My thoughts flash to Margeurite, and I make a mental note to check in with her. She deserves to know what’s going on with her lover’s situation, as painful as it may be to hear.
“Does Allis know?” I ask. “Are you keeping her appraised?”
Pain flashes across Arlon’s face. “I am.”
That can’t be an easy task. Before she left, Allis vacillated between abject hopelessness and a fiery sort of rage. Looking at Arlon, I wonder if some of that fire wasn’t extinguished into him.
“Anything else I should share with the Queen?” I ask, and Arlon is pulled back from his thoughts.
He sighs and says, “Luther Barclay is denying Immenbach’s involvement with the missing Tower wizards.”
“What?” I say and am echoed by Garrett’s snort.
“I’m certain he’s lying,” Arlon says. “The King and his advisers all agree. Either Luther Barclay is holding out knowledge of themuntil he needs to use them as a negotiating piece, or he’s using them for some other purpose. The latter thought is... worrying, but we still can’t act on that front. Not when the talks are already so tense.”
I finish taking my notes. “Understood. I have a meeting with the Queen in a few days. I’ll report this to her then.”
“Thank you, Galiva,” Arlon says through a sigh. “How are things at the Crux?”
“It’s been going smoothly, sir,” I say, my eyes flicking to Garrett’s. I’m harboring so many doubts about the Crucible that I don’t want to share news of it yet. “No fires to put out aside from a few more harassers at the gate, though. The Queen is... tepid about me, but I hope I’ll be able to raise her temperature up to lukewarm.”
Olbric chuckles and says, “You’ll have her cooked in no time.”
I roll my eyes, but my smile softens. “You both have been missed.” I look to Olbric as I ask, “How is everything outside of the talks?”
“It’s been... nice seeing my sisters,” Olbric says. “So, better than expected.”
Arlon seems surprised by that statement. A small grin graces his lips as something in his shoulders relaxes. Olbric’s anger appears to have cooled, and the effect that has on Arlon is palpable, even a continent away.
“We’re going to a ball tonight,” Arlon says.
“Your favorite,” Garrett chuckles, and Arlon makes a face. I can’t quite stifle my grin. Even at the Crux, it’s a rare time when Arlon attends any of the larger gatherings. Yet when it’s a royal function, he acts like he’s allergic.
“You two are certainly dressed for it,” I say. “That gown is stunning, Olbric.”
“Another Varice creation,” he says before he gives a little spin, sending the full skirts billowing. “I’ll take a ball over sufferingthrough the tedium of negotiations any day. Being made to sit through hours of conferences with the Shykhdar isexactlywhy I ran away from home, you know.”
Arlon lets out a rumble of a laugh. “Then how about this. You attend these mandatory entertainments, and I’ll handle the talks.”
“Deal,” Olbric says, and it warms my heart to see them more at ease with one another again.
My grin fades, and I debate opening myself up to more hurt before I finally ask, “Have... either of you spoken to Dom?”
“I have,” Olbric says quietly. “He’s alright. He’s safe.”
Arlon and I lock eyes through the sending, and I can tell both of us want to ask more. I sigh, some of my frustrations bubbling out. “Is that all I get?”
Olbric shifts, crossing his arms over his chest. It’s the same stubborn pose he uses before he talks back at me in a casting room. “What more do you want?”
“I don’t know -anyinformation?” I ask, exasperated. “When will he be back?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why does he want to find his mother?” I ask. “Why couldn’t he wait?”
Olbric’s jaw ticks. “That’s his business.”
I take a breath, reining my frustration back even as the old hurt rears its head. “Why didn’t you twotalkto me? We could have figured something out.”
