“But when one thing is the truth, its opposite is usually true as well,” Jorn said.“Arik wishes Fell desired to be king, but deep down, he knows Fell does not.He knows that when he grows older and weaker, he will be killed, and his crown and country will go to someone not of his choosing.”
I narrowed my eyes, feeling as though Jorn were being purposefully cryptic to punish me for overusing the word.“These things cannot both be true at the same time.”
Jorn laughed.“And also, that is the truth.”
“Hmm,” I said, playing at suspicion.“Am I sensing a truth worshipper behind those words?”I’d been jesting, but it turned out I’d also been reading.
“It is the only god that makes sense, do you not think?”Jorn tilted his head to the side.“But since we are speaking of truth… You have been told to be careful, yes?”
“Yes,” I laughed.“My entire life.”
“But here, in the palace… I can tell you are clever.You know you must step carefully, yes?”
My jaw tightened slightly because there was no jest in his words.All the lightness had seeped away.
“Arik will ask you to read for him soon.”
He already has,I thought.
“You may want to avoid speaking of yourself when you do it.”
My heart slowed.I hadn’t mentioned myself, but King Arik had…
“I know young, beautiful people don’t like listening to old, ugly ones, but I have been the king’s soothsayer for years.Many have tried to stand in my place.None prevailed.I know a little of what I am speaking.”
I wanted to tell Jorn he wasn’t ugly, nor was he that old, but more so, I was bothered by his hypocrisy.“You have read for him and mentioned me,” I said coolly.
“Only some,” Jorn said.“I told him of the great performances you will give.I told him of the respect you will have, of those who will think poorly of you, of the ways you will be trapped… but like a river, you will weave around the things that try to hold you in one place for too long.”
“That sounds like a lot,” I said.
He laughed.“It is only the surface I tell him.”
My eyes flicked back to Fell, still laughing with the king.“What if I want to stay in one place?”
“You will not want this.”
My eyes threatened to tear, which surprised me—I hadn’t thought our conversation was diving into the depths.“I am afraid I have already begun to want it.”
“Something will happen to make you change your mind.”
“What?”
“I do not know such specifics.You did not finish your reading, remember?But I saw that you will go many places.I think you will see your home again.”
A vital question rose within my mind, coming out of my mouth before I could stop it.“Is it you who will disappoint King Arik?”
“No,” Jorn said, his voice quieting.“But again, I think you are clever.I have foreseen this, too.This is exactly what I have been wondering about myself.”
“He seems a hard man to hurt,” I said.I’d seen him in so much pain in the stones.
“In some ways, yes,” Jorn said.“But if one knows where the wounds are, anyone is easy to hurt.”
It was a dark comment, but brilliant.I was suddenly deeply interested in our conversation.I could feel my mindstretchingas King Arik often said.
“For instance,” Jorn continued, perhaps sensing my engagement.“Hallbjern—a man who cares nothing for arguments, who thinks only of finding an equal to spar with, who devotes his entire life to the strategy of wrestling—having this man come to your aid when he comes to no one’s aid for free… this is the sort of thing that might itch at Arik’s scabs.Becoming too close with those closest to him… this might… agitate.”
My heart skipped.“You think it is me who will disappoint him?”
