“No, truly, she’s... about as interesting as mortar techniques, which Ilike,but don’t love.”
Hevva snorted.
“She’s absolutelynotas interesting as sustainable mining practices, like temporarily dewatering the reservoirs to access kimberlite veins thirty fathoms down. Did you know we’re doing that up at Kabuvirib again?”
“Youlovethat.”
“Exactly. I have work to get done. That’swhyI’m here, and if it’s not getting done, I need to leave.”
With a heavy sigh, Hevva sipped her drink. “You need to stop trying to schedule every moment of your life. Justlive.”
“No.”
“Don’t dismiss me so quickly.”
“Why not?”
“Kas! You’re impossible.” Thunking her glass down, Hevva leaned in, her eyes soft and imploring. “You carry a lot with the two estates, with all your other work, with the pressure you put on yourself to always bethinkingabout the next big thing. Stop it, relax,bedistracted. It’s fine.”
“Nope.” She’d never been on a deadline—all right, that was probably false seeing as she was the queen—but Hevva thrived in chaos, and he didn’t. She found joy in spontaneity in a way he’d never been able to manage. He needed his regimen.
“Comeon.”
“I’lltry,” he relented, mostly to get her to stop. “I’ll plan time for another holiday and be spontaneous then.”
She threw her head back. “Oh my gods, Kas.”
“I’m going, though, back home. I wanted to tell you, and you’re not changing my mind.”
“When are you leaving?”
“An hour? Maybe less—does that count as being spontaneous?”
“Just go.” She shook her head in silent laughter, coming around the desk to give him a hug. “Make sure you say goodbye to the children, and Ehmet.Hopefully,we’ll see you soon.”
“I’m sure you will,” he replied, squeezing her tightly, and slipping off to pack for the long ride north.
four
Nesrina deals with men.
Afterhertenthlessonwith the twins, Nesrina popped down to the library in search of a good book to read in the bath. She’d developed a comfortable routine over the past two weeks: breakfast in her tower sitting area, three hours of reading, lesson preparation, lunch, lessons, a walk (with Rihan when he was available), a bath, supper, then bed. Frequent stops to the library punctuated her days, like little spots of sunshine peeking through every few hours, even as they suffered through late spring rains. She hadn’t even visited the sea.
The Duke of Stormhill departed during her third day at Kirce, but still, she found herself anticipating a confrontation with him each time she stepped into the library or rounded the corner near her room. It would have been preferable to Prince Nekash.
The day after the duke disappeared, King Hethtar’s brother turned up in the suite next to hers. She’d had one brief and blissful night as the sole resident of the short hallway before bumping into the newest resident one morning when leaving her room.
He was lecherous, with his wandering fire magic and stinky breath. At least Prince Nekash wasn’t the king for whom she worked. Though he did try to get her to “work” for him on more than one occasion.
As if I’d ever be a mistress.She scoffed, making her way up the spiral stairs, book in hand. To think, weeks ago she’d been at home in Napivolconvincing Mama, over a watery stew of cabbage and potatoes, to let her risk answering the summons, to let hertryfor the position. She could always beg the Rashoolis to rehire her if she failed.
Papa would be proud if he were around; annoyed a bit, perhaps, that she’d willingly moved into the royal palace. But he’d always spoken highly of his time as King Hethtar’s tutor. Nes had no doubts his disdain for nobility excluded the job. It was an honorable position, he’d said so himself.
Now, here she was, trying to avoid a creepy prince so she could get back to her room, enjoy a bubbly, oil-infused bath, and read about—she flipped her book over—Earthshaping and Selwassan Construction. There was an article in it by her favorite author, Talik Thanin, that was the sole reason she’d picked it up.
With a delegation coming from the northern Kingdom of Domos in a few weeks, the palace had grown busy. Nes dodged a swarm of staff as she neared her suite and turned the final corner to find the prince leaving his apartment.
Damn it.
