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“Your Highness.” Lady Valentia sank into a deep curtsy.
Lio sensed that she carried a heavy weight of grief and had the strength to bear it. Her sober blue gown and the elegant knot that tamed her voluminous dark hair did not diminish her womanly beauty. So many females worthy of respect suffered in this kingdom.
“It’s good to see you again,” Solia said warmly, but she was looking at Valentia, not Tyran.
Valentia kept her head bowed. “You are generous, Your Highness.”
“I’m having a little gathering of ladies in my weaving room after the Council. I would be pleased if you would join us.”
“Of course she will, Your Highness,” Tyran answered for her. “We are honored by your attentions.”
Lord Tyran turned to Cassia, and Lio’s fangs lengthened on reflex. He decided not to veil them. The man’s gaze went to Lio’s face, but his smug smile didn’t slip.
“Princess Cassia.” Lord Tyran gave her a shallower bow. “I hope we can share that dance you promised me all those seasons ago.”
Knight showed Tyran his teeth, as well. Cassia stroked her dog’s head and said lightly, “As long as you do not try to buy my liegehound again, my lord.”
“Not to worry. I have quite a pack of my own in my kennels now. No offense intended, Ambassador.”
“None taken.” Lio engaged in an undiplomatic fantasy of raiding the man’s thoughts and discovering what truly frightened him. Tyran would not feel secure in his liegehounds after a round with a Hesperine mind mage.
For now, they had no choice but to let him have the last word. Lord Flavian made a show of swearing in Lord Tyran and providing him with Lord Deverran’s now-empty seat on that side of the room. Before taking his chair, Lord Tyran raised his shield.
Lady Valentia slid to the back to join Benedict. Lio’s Hesperine ears caught their whispers.
“How was Lady Eugenia when you left her?” Benedict held Lady Valentia’s chair for her.
She took her seat. “You know how she feels about you and Flavian expecting her to stay home, when she would rather be with you at Patria.”
“This pit of vipers is no place for a lady like her.”
“Dear Ben…she might surprise you.”
Lio’s attention returned to his companions when Kella muttered a potent insult in Azarqi. “Where I come from, we leave men like Tyran stranded in the desert to meditate on their crimes. Usually the jinn find them before they die of thirst.”
“Let’s challenge him to a sparring match,” Mak said darkly.
“I wish we could.” Lyros’s lip curled. “You can feel what a parasite he is.”
“He is viciously ambitious,” Cassia said to Solia, “and he has an army. Do not court his favor under any circumstances. You do not want to find yourself indebted to him for his vote. Curtailing his abuses will be a great challenge to you as queen. If he sides with the loser, that will make your task a little less impossible.”
“What abuses?” Solia’s gaze hardened. “Something personal? Towards you?”
“Towards Perita and Callen.” Anger snapped in Cassia’s aura. “I never would have brought them here if I’d known Tyran would come.”
“They will be safe under my protection,” Solia promised. “What has Tyran done?”
“Suffice it to say, his soldiers are notorious for how they mistreat women. When Callen defended Perita from them, Lord Tyran would have had him executed, if I hadn’t bribed him and promised him a favor.”
Lio’s fangs extended further. “Do not think I’ve forgotten that the ‘dance’ he was referring to is a favor from you. If he tries to collect, he will regret it.”
Solia gave a heavy sigh. “And Valentia ended up betrothed to Tyran after Evander and I made our escape?”
Lio nodded. “Lord Tyran’s family’s maneuvers before and after the Siege of Sovereigns were some of the most decisive political events of that time.”
Solia smiled slightly. “Yes, I saw there’s an appendix on them in your initiation treatise, but I haven’t gotten that far yet. Care to summarize your findings for me, adviser?”
“Of course,” Lio obliged. “When Benedict’s and Evander’s fathers participated in the rebellion against King Lucis, Valentia’s family was not directly involved, but they were so close to Evander’s family that they were seen as sympathizers and disgraced.”
