“And you’resureyou didn’t get a look at them, sire?”
“No,”Leo insisted for what felt like the thousandth time. “The first I knew of it was Felix setting Blackbird off in a gallop and telling me to ride. It was only when I looked back that I saw the arrows flying. It all happened so quickly, I didn’t see where they came from.”
The members of the Royal Council were seated around a long table in the main chambers, and one of them looked like he was about to speak again, but Mattias cut in. “I think we’ve established that His Majesty has told us all he can.”
There was a tap on the door and Mattias strode over and opened it to reveal Janus Hobson standing there, face drawn. Leo’s heart stuttered in his chest, and he had to hold back the urge to grab the man by his lapels and demand to know if Felix was all right.
It turned out there was no need. Janus turned to Leo and gave a tired smile. “I thought you’d like to know, sire. Felix made it back safely. A party of guards has scoured the area and found no evidence of the would-be assassins, so we suspect it was just a stray malcontent, but nonetheless we’ll be stepping up your security until Felix is able to resume his duties.”
All Leo’s breath left him in a rush. “Thank you,” he said, bowing his head slightly.
Mattias resumed his place next to Leo at the head of the long oak table and addressed the council. “I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by discussing this further.”
“Quite,” Leo agreed, standing. “Captain Hobson, a word in private if you please?” He turned his back on the council members just in case they hadn’t quite gotten the hint that he was done with them, and it was only a matter of moments before he heard chair legs scraping against the stone floor and the shuffle of feet. The men trailed out, bowing their heads as they passed, until Leo was left alone with Mattias and Janus.
“How is he really?” Leo asked at once. “Is he all right?”
Janus grimaced. “He’s black and blue all up one side, but the physician tells me that’s the worst of it, and a few days of rest should see him right as rain.”
The tension Leo had been carrying in his muscles melted away at hearing the news, and his shoulders slumped. “Excellent. Is he still here? Youdidtake him to the castle physician and not to some sawbones in the town, right?”
Janus raised an eyebrow. “Well, since he was injured protectingyou, I assumed you’d want him to have the best care possible. Or would you have preferred me to load him into a cart while he was unconscious and take him down to the village,sire?”
Well, that answered any questions Leo might have had as to where Felix got his attitude from.
He found that right at this moment, he didn’t care much about etiquette, more interested in Felix’s recovery. “Actually, I was going to suggest Felix stay at the castle while he recuperates,” he said. “His cottage is too—”
Mattias cleared his throat.
“—far away from the physician’s office if he needs medical attention,” Leo said smoothly. “We don’t want him to have to walk all that way.”
Janus nodded, face carefully blank. “He’s still with the physician, having arnica cream applied. I’ll let him know.”
“I’ll tell him myself,” Leo said. “I want to see him and check he’s all right.”
And perhaps steal a kiss to make himself feel better, but there was no need to mention that.
“I’ll escort you to the infirmary, sire,” Janus said.
“I know the way,” Leo said and made to walk towards the door, only to be stopped in his tracks by both Mattias and Janus stepping in front of him, blocking his path.
“Sorry, but you don’t go anywhere alone, at least for now,” Mattias said.
Leo pouted. “Surely I’m safe in my own castle?”
“It would be foolish to wander about unprotected,” Janus said, folding his arms over his chest in a move that was reminiscent of Felix when he had his dander up about something.
Mattias put a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Let the man do his job, Leo. You hired him because he’s the best, after all.”
Leo sighed. An escort wasn’t the worst idea he’d heard. It was just going to take some getting used to, that was all. The castle was the one place he’d always felt free to move about at will.
He guessed he wouldn’t be making any midnight visits to see Felix. Still, he could visit himnow, and that was something. He squared his shoulders and said, “I’m grateful for your protection, Captain. If you wouldn’t mind escorting me to the infirmary, I’d like to thank your son personally.”
“I’m not sure he’s well enough for a vigorous…thanking,” Janus said, almost completely straight-faced.
No, Felix’s irreverent apple hadn’t fallen far from the family tree at all, had it?
Still, Leo had to admire the way Janus toed the edges of the line skirting disrespect. He did it so skilfully that you could barely see where the chalk had been scuffed.
