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He?Who washe?I opened my mouth to ask but caught myself, afraid to derail the plan. “So you and I are distant cousins?” I suggested, surprised I didn’t stumble over any of the words.
The King let out a laugh that quickly devolved into a raspy cough, raising his thin, wrinkled hand to his mouth to take a gulp of wine. That’d be the red delirium setting in. He’d soon begin bleeding from the inside and drown in his own blood quickly after. “Yes. Second cousins, once removed I believe.”
I nodded and tapped into the story my mother had told me about my father. If I was going to be lying in order to steal the throne, I may as well tell some truth. “My mother…” I started, clearing my throat. “She told me he left her to fight for his cause, that he was worried for her safety because people didn’t believe in his mission. He didn’t even know she was pregnant.”
Lord Castemont tensed, and I knew it was because I had divulged unnecessary information. I ignored him, though, and King Umfray cocked his head in thought. “That sounds like–”
“Javor,” Lord Castemont cut in quickly, some kind of look in his eyes as he quickly glanced at the King. Uncertainty swept over me as I watched a tension form between the two men.
“Tell the boy,” King Umfray croaked, irritation suddenly lacing his voice.
Lord Castemont shifted in his seat slightly as I watched him. “You’re aware of Kauvras’ uprising in Cabillia, yes?”
“Of course, my Lord,” I answered, my eyes narrowing.
“Kauvras is King Umfray’s younger brother.”
“Much younger. And I was questioning whether you could be Kauvras’ son,” the King added.
I nodded, swallowing hard as I turned to Lord Castemont. “And you don’t think that’s a possibility?”
“I don’t, given it is well known that Kauvras is impotent.”
The King sniffed, nodding slightly as he considered. “A fall on a fence post as a child,” he murmured with a wince. “I remember the scream.” He sighed, a wrinkled finger tapping his tired face. “Javor does seem like the most likely candidate.”
Lord Castemont hummed in agreement, looking expectantly between me and the King, but the King’s eyes were hard set on me. “Belin Cal Myrin.”
I had to play it cool and pretend like my insides weren’t crumpling under the weight of anxiety. “Yes, your Majesty?” I finally asked when my skin began to crawl.
A sly smile split his face in two at my question. “You’re my heir.”
It worked. It fucking worked. This had been the goal all along, but the shock that rang through me was cold and metallic. I didn’t have to act shocked like we planned. Iwasshocked. It happened so quickly and took such little convincing. “Your heir?” The words came out in only a whisper.
His eyes crinkled as he looked at me, something like pride in his stare. “You’re my heir, Belin Cal Myrin.”
Lord Castemont leaned forward. “You’re the next King of Widoras.”
I shook my head, the surprise on my face genuine. “But–”
“I had one son, Saints rest his soul,” the King stated. “No other family member of mine is worthy of the title.” His words were bitter.
I somehow straightened even more in my chair as my head still shook in honest disbelief. It was all beginning to close in on me, the fact that I was going to be King of Widoras, the fact that it was a lie that would put me on the throne. “Your Majesty, thank you kindly, but there are far more worthy men. Lord Castemont would be a better choice.”
The Lord’s face shot to me, surprise etching every feature. But I knew it was a mask over a face that was screaming,That’s not the plan!
“Lord Castemont is not of my blood. And though I agree he would make a fine king, I prefer to keep the title in the family’s bloodline.”
I ignored Lord Castemont as I stood quickly, my head swimming and my vision almost fuzzy. This was happening. I was going to rule.
“Please,” King Umfray said, “have a seat. Maybe you could try a bit of wine.”
I ignored his offer as my knees locked and panic rose in me at the prospect of ruling. Nowhere in my mind had I actually expected this to work. The walls began to press in and nausea hit my gut like a suckerpunch. I suddenly felt like I was sinking beneath the surface of Pellucid Harbor once again.
“Your Majesty,” I started, “I cannot accept this position.” I suddenly felt like cursing Lord Castemont for dropping this weight on my shoulders. “I’m a bastard, and I was born in Cabillia. I was born to be a soldier, not a king.”
“Exactly why you’ll make a fantastic one.”
I stared at the man, his eyes almost as vibrant as mine, dulled only slightly by age. I grasped for clarity in the muddy water of my mind, tried to make sense of all that was happening and how quickly everything was changing.
