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“I’m not naive.”
“Ah, but you are. Because in this world, what you want doesn’t matter. Haven’t you noticed?”
Her nostrils flared, even as she had to admit he was right. That didn’t mean she had to acknowledge it to him, though.
His grin broadened, and he waited a beat. “What your future husband wants is what matters. While you live, you could sire a rival, or even wed one, if they’re deft enough. Did you think all kings are born to the throne? Perhaps that’s how they’re handed the crown, but it’s not how they keep it.”
“If you were a good leader, they wouldn’t be able to take the throne from you. You’re afraid of ghosts and shadows.”
“I’m a student of history. It’s happened far more than once.”
She scowled at him. “Send me to a temple then. A monastery. Do you really think I care? I just want to be left alone.”
“Left alone with your little… hobbies? No, we can’t have that. You’ve drawn far too much attention already.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Send me to a temple—I’ll renounce any birthright.”
“Ah, but we both know that wouldn’t work, don’t we? Temples don’t take mages like you. Except to kill them.”
She should have denied it, but perhaps it was too late for that. Or perhaps she was just tired of pretending. “What do you care? Wash your hands of me, then. Leave it to what the goddess wills.”
He chuckled, as if her naïveté delighted him. “Really. Do you think these hands are clean?” He raised up his perfectly manicured hands, flipped so she could see the palms, then the backs, then laughed. “Far from it. And I don’t mind getting my hands dirty to have a little fun.”
“A little fun. That’s what I am to you?”
“No,” he snapped. “Pay attention, dear sister. You’re a rival, and you’re not a bastard, so your piece must be removed from the board. Especially before you’ve drawn too much attention and they wonder what happened to that princess of Brusidal? Couldn’t someone wed her? No, no. Mother’s plan for you is far superior to the idea of any foreign suitor.”
Her brow furrowed. “What plan?”
“You’ll just have to wait and find out. You know, it’s too bad you won’t live to lose your maidenhood. You’ll have to settle for bleeding as though you did.” He shrugged, mocking, as he stood. “Farewell, dear sister.”
She lifted her chin and refused to acknowledge his taunts. Not knowing what they had in store, she’d rather not say anything she’d later regret.
Smiling, he waved as he shut the door to her room. The key turned in the lock, and then she heard him yell from the outer room. “You there—woman! The princess is truly distraught over the news of Kavanar’s disgrace. She wants not to be disturbed for the rest of the day. No, no food. I do believe she has cried herself to sleep, so leave the sweet creature be. Yes, leave her be and tell the others as well.”
“I’ll see to it, my lord,” a woman’s voice murmured.
She sighed into the eerie silence. She was finally alone. Deeply and truly and utterly alone. But alone for how long? Who would he send next and when?
If she could escape these bonds, she could still try to run.
Chapter 5
Queen’s Orders
Alekur finally arrived in the royal meeting chambers, smelling of mead and looking disheveled. He’d left Javarin waiting about a half an hour but had refused all requests to sit down. Now, he simply shifted his weight from foot to foot, waiting for Alekur to get on with it. Something about the sunny smile on the crown prince’s face made his stomach clench.
The prince, however, made a show of selecting a glass from the nearby cabinet and pouring two very full glasses of mead. He held out one glass, and Javarin obligingly accepted. He rarely drank, so he’d have to be cautious, but he also couldn’t turn down the prince’s demands.
Then the prince slumped into a chair and held up his glass in a toast. Jav mirrored the gesture and permitted himself a sip.
“This is some of the finest mead this side of the Southern Kingdoms.” Taking another long, studied drink, the prince pinned him with his eyes over the glass. “Can you tell?”
Javarin shrugged. “I’m not a connoisseur of anything, sire. I don’t drink. Can’t much afford it. Just a simple knight.”
“Ah, yes. I believe you were abandoned at the temple, is that right?”
He resisted the urge to jut out his jaw and simply said, “Yes.”
