“Where else have you been?” I asked as I sat down on a bench across from his. These were the stories I wanted to hear—about the world I hadn’t had a chance to see. Someday I would, when things were different. Gods willing, they’d someday be different.
“I’ve been fairly everywhere in our part of the realm. The Edgelands—where it sometimes feels warmer than the strongholdin winter because the wind doesn’t blow as hard. But the snow, when it comes, rises to the palace doors. In Illarnin, you’re always soaked to the bone. It’s a warm rain, but a rain nonetheless. Hardly a spot of dry soil in the wet season; houses are built on stilts, and you go around in narrow boats. You can lose yourself in the marshlands. The world looks the same in all directions, but you might suddenly find yourself in front of a temple older than Carethia itself, rising out of the water like a sea monster.”
“What about Orlash?” I asked.
“Most of it’s flat as a board,” he said with a grin. “Ground’s hard and frozen most of the year, hard to get anything to grow, but people still manage. They’re good with irrigation—have a system of sluices they use to run water to farmland. Now, there’s a wind that will chill you to the bone. Comes down off the Edgelands and sweeps across the country—no mountains to stop it.” He paused to yawn hugely. “Pardon me for that. Been a long day, and I could use a soft bed.”
“You’ll stay in the palace while you’re here,” the prince said.
“No, no.” Gryffin waved him off. “I wanted to see you for myself, reassure myself that you were healthy. But you know it’s better if I don’t stay. That’s always made him uncomfortable—me being too close to you boys.”
There wasn’t sarcasm in his voice, but quiet sadness. The Emperor Eternal had set his sons against each other, or believed that fight was inevitable. Maybe the same was true between the emperor and his brother.
“I can arrange a house in the stronghold, then?”
Gryffin made a sound of disdain. “Absolutely not. Too many damned people squeezed in. It’s suffocating. I let a house in the foothills from an old acquaintance. It’s quiet there. No fuss.”
“How long will you be here?” Nik asked.
“Perhaps a fortnight.” He rubbed his knee. “I’m getting old and need breaks between my travels.” He pointed a finger at me. “Travel while you can, lass. Sitting a horse isn’t nearly as nice when your arse aches at each bounce.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Once I’m rested, I’ll go north. I haven’t been to the Edgelands in a very long time, and summer’s the only time to visit.”
“I’m sure Laeith will be glad to have you.” Laeith was the Prince of the Northern Gate.
“Only if he pulls his head out of his books and charts long enough to notice I’m there. After that, I might visit my brother.”
“Well, you’re welcome anytime for dinner or fresh air or a bit of ergaine. I’ll walk you out.”
“No,” Gryffin said, waving him off. “Just have one of your people direct me to the door. I’m sure you have better things to do, being a Gated prince, than ferrying me through the building. Ah,” he said, then pulled something from his pocket. “Forgot—I made you something.”
In his palm sat a pretty cube of wood, a little larger than an apple.
“Puzzle box,” Gryffin said. “I work them as I travel. Keeps the hands busy and out of trouble,” he added with a wink for me.
“It’s lovely,” the prince said, taking it and peering at it. The wood had rounded edges and a soft gleam, and looked smooth to the touch.
“Press just there,” Gryffin said, pointing to a spot near one of the corners. He did, and a lid sprang open. “You can put all your secrets in there, as long as they’re small enough. There’s a second,smaller compartment, but I won’t tell you where it is. I’ll let you puzzle it out.”
“Thank you,” the prince said, looking genuinely charmed. “I appreciate this very much.”
Gryffin waved him off. “It’s nothing. Just a hobby. Off I go,” he said, and walked toward the door, a slight hitch in his step. The prince beat him to it, opened it, and gestured at Galen, who stood outside. “Please escort His Grace to the gate.”
Galen nodded, Gryffin gave me a wave, and off they went.
“Clearly your uncle,” I said as the prince closed the door again. “Seems like he enjoys pretending to be a commoner.”
“My father had plenty of sons, so he’s not in the line of succession. He had the luxury to do other things, so we rarely saw him.”
“He was closer to the former Western Prince?”
He nodded. “To the extent that was possible. The emperor didn’t like family connections.”
“Didn’t want them becoming allies?”
“Exactly. He chooses his words very carefully, but I’m pretty sure he hates my father. Probably wanted to be as far from the throne as possible.”
