“Maybe I want to change that.” Darragh tilted his head. “You said you’d tell visiting dignitaries the truth even if it got you banished. What if I told you I’d back you up?”
“I’d say you were setting yourself up for a lot of diplomatic incidents.”
Darragh laughed. Actually laughed, the sound echoing through the throne room. “Stars above, finally. Someone who doesn’t just agree with everything I say.”
“You want me to disagree with you?”
“I want you to be honest with me.” Darragh’s expression sobered. “I’ve spent the last two weeks interviewing people who tell me what they think I want to hear. Every single one of them. You’re the first person who’s walked in here and told me I’m making a mistake.”
“I didn’t say you were making a mistake exactly...”
“You said I was looking in the wrong place. Same thing.” Darragh moved back to his throne but didn’t sit. “Let me ask you something else. Safe Harbor is hosting the World Council summit in six months. Do you know what that is?”
“It’s a big political gathering. All the major kingdoms send representatives including the World Council. It’s...kind of a big deal?” Finn tried to remember what Jericho had mentioned. “I think it rotates between kingdoms every few years.”
“It does. And apparently, hosting it successfully requires me to appear settled and refined.” Darragh’s tone suggested what he thought of that requirement. “What do you know about hosting formal events?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Finn said honestly. “I mean, I’ve been to harvest festivals and local gatherings, but I’m guessing a World Council summit is a bit different from making sure the beer tent doesn’t fall over.”
Darragh’s mouth twitched again. “Slightly, although that’s important, too.”
“But if you think about it, how hard can it be? You make sure people are fed and comfortable, you give them places to meet,you don’t let anyone poison anyone else.” Finn shrugged. “The rest is just... talking, right? People meeting with other people and working things out?”
“That’s an oversimplification,” Helena said. “The summit involves complex protocol, carefully arranged seating charts, diplomatic considerations...”
“Sure, but underneath all that, it’s still just people meeting.” Finn looked at Darragh. “You’re worried about appearing refined for these other kingdoms. But what if you focused on being effective instead? Safe Harbor’s strength is that you’re practical and hands-on. Why hide that?”
“Because the other kingdoms see it as weakness,” Thomas said.
“Do they? Or do they see it as different from what they’re used to?” Finn was warming to the topic now. “Look, I don’t know court politics. But I know people. And people respect competence. If you host a summit that runs smoothly, if you solve problems efficiently, if you show these other kingdoms that Safe Harbor’s way of doing things works, surely you can see that matters more than whether a person uses the right fork at dinner.”
The advisers exchanged glances. Darragh was watching Finn with that intense focus again.
“You really believe that,” Darragh said.
“I do. Though again, what do I know? I fix roofs for a living. In fact, it’s not even a living. I get paid in honey cakes, or at least I did last week.” Finn offered a self-deprecating smile. “You should probably ignore everything I just said.”
“What if I don’t want to ignore it?” Darragh moved closer again. “What if I think you’re onto something?”
“Then I’d say you’re either very wise or very desperate.” Finn met his eyes. “And based on this conversation, I’m not sure which.”
Darragh laughed again. “You know what? Neither am I.”
The king studied Finn for a long moment, and Finn tried not to squirm under that gaze. There was something magnetic about Darragh up close. The way he moved, the way he focused his attention on Finn like he was the only person in the world right now. It was disconcerting, and, at the same time, oddly flattering.
Stop it,Finn told himself.You’re here to fail this interview and go home. Not to notice how attractive the king is.
“One more question,” Darragh said. “If you were king consort - hypothetically - and I was being an idiot about something, would you tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Just like that? No hesitation?”
“You asked for honesty.” Finn shrugged. “If you’re being an idiot, someone should tell you. Preferably before you make whatever idiotic decision you’re considering.”
“Even if it contradicted me in front of others?”
“That depends on the situation. If it’s something that could wait, I’d tell you privately. If it’s something urgent, then yes, I’d say something right away.” Finn paused. “Is that wrong?”
