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“Beneath mine,” Markham continued, “but a fine use of my daughter’s.”
Juliana blinked, certain she’d misheard. “I’m sorry, what?” she said, at the same time as Hawthorn. He’d finally detached himself from his seat.
The Queen surveyed them both carefully, as if searching for a trick. “Your daughter is a fine warrior, as we have all seen. But His Highness’ safety is our top priority—“
“Your Majesty, may I approach?” asked Markham.
The Queen scoured the crowd, all peering in. “You may,” she said.
Markham came forward, guiding Juliana with him. Certain he was out of earshot of any but the royal family and their advisors, he asked, “How many assassination attempts have there been?”
The Queen’s eyes flared. She chanced a look at her consort and her handful of advisors, as if searching for an explanation.
“Worry not, My Queen, I have heard no such rumours. I merely understand how people work. There will be more, you know, the closer he gets to eighteen. More people eager to avert the prophecy the only way they know how… by ensuring his eighteenth birthday never comes.”
Juliana chanced a look at Hawthorn. His eyes were screwed to the floor, looking like he was trying to twist his face into a mask of indifference. It didn’t quite work, especially as his skin turned pale and there were marks in his armrests where his fingers had been.
Therehadbeen attempts. Some recent, some close.
No wonder he’d baulked at her target-practise joke last night.
She wished she didn’t feel guilty about that.
The Queen glanced at her advisors—sparing no look at her son—before turning back to Markham. “And you think that this… that Julianacan offer him more protection than we have currently?”
“She has already demonstrated her skill with the sword and her resourcefulness in a fight,” Markham went on. “But consider that she is also mortal. How many guards do you have of her calibre? How many capable oflying? Of hiding the Prince and being able to say, ‘he went that way!’ to any errant assassins? She’s pretty enough to pass for fae at a glance. People do not question lies in this kingdom. She can protect him in a way no others can. Besides,“ he added, shifting a look to the rest of the guards, “I hear none of the other guards appointed to the prince have lasted long.”
A stillness passed over the party. The Queen’s steely eyes flickered, unsure of what to say.
“Well,” said Hawthorn, rising from his seat, “I think it’s a fine idea. But mother, perhaps I could have a word with Juliana in private?”
The Queen’s shock furthered. “Of course,” she said. “We shall begin the revelries whilst you converse.”
She clicked her fingers. Immediately, a band started up, and pixies arrived seconds later carrying goblets of wine and silver trays of rich delicacies to disperse amongst the crowd. Two guards leapt forward to escort Hawthorn and Juliana away from the inevitable chaos.
“To my room,” Hawthorn instructed, “dally not.”
He swept into one of the side entrances of the castle, up a winding staircase, and emerged into a short corridor. One of the guards entered his chambers first to give it a swift check.
“Wait outside,” Hawthorn instructed.
“But, Your Highness—“
“I dislike repeating myself,” he said in reply, and clicked at Juliana to follow.
She did so, her eyes narrowing. Hawthorn’s bedchamber had changed little since she used to sneak into it to place frogs in his bed or fill his shoes up with mud. It was dark, all black velvet and green satin, with gold embellishments everywhere from the mahogany furniture to the giant bed of thorns.
Hawthorn sat by the window, poured himself a measure of wine from the silver jug on the table, and drank slowly. “Would you like a glass this time?” he asked. “Or would you still think I was trying to poison you?”
“This is a terrible idea,” Juliana said, finally finding her voice.
“Agreed,” Hawthorn admitted. “I completely forgot to check this wine for poison first, but after today, I almost think it’s worth it.” He necked back the drink. “This isn’t some trick, is it?”
“Trick?”
“You haven’t been sent by my enemies to spy on me?”
“Believe me, I’m as surprised by my father’s request as you are. Ifhe’sbeen sent to spy, he didn’t inform me.“ She paused, trying to think what his real motives were, and if he’d ever bother explaining them to her. “Not, of course, that my word means much.”
