AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He had to be extra careful, since he was being watched.
At the far end of the line of targets, one of the king’s personal guards was restringing his bow. Again. He could have handed it off to one of the apprentices for a new bow, but instead, the guard had demanded another string. Then another. Of course, the task might have been more successful had the man not kept flicking his gaze toward Ber. The guard had shown a similar lack of finesse with his observations during knife training.
When Ber and Owein both waited for the apprentices to clear the targets and bring new arrows, Owein finally spoke, though softly. “What did you do to gain the king’s notice?”
Despite the man’s light tone of voice, Ber hid a grimace. “Is my observer that noticeable?”
“To me, since I’ve made a point of watching for them,” Owein confirmed. “And I’ve heard whispers of a disturbance in the royal wing last night.”
The rumors were inevitable, but Ber hated them nearly as much as he detested the silent shadow he’d gained. Especially when the rumors were useless. He’d heard nothing to suggest whether the king’s guard was there because Ryenil hadn’t fully believed Ber’s explanation or because the king worried about another “attack.”
Either way, Ber’s course was the same—pretend that all was well so there would be nothing unusual for the guard to report.
“Last night, an attack on my person was…misinterpreted,” Ber murmured, the paltry half-truth another necessary evasion. He trusted no one enough to reveal Tes’s presence. Not yet. “I’ve been ordered to return to my wife’s suite for greater safety. The reason for my watcher, however, has not been revealed to me.”
“I’ll listen for any relevant rumors.” Sir Owein offered a slight smile. “I’m aware of how complicated it would be for you to inquire directly.”
Ber nodded. “Thank you.”
Soon, he would have to decide how much he was willing to trust Sir Owein and the handful of others he’d deemed to be allies. Ber hadn’t heard from Toren, so he had no idea how Tes had reacted to his request to share information. But in truth, it didn’t matter. Shewouldcome back, and he would need to have a solid base of support prepared, even if she remained unaware of it.
Perhaps this would make a good test for Owein.
Ber waited for the apprentices to deliver their arrows and dart out of the way again. As he resettled his quiver, he made a quiet request. “A woman held me at knifepoint in my room, but she escaped. If you can find out what the king thinks about the situation without spreading the story, I’d like to know it.”
Owein’s head tilted slightly, sending his shot into the far edge of the target. “A woman? I’ll…see what I can discover.”
It was possible that Owein would wonder if Tes still lived, but he probably wouldn’t settle on it. That would be too easily dismissed as a fanciful thought. More likely, he would consider which of the noble ladies Ber might have seduced, a more reasonable assumption to make about a young, healthy prince. But no matter the knight’s suspicions about the woman’s identity, he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut.
Time after time, they shot their practice arrows in silence, until their quivers were empty once more. Then they parted with vaguely friendly nods, Sir Owein inclining his head with the perfect amount of respect due a prince. There would be no reason for the guard at the other end of the field to suspect that Ber and Owein had traded more than a few basic words during their brief wait.
The longer he could keep the depth of their association a secret, the better. With such increased scrutiny, exchanges like this were all the more vital. It wouldn’t serve to have Ryenil suspect Owein, too.
Chapter 13
Plotting in the Dark
Tes followed Mehl and Toren into their suite, the shielding on the door making her shiver as it always did. This was their truest and most secure enclave, so the magic guarding it was of course intense. When the kings wanted to discuss something with utmost secrecy, they did so in the sitting room here, though it was as much convenience as anything now that the babies were born.
In fact, Mehl went straight to the sofa and carefully took the sleeping Elna from Ria so that she could move to the small table near the corner to eat her meal. Though the baby stirred, Mehl half-reclined on the now-vacant sofa and settled her against his chest. A few pats against her back, and Elna fell back to sleep.
Tes smiled at the sweet scene as she sat quietly in the chair across from him. Toren took the seat next to hers, and at Speran’s restlessness, he turned her son so the babe could sit supported in his lap and still see the room. When she had first arrived here, she never would have imagined she would be comfortable with the intense High King holding her child so casually, but now, it was normal.
The splinter of pain that lived in her heart twinged until her chest burned with it.Bershould have held their son with thatkind of ease, but he’d never had the chance to hold their baby at all. Was it better or worse that it was his own fault? How would things be different if he’d trusted her with his concerns? That lack of knowing kept the splinter firmly lodged.
“Areyou unwell?” Toren asked.
Tes shook her head. “Heartsore is all.”
“I admit I didn’t expect such rumors already,” he said, clearly assuming that was the source of her pain.
She saw no need to correct him. “I’ll have to start using a subtle glamour, one I can increase over time. Because if the speculation goes further, it could cause us all real trouble.”
Ria frowned over at them. “What rumors?”
“Ah.” Toren winced. “We overheard a couple of ladies making note of Speran’s resemblance to me. Though they dismissed the possibility of me being his father due to the timing, it surely won’t take long for them to consider my twin.”
“Or question the timing of Tes’s arrival,” Mehl said softly. “If a certain faction came to believe that Speran was yours…”
