Page 46 of The Crown’s Temptation

He said it in the way that meant he had been deciding since he arrived.

"The creature sightings in Alarna have increased significantly in the past weeks. Things coming through the outer wards that should not be able to come through." He held Colsar's eyes. "Alarna needs its queen heir. The longer the throne sits empty the worse it becomes. We do not have unlimited time."

The room was quiet.

"Jularin," Enovar said. "Has anyone heard from her? Has anyone seen her?"

Nobody answered.

Syle looked at the table. Uralish looked at his flask. "Asharin was suspicious of her before she left Alarna," he said. "Syle looked into it but the creature sightings have been so aggressive it has been hard to do much beyond defend the northern wards."

"My men tell me she was last seen at the Queen Dowager's court," Iavis said. "Before the dinner. After that nothing."

"She travels," Uralish said. He did not sound convinced by his own words.

"She does not simply disappear," Enovar said. "Not without sending word."

The room let that sit.

Colsar stood.

The others stood with him. He looked at each of them. Uralish, who had traveled with an army through likely thousands of undead on the strength of something he was not going to say here. Syle, watching with that quality of attention that made you feel simultaneously known and unsettled. Enovar, who trusted no one and was correct not to. Iavis, who had been here before he was sent for and had not explained why.

"We investigate quietly," Colsar said. "We let them believe they have won. We find out who gave the order and who carried it and then we decide what comes next." He looked at the door. "Veynar does not fall apart. Not while I am standing in it." He paused. "Veynar belongs to my daughter. That was Asharin's wish, and that is exactly what will happen."

He walked out.

Kentan was in the corridor. He fell into step without being asked.

"You look better," he said quietly.

"I have not slept," Colsar said.

"That is not what I mean."

Colsar kept walking. "You should be protecting the children," he said.

"Yes. Part of that means making sure they have a father who has his wits about him. A father who doesn't do anything stupid."

"Stupid like what?"

"Trust the wrong person."

Colsar said nothing. Kentan kept pace. He did not say anything else. He was good at knowing which things needed to be said and which things needed only to be present.

They walked the corridor in silence.

Part Two

CHAPTER 6

Awake

Darkway Palace

The first thing I do when I fully wake is look for him.

Colsar is not here.