“I don’t know, darling.”
“Will it… will it come for us?” There was a tremor in Everly’s voice that broke Leander’s heart.
Verin smiled reassuringly at his youngest. “Of course not, we are very safe here.”
The lie—because there was no way of Verin knowing the truth of his statement—that spouted from Verin’s lips was accepted by Everly, who returned to her meal.
Leander, however, was not satisfied. He didn’t want to get involved at all, but everyone knew what they said about curiosity and cats. “Why have we not been called out again?” he asked, louder than he intended. “There must be people suffering surely?”
“There are local Aesthesics who can handle it, Leo.” Verin said gently.
“But what about what we found in Green Tryst? A bunch of villagers who were too tight lipped about the cause of the wyvern’s attack. What if there is more to it than what we were able to discover? These are not random attacks if they are happening more frequently. Someone somewhere isn’t telling you the truth about these attacks. You need to find out who the liar is.”
“Wouldn’t it be lovely if we had someone close at handwho could sniff out lies?” Flavian said derisively as he sipped at his wine.
Leander scowled and slumped back in his seat.
“We’re on it, Leo. We will solve this mystery without divine intervention as we always have. Aesthesia is fallible but it has served us well in the past,” Venser assured him with a hint of a smile.
“Well, if I can be of any assistance, just let me know. I may not have divinity on my side, but I have lived and breathed lies for as long as I can remember, I might be able to help,” Leander announced, wanting to be useful.
“Leander Talius, actually wanting to help us mere mortals? If I didn’t hear it with my own two ears…”
Leander didn’t even spare his father a glance.
“Actually, I could do with some help, Leo. Prince Jarryn has his birthday approaching?—”
Flavian scoffed.
Verin glanced his way but then continued to speak as if there had been no interruption. “—and I understand you know him well.”
“I wouldn’t say that. We meet at functions… and in the odd bar. But we are hardly close.”
“All the same, he is a stranger at court and has few friends. I could do with some help in planning the celebrations.”
Leander shrugged his agreement. He started to imagine the look of delighted surprise on the prince’s face, and to think that he could be the direct cause of that gave him a thrill of excitement.
“Good, that’s settled then,” Verin said with a knowing smile. Nothing got past him, and Leander knew no onewas riffling through his mind at that moment. The Talius scion was just incredibly perceptive.
“I assume the king is expected to pay for this?” Flavian asked.
Verin nodded. “It was his idea. The prince is his guest and truth be told I think the king is growing tired of all Nevari’s posturing and threats. He wants to make clear to everyone, including Nevari, who he supports in the true succession to Desanne’s throne.”
Their father nodded his understanding and agreement. He glanced over at Leander with a significant expression, as if reminding him whose fault it was. “Let us hope Jarryn has a party worthy of a king, even if he is not one yet. I’m sure a lavish party for an exiled prince will have the masses forget about a looming war threatened by said prince’s brother.”
Leander’s gaze fell to his empty plate. Would that it was as simple as telling everyone what he had done. That would not undo it, his lie had been too big, too well done for it to unravel with a claim of his own guilt.
Chapter Twenty-One
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the gardens of the royal palace buzzed with anticipation like the fluttering of eager butterflies seeking out the most colourful bloom.
Tonight marked the eve of the queen’s sixtieth birthday, a momentous occasion that brought nobles and dignitaries from all corners of the kingdom and beyond to dine in the lavish halls of the royal palace.
As Queen Melanie’s older brother, Flavian and his entire family were invited, including, for once, Verin and Venser’s children. All were very excited and had been receiving additional lessons on court etiquette for the past fortnight in preparation.
It was a convergence of regal splendour and simmering tensions beneath the veneer of celebration, as King Nevari Eleinium was not in attendance. Nor were any of his representatives. His absence had been noted and there was an undercurrent of unease in the palace tonight.
However, among the illustrious guests whowerein attendance, Leander noted as he entered the grand dining room, was Prince Jarryn, Nevari’s older brother, the exiled Crown Prince. His regal bearing masked the displeasure radiating away from him, presumably due to any dignitaries from Desanne not being in attendance.
