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He eyed the table, then sat at the end of it. “It’s not her safety that I’m concerned about.”
Lara shot him a look of disdain. “You’d fit in well in Maridrina, Your Grace, if the thought of your wife knowing how to wield a knife puts such fear in your heart.”
“Oh my.” Ahnna filled her glass up to the brim and leaned back in her chair. “I misjudged your wit, Lara.”
“You’re wasting your breath, Ahnna,” Aren said, ignoring the comment. “Lara believes weapons are the domain ofcommonsoldiers and not worthy of her time.”
“I said no such thing. I said I was trained to be a wife and a queen, not a common soldier.”
“And just whatdidthat training entail?”
“Perhaps fate will favor you and one day you’ll find out, Your Majesty. Although as it stands, you’ll need to content yourself with my flawless needlework.”
Howling with laughter, Ahnna poured herself yet another glass of wine and then filled one up for her brother. “This might help.”
Aren disregarded them both in favor of the servants who appeared bearing trays of food, which they set down on the table, disappearing only to return again with more. There were fresh fruits and vegetables, all brilliantly colored, as well as large fish still in possession of their heads. One fish sat on a bed of steaming rice, which Lara eyed and then dismissed, her attention snapping to the herb-crusted roast beef, the question of its origins tamping down her anger at the excess of food. Food that could’ve gone to Maridrina.
She waited for one of the servants to serve her, but they all departed. Then the royal siblings began helping themselves, loading their plates with salad and fish and beef all at the same time with no regard to the order of things. “This is more diverse fare than I’m used to,” she said. “I’ve never had fish before, although I suppose it’s a staple here.”
Aren lifted his head, eyeing the offerings, and Lara saw the corner of his eye tick. “There are some islands with wild boar. Goat. Chicken. Snake is often on the menu. Everything else is an import—usually from Harendell via the market at Northwatch.”
Serin’s spies reported that not all the goods that entered the bridge at Northwatch exited at Southwatch, indicating that the Ithicanians used the structure to transport products within their own kingdom.There are ways in and out of the bridge beyond the openings at Northwatch and Southwatch,Serin had shouted continually at Lara and her sisters.Those are the weak points. Find your way in.
Taking healthy servings of everything, Lara cut into her slice of beef, watching the juices pool beneath. Then she took a bite. Smiling at one of the servants who’d reappeared with more wine, she said, “This is delicious.”
None of them spoke for a long time, and for her part, Lara’s silence was a result of her mouth being full of food. It was better than anything she’d ever had, fresh and seasoned with spices she couldn’t even name.This is what possessing the bridge meant, she thought, imagining all this food arriving in Maridrina.
“Why did your father keep you in the middle of the Red Desert?” Aren finally asked.
“For our safety.”
“Our?”
Give the truth, when you can,Serin’s voice instructed from her thoughts.
She swallowed a bit of fish that was drenched with a citrus-butter. “Mine and my sisters’. Well, half-sisters.”
Both siblings stopped chewing.
“How many children was . . .ishe hiding out there?” Aren asked.
“Twelve, including myself.” Lara took a sip of wine, then refilled her plate. “My father selected from amongst us the girl he believed would be most fitting as your queen.”
Aren was staring at her with a blank expression while his twin nodded sagely before asking, “The most beautiful, you mean?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“The most intelligent?”
Lara shook her head, thinking of how swiftly Sarhina and Marylyn could crack codes. And build them.
“Why you, then?” Aren interjected.
“It wasn’t my place to question the reasons behind his decision.”
“Surely you have an opinion on the matter?”
“Certainly: that my opinion doesn’tmatter.”
