“Easy,” I murmured, guiding my stallion closer.
Her horse, a palace steed, was steady—one I’d sit a child on with confidence. Yet, it sensed her tension, its movements uncertain.
“It won’t bolt.” I glanced at the guards ahead, acknowledging the citizens who bowed as we passed.
Nienna’s gaze lingered on the horizon, a shadow crossing her face. She would remember the last time she’d ridden a green steed—Tallon’s foolishness still fresh in her mind.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Her formality struck a sour chord. Here I was—King of Radaan, not Kallias. In front of my people, we were two royals, nothing more.
I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, keeping my stallion close as we left the palace behind.
When the sun reached its zenith, it began its slow descent toward the horizon. We continued to ride, the world stretching wide before us. Nienna seemed to relax with each passing mile, her mount growing steadier beneath her.
The hours slipped by, the sun casting a soft amber glow on the land.
Phares appeared in the distance—the city of sunshine, where the earth was cleared for miles around. Golden fields of wheat stretched out, glowing orange in the fading light. The harvest had begun, leaving patches of bare land where crops had been cut. No trees marked the horizon—just open, unnerving emptiness.
The sight unsettled me, but the dread that rattled my bones had nothing to do with the vista itself—but the people within those walls.
I wished I could prepare Nienna for what awaited her. She had already faced Tallon’s cruelty, and I had no doubt she could handle whatever the Phares threw at her.
But Bac’phares—he was another matter. A stubborn man who resisted my efforts in the war, having to be ordered for every tax collection. He was a thorn in my side, tight-fisted and greedy, a brute whose selfishness knew no bounds. His wife was as thin as he was stocky and was known for her words that cut as deep and often as her whip.
Fallione had been tasked with finding a way to remove them. They had no heir, and I could place anyone I wished in their stead. If only I could find evidence to condemn them.
“Garett, let Phares know we’re arriving.” My voice rasped, thick with disuse. The bitter weight of being unable to speak freely with Nienna gnawed at me.
The guard nodded and gave a small bow. “Yes, Your Majesty!” He spurred his horse into a swift gallop, heading toward the city.
Bac would have watchers posted along the walls, so they should’ve been ready for us. But I never took anything for granted with the man.
“We are staying with the noble family tonight?” Nienna asked.
“Yes, the Phares.” I turned toward her. “Only for the night. We’ll share their table, then leave at dawn.”
She narrowed her eyes, studying my face with intent. “And you chose them because they lie in our path?”
A small thrill stirred beneath my skin at her sharpness. Smart woman.
“In part,” I admitted, choosing my words with care. “Their taxes have fallen behind. I intend to discuss the quality of his fields.”
Her brow furrowed deeper, but she said nothing more. The truth was, Bac’s taxes had been revoked. I’d ordered him to pay in gold instead of crops after the third shipment of spoiled straw. His goods weren’t worth the trouble. His coin, however, would be.
The man was far from pleased.
We reached the city gates without ceremony. Garett returned, informing us that he’d sent a runner ahead to the estate.
The structure was impossible to miss. Dominating the skyline, the black tower rose at the city’s heart, its dark silhouette stark against the setting sun. Nienna gasped, shielding her eyes from the last, blinding rays peeking over the city walls.
“The Phares prefer to be in full view of their people,” I said as we threaded through the narrow streets.
Greaves edged his horse closer, and the guards ahead of us cleared a path.
“It looks like the Spire.”
The sorrow in her voice caught my attention. I turned to find her eyes glossed with unshed tears, glittering in the golden light. She bit her lip, dropped her gaze, and swallowed hard. When she peeked up again, she offered a smile meant to reassure, but it twisted into a grimace.
