelia’s neck stood on end. Was he Listening to her thoughts?
He sighed. “And I was doing so well… Yes, I have Listening. I usually try not to pry, but you’ve been rather loud since you walked in here,”—he leaned close and lowered his voice to the quietest whisper—“Your Majesty.”
Odelia dropped her fork. She gripped the arms of her chair to keep from shaking. Flaming frog nuggets! How could she be so stupid? Decades of secrecy ruined because she couldn’t remember not to think about it in a crowded room full of unidentified Gifts. She had never met a Listener before, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t have been on guard against one.
Rhonwin smiled as though the conversation hadn’t just taken a horrifying turn. “Don’t place all the blame on yourself. You see, Moira has the same Gift as your father, and she has some fascinating thoughts about you.”
He could have outed her by now. What did he want?
He beckoned Moira with his hand as he said to Odelia, “I think it best that we continue this conversation somewhere more private, don’t you?”
Odelia turned to Conora. “I have some business to attend to. Would you please inform His Highness that I’ll find him later?”
“But you’ve hardly touched your breakfast.”
“It’s all right. I’m not that hungry.”
Conora shrugged.
Odelia curtsied to her, then followed Rhonwin and Moira, who walked arm-in-arm up to their room. Instead of a suite like Kennard or Conora’s, theirs was simply a bedroom, though a well-furnished one.
Moira closed the door, then turned and curtsied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”
Odelia panicked, instinctively curtsying back. Were they blackmailing her? What did they want?
“Not at all,” Rhonwin said. “We wish to offer our support.”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but why?” Odelia asked.
“I’ve Seen what is coming,” Moira said. “We want to stand with the victors.”
That didn’t make sense for a pair of Elgathans. “But, if I claim the throne, you’ll be left on the wrong side of the border for me to help you. You’ll be branded as traitors.”
“Will we?” Moira asked. “There is more than one way to claim a throne. And who’s to say that the borders will stay as they are now? Atmos is adjacent to Vist. It would be simple enough to annex, especially with the cooperation of its leaders.”
Odelia shook her head. “I’m not looking for a fight with Gonfrid. Breaking Meriveria will weaken all of us. If I could just give Vistans a voice, I might not need to.”
“A fight with Gonfrid is inevitable,” Moira said. “What you need to decide is where and how.”
Rhonwin nodded. “And when you do, all you need for our help is to ask.”
For the next few weeks, Ken met with the local lords to discuss trade in the mornings while Wilmarie held gatherings in the dining hall in the afternoons. Lia took note of the women he saw potential in and scheduled a few private meetings here and there. Much as either of them hated to admit it, Wilmarie’s method was easier than what they had done in Oulley. At first, meeting everyone at once was daunting, but after a few days, Ken appreciated it when he realized that he wouldn’t have to be alone with the women he didn’t want to see. It also deflected some attention away from him, as many young noblemen also came to the manor to find brides. Most of them were more than happy to shower attention on the women who had failed to earn Ken’s favor.
At one such gathering, near the end of their stay, Ken noticed a group of three young noblemen standing in a corner of the dining hall and laughing raucously. He hadn’t laughed like that in the entire time he’d been in Eaund. After all, he’d been on his best behavior for weeks. What was so funny? He needed to join them and find out. Excusing himself from a pair of young women, Ken wove his way across the room until he was a few feet behind the group of men.
“…heard a new one yesterday,” one of them said.
“Go on,” said a second. He and a third man nodded, grinning.
“All right.” The first man cleared his throat and recited:
There once was a woman from Vist
Who Healed all the men whom she kissed.
The prince got a shock
When she puckered his cock,
So he gave her a post for the tryst.
He had barely finished the last line when the other two roared with laughter.
Ken’s nails dug into his palms, and he clenched his jaw so tight, it ached. The nearby fireplace now burned too hot. He wasn’t even sure upon whose behalf he was angrier, his own or Lia’s. But he saw red.
“You really think her lips tingle?” the third man whispered loudly.
The second one smirked. “Why? You hoping to find out?”
They laughed again. The sound grated, making Ken’s skin crawl. “You vile pricks!” he spat.
The men sobered, and the room began to quiet.
“How dare you, you degenerate parasites! Are your minds so feeble and foul that only scandalous slander can fill the sewers that are your souls? Your lice-ridden carcasses would wither into dust if you tried to work half as hard as she does, you slug-licking mongrels. You spend so much time waist-deep in lies, you wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you on your hairy, dung-covered, over-sat-upon—”
“That’s enough.” Lia’s voice radiated calm as she laid a dainty hand on his arm.
Ken inhaled deeply through his nose, clenching his jaw. Only the roar of the fireplace broke the silence of the hall.
Lia curtsied to the men and smiled politely. “You’ll have to forgive His Highness. It’s been a long day. If you’ll excuse us, I have a meeting to get him to.” She put one hand over his arm and the other on his back, then led him to the door.
As Ken let her pull him along, he continued glaring at the men, who gaped back at him in frozen horror. When they’d exited the hall, Lia gripped his arm and quickened her pace, letting her smile drop away.
Ken shook his arm free. “Did you hear what they—?”
“Not another word,” she said through clenched teeth. She put both her hands on his back and shoved him toward the foot of stairs. They climbed up, then walked in tense silence back to his suite. Lia waited for Val and Herman, then closed the door behind them. She planted her hands on her hips. “Have you lost your mind?”
“But they—”
“Do you have any idea how much boot licking I’m going to need to do now? For the love of— Two of those men are future lords, and one is a pettilord. You will need their loyalty someday.”
Ken scoffed. “You already apologized on my behalf. That’s more than they deserve.”
She groaned. “What they deserve is irrelevant. It’s foolish to burn bridges before you’ve built them. After your tirade, an apology won’t be enough. I’ve spent the last week rebuffing Pettilord Baldovin’s advances. Now, I’ll need to accept his offer of a private dinner and pray he keeps his hands to himself. I don’t even know how I—”
“No.” The idea was nauseating. “You will not apologize for me again. I won’t give you that authority.”
“Ken!”
“You didn’t hear what they said.”
She crossed her arms. “Nothing I haven’t heard before, I’m sure.”
“Lia, it was a foul poem about you and me.” Just thinking about it again made his blood boil.
She shrugged. “I’m all too familiar with dirty court poetry. Which one was it this time?”
“I think it’s the most recent one,” Herman chimed in.
“Oh,” Lia said, mildly amused, “the one that rhymes Vist, kissed, and tryst? That’s one of the better ones. At least the rhymes make sense this time.”
Ken’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe how casually they talked about this. “You’ve heard more of these? And they don’t bother you? How many are there?”
“They’ve been going around for years,” Val said. “You just never noticed because people in Meria have the decency to recite them where you can’t hear them.”
Ken looked at Lia. “How does this not bother you?”
She shrugged again. “I’ve had worse directed at me. When I have to inform women that you are uninterested, most are gracious, but more than a couple have called me a whore. One particularly creative lady called me a pasty harlot.” She snorted. “At least that one was original.”
“How can you be so flippant about this? These lies are malicious.”
She glared. “If I seem flippant, it’s because it’s better than crying over it. I can’t keep these rumors from spreading. All I can control is my reaction to them. Most people grow bored of taunting me if I play along or refuse to give them the satisfaction of a response. But what you did tonight—”
Ken shook his head. “You would rather I not speak up for you? Fine. Just remember, yours was not the only name dragged through the mud. I have the right to defend my own reputation as well.”
Lia’s face turned red, and her eyes narrowed. “Yes, Giver forbid you wallow in the mud with me. How could you live with yourself if people thought you’d taken up with someone like me?”
How could she think that? He had always seen her as his friend and his equal. “I was defending your honor.”
“You were fanning the flames.” She stepped closer to him, then had to look up to meet his gaze. “Your passionate display likely convinced many people that we are, in fact, lovers. For a man who doesn’t want me in his bed, you’ve done a fine job giving me the social status that comes with it. All I’m missing is the actual experience.”
Ken grabbed her shoulders. “Is that what you want? You think it doesn’t matter?” He turned her toward his bedroom and pointed. “The bed’s right there. We could get it over with now. I could use you for a little while, then go back to finding my bride in the morning. Is that what you want?” He didn’t mean a word of it, but he couldn’t seem to stop.
Val put a hand between them. “Prince or not, you need to back off. Now.”
Lia pulled away from Ken, red and shaking. “You’ve always told me that you have nothing in common with your father. But right now…” She took a step back and opened the door. “You have never been more like him.”