The words keep tumbling out of my mouth like Legos, and each time I try to pick them up, I step on them instead.
“A nice scrub-a-dub-dub.” I wince and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from rambling on.
The steward’s gauzy hair fans the air as he tilts his head. “I will inform the king immediately of the ne’er-do-wells. They will be apprehended and punished immediately.”
Kane takes a step forward. “That isn’t necessary.”
“It really isn’t,” I chime in. “Lord Ashwood dealt with them quite thoroughly.” I chew my bottom lip, the stress of what I might have put into motion tumbling around in my stomach.
In my line of work, I’ve learned that nothing distracts like gossip. And, sure, I may not have any, but I know how to sound like I do.
“Actually…” With an exaggerated lean, I whisper to the steward, hoping to distract him from my previous attempt at distraction. “My husband isvery goodwith a sword. If you know what I mean.”
Kane coughs a warning I ignore. “I believe our young driver, Briggs, had more to do with our escape than I.”
“Don’t be modest.” I pat the warm steel of Kane’s bicep and turn my attention back to the steward. “You should have seen Lord Ashwood wield his weapon and take down the assailants. It was terrifying.”
Kane’s onyx gaze presses down on me, pinning me to the spot, until all I see is him. A shadow falls across his sharp features, one that looks a bit like regret, and I have to stop myself from touching his stubbled cheek, from telling him everything will be okay.
“And when I say ‘terrifying,’” I begin, my mouth going dry as a bit of softness shines within the inky spill of Kane’s eyes, “I mean in a strong and…and virile sort of way.”
The softness is gone, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
I clear my throat and brush my hair from my shoulders, turning back to the steward. “Point being that Lord Ashwood is the reason we are still alive.”
“Unfortunately, my lady, I am not extremely surprised by the incident.” The steward shakes his head, and we continue walking. This time, he leans in conspiratorially, returning my silent offer to talkjust between friends. “There has been an uptick in crime as of late. The people have grown increasingly restless since the king’s death.”
“But Pentacles has a king, doesn’t it?” I ask.
“Yes, His Majesty King Alderic Lockhartthe Thirdnow holds the throne, but has only done so since the last harvest not but six months ago. His Majesty’s father,King Alderic Lockhartthe Second, ruled for twenty-five years. Our new king, long may he reign, has made many changes within the kingdom since his father’s death, changes the villagers and those within the surrounding fiefdoms do not agree with. Although they are a simple people.”
“What kinds of changes?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Well, my lady, it all began with—”
“Must we discuss politics?” Kane interjects, and I can’t tell whether he’s being himself or Lord Ashwood.
Either way, he startles the steward, and knowing he revealed too much, the older man stiffens and gives a quick shake of his head. “I beg your forgiveness, my lady. It is not my place to make such statements nor have such opinions. Besides, I should not wish to take up my lady’s time with these trivial matters.”
“You think the villagers starving to be a trivial matter?” Kane asks.
The steward takes a deep breath, his only tell the slight flare of his nostrils. “I’m sure I do not have an opinion on the matter, my lord.”
“I see.” Kane’s mouth tightens.
“Well.” The steward claps, changing the subject. “I am relieved to know my lord and lady made it through the ordeal unscathed. As for His Majesty, he knows of everything that occurs within his kingdom. Were I to do as you request, Lord Ashwood, and not inform him, he would discover the event regardless.”
I fall back into step next to the steward as he continues to lead us toward our room, his hair fluttering with each glance at me over his stiff squared shoulders. “Howdoes King Lockhart find out about everything within the kingdom? Does it have to do with palace intrigue and a network of spies?”
After winding through the palace’s sumptuous hallways, the steward stops before a grand set of double doors. A pentacle is carved into the wood, stretching from the floor to meet the top of the arched doorway.
“Nothing so scandalous, my lady. Although itisrather beguiling.” The steward removes an ornate gold key from his pocket and waves it in the air, adding a flourish to his statement. A smile lights his face, softening the years worn into his features, and he leans closer, his whisper meant to be a secret shared only between us. “King Lockhart has a gift. The gift of sight.”
“The gift of sight?” I repeat, my fingers gliding over the silken scar beneath my layers of clothing. “Sight, like fortune-telling? Can King Lockhart use his magick to see the future?”
Behind me, Kane stiffens, tension shooting off him like porcupine quills. “Fawn…” he warns, this time aloud, his voice a sharp bark that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
The steward’s hand stills on the key as he slides it into the lock. He’s as tense as Kane, his brown eyes big and round as he processes my words. “Magick has been outlawed for nearly half a century,” he responds, alarm tightening his tone. “To accuse the king of such a thing would be treason.”
