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“I probably should be,” Tes conceded, “But I’m afraid I’m not ready. It seemed wise to stay for at least one more lesson.”
Mehl sat down beside her, crossing his long legs in front of him and leaning against the wall. “I remember the day of your arrival. A brash, daring, optimistic woman who was willing to take on two kings to save Ria from supposed demise, that’s who I met. If I may be so bold as to say so, you’ve changed in the months since. Particularly after Prince Ber’s visit.”
It was true. Tes had come here with the mistaken belief that Toren was a dangerous, deadly man whom Ber had risked much to stop. She’d even attempted to kidnap Ria to save the woman from harm. Hah. It hadn’t taken long after Tes had been caught to realize that the lady received anything but pain from the kings. Rather the opposite.
“That tends to happen when you realize you’ve been a monumental fool,” Tes replied.
Mehl was quiet for a moment. “You know, Toren has spent most of his life trying to figure out his brother, and yet he has been tricked by Ber multiple times. No one here thinks less of you for the same.”
I do,she wanted to say. But it would do no good.
“It doesn’t help that all three of you have been hiding things since Ber’s visit.” She’d spent far too many nights considering why, too. “I knew something strange had happened from the moment Toren returned from that meeting. Then later, I sensed an upwelling of magic, and not long after, Toren had markedly low energy. I understand logically why I received no explanation, but I can’t help but wonder if you question my judgment.”
“That isn’t it at all. It’s only…” Mehl straightened abruptly. “Wait, you detected magic use?”
Tes smiled wryly. “I wasn’t supposed to do that, either, I’m guessing. No one else seemed bothered by it, so based on other things I overheard, I assumed it was a royal secret.”
“But only one connected with the blood of Eyamiri—” Mehl’s mouth snapped closed. Then he cleared his throat. “You would need that kind of connection to be told any serious royal secrets. Or be married to Toren, of course.”
Mehl could try to shift what he’d said into something else all he wanted—she could fill in the truth. The magic they’d done required a link to someone with strong Eyamiri blood. That would match with one of her theories—carrying Speran had sensitized her to a type of magic she normally wouldn’t have detected. Though the amount of powerhadfelt intense. Had they found a way to counter Ber’s threat to the throne, then? If that were the case, they wouldn’t tell anyone. Especially not a foreign princess set to return to her own land.
“I suppose you’re right,” Tes said.
Mehl didn’t look convinced by her easy agreement, but there was nothing she could do about that except drop the matter entirely. It would only cause him distress to do otherwise, and despite the tension that had grown between her and the kings after Ber’s visit, she liked Mehl too much to cause him bother. He was a good man. A good husband and father. He didn’t deserve the added stress.
When the door opened, Tes expected Ria to enter, but it was Toren who swept in holding Speran. It was difficult to comprehend how different the High King was from the haughty, cold, intimidating man she’d first perceived. In particular, she never would have guessed how loving he would be to her son, considering the conflicted relationship he had with Ber. But aside from an initial hesitation, Toren had come to enjoy spending time with Speran.
“Mae couldn’t get him to settle,” Toren explained. “Since Ria is trying to get Elnaril down for a nap, I offered to walk with him. I must say, I question my ancestors’ wisdom in having a single large nursery.”
Mehl stood. “Does Ria need help?”
“She didn’t when I left, but she might after you’ve washed up,” Toren answered.
“I’ll go bathe, then,” Mehl said. He caught Tes’s eye. “You’re excellent. Not yet ready for the type of combat you would find on a battlefield, but perfect for a blade delivered silently in the dark.”
Pleasure flushed through her at the compliment, strange though some might find it, but Mehl left before she could think of a response. Toren didn’t follow, and she would wager it wasn’t because of Speran. There was something he wanted to say to her. Alone.
The question was…did she want to hear it?
“What ever will we do when court resumes?” Tes asked, smiling at her peacefully sleeping son. “You’ll be holding morning sessions soon, won’t you? No more baby soothing then.”
He gave a Mehl-like grin. “Only three times a week for the next few months. If need be, I suppose I could bring one of the babes with me. Perhaps a sleeping infant on my shoulder would keep the complaints to a minimum. Or at least a softer volume.”
That was a sight she would love to see, but she had a feeling she wouldn’t be here to do so. “I suppose I should ask what dire news you bring.”
“It isn’t precisely news that drew me here.” Toren’s expression sobered. “I know what you plan to do when you reach the Centoi palace. I…would like to ask you to consider the situation carefully before you kill my brother. There are things I have learned that might change your actions, but unfortunately, I can’t divulge them.”
Curious. Saying that while holding her son could have been construed as a threat—but she didn’t believe it of Toren,especially not with the distressed look on his face. Hewantedto tell her whatever he withheld. That much was obvious.
“And why not?” she pressed.
His nostrils flared. “To rescind my promise not to do so, I would have to admit that you’re alive, and I would not betray you in such a way.”
A chill raced down her spine. Did that mean what she thought it did? Because considering the timing of all these secrets, the person most likely to have received that oath was Ber. She could think of only one reason her husband would have demanded such a vow. “He knows.”
“I have denied every question to that effect.” Toren seemed to ponder his next words. “It’s difficult to explain without saying too much, but…although I swore not to speak of what I learned during my private conference with my brother, that holds for only two more months. To tell you sooner, I would have to provide a reason why.”
Was he in communication with Ber? The man who’d attempted to challenge him for the throne of Llyalia? Surely not. Yet she could think of no other way he could receive permission to reveal this secret earlier. Her nails dug into her palms as she stared at Toren’s haunted face, and she very nearly snatched Speran from his grasp.
