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She couldn’t imagine the High King would suggest she allow his brother to uncover her deception in the middle of a court dinner, so it had to be another kind of betrayal. “What do you have in mind?”
Toren’s lips curved upward. “I’ll tell him you’re planning to respond to his offer in person. Instead, you’ll be there in advance of the supposed meeting. If he has ill intent, you can observe the form it takes.”
At the thought of seeing Ber again, her mouth went dry, and heat surged through her.Not for that, you traitorous body,she grumbled to herself. This mission was all about deception, a specialty she’d learned from her husband over the centuries.
Which meant there was a fair chance he would anticipate the move. “He’ll predict my early arrival as soon as you say I’m delivering the message myself.”
Toren nodded. “It is possible, but I think it’s less likely coming from me. Even when we were fully enemies, I didn’t offer Ber lies, even if I withheld the truth. My involvement will give him pause.”
Once again, Tes grimaced. She’d once thought poorly of Toren, and now she was the one perverting his honest nature. Could she follow through with a plan like that? Did she have a choice?
“I’ll consider it,” Tes replied.
No doubt she would think of little else for the rest of the night.
Chapter 15
Undercurrents
After another night spent barely sleeping, Tes had come to accept two things: she would never have true certainty about Ber, and she couldn’t allow her focus to shift to him. Yes, she needed to determine if she could trust him at least a little, but after the current plan to test his intentions was through, she needed to concentrate on toppling her father. It wouldn’t be easy to claim the throne even as the rightful heir.
She needed to move quickly, and Toren’s plan to deal with Ber was the most efficient. Her husband might anticipate the trick, but that would tell her right away what he intended. If he wanted her dead, then advance notice of her arrival would allow him to form multiple plans to kill her. He had no reason to allow her to live if he truly wanted to become king of Centoi.
If he proved moderately trustworthy, he could provide her with possible allies—or perhaps associates would be a better term. “Allies” suggested a confidence in such contacts that she would never have. In truth, she would prefer not to rely on anyone else at all. She would rather slip in and take care of her father with no one the wiser.
Unfortunately, the king was constantly guarded, and he’d warded his private rooms against her. She couldn’t recall atime when she’d been able to enter his suite without his direct invitation, and her mother had been bound the same way. Not that her mother had gained the same power—the king had entered the queen’s suite at will, of course.
When Tes struck, it would have to be public. A knife in a dark corridor or garden path would see her killed or captured by the king’s bodyguards, and she would have a more difficult time defending herself if the people demanded a trial. She would be better served by presenting evidence of her father’s crimes during formal court and then challenging him to a trial-by-combat. But she had to be positive her evidence was solid.
Ryenil wielded too much power for anything else. If shecouldassassinate him quietly, he wouldn’t be able to use that power against her, but he’d made that nearly impossible. Only a direct confrontation with irrefutable proof of his crimes would disrupt the grip he held on the kingdom. The Centoi nobles loved little more than an elaborate spectacle.
If she reappeared claiming she’d been wronged in an attempt to resume her place as Crown Princess, she would likely fail. Her father hated her—for not being the child of his beloved mistress and for not being male. He would relish the chance to have her exiled or executed as a liar, even if he secretly believed her.
Her only hope of certain success on that path had been in killing Ber. She could have used his betrayal and death as one of those elaborate, undeniable gestures the king couldn’t easily dismiss. Then as Crown Princess, she would have bided her time and gathered all the evidence she needed from the inside.
So much for that. Now, she would have to deal with her husband in another way.
Once she’d decided, the hours dragged slowly. Toren had a meeting with his advisors after morning court, so it was impossible to set her plan into action immediately. Restless, she settled Speran in for a nap in the nursery and headed towardRia’s workroom. They could at least have a chat while she waited.
Tes had nearly reached the workroom when she encountered the High King in the corridor. He gave her a knowing look, but he didn’t ask about her response to Ber. Instead, they exchanged polite greetings and entered the room in amiable silence.
Ria looked up from the dress form as soon as they walked through the door. “Tell me Elna isn’t hungry.”
The High King shrugged. “Not to my knowledge. I only wanted to see you.”
“She was asleep when I left the nursery,” Tes offered.
“Oh, thank goodness.” As the queen was currently holding several thin layers of fabric together while she stitched with fine thread, it was clear why she dreaded an interruption. “I want this dress finished when I return to court in a couple of weeks.”
“You needn’t hurry, love,” Toren said.
Ria rolled her eyes where only Tes could see. “If I’m well enough to care for Elna at all hours and to resume work on my dresses, I think I can manage sitting in the throne room at least once a week.”
“Perhaps.” Toren glanced at Tes, his brow lifting slightly in question. “I wanted to see how you fared before I changed out of my court clothes, but I suspect Ryssa has a deeper purpose.”
“I’d intended to chat with Ria for a while since you were busy, but it’s true that I need to speak to you.” Tes lowered herself onto one of the seats near the dress form, and Toren took the chair beside hers. “I want you to tell Ber that I’ll meet with him in four days.”
“Are you sure about this?” Ria asked over her shoulder.
