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“Can’t say that I have. Seems rude to go poking around someone’s house.” That was the truth of it. As curious as she might be, she didn’t want to overstep Baris’ hospitality and find herself tossed in a dungeon.
“The only rooms that are maintained are mine, Vekele’s, and yours. The rest are horribly outdated and in need of renovation. I don’t even think the heating works properly.”
“What about my room? How did you have the time to get it prepared?”
“My aunt Cassana resided in that suite.”
Silence fell between them. Lenore had heard the name before, often whispered in hushed tones. Clearly, Auntie Cassana was a big deal or a sore point, but no one explained why. “She was?—”
“My captive,” Baris said bluntly. “She and my uncle murdered my parents when I was twelve, acted as regents due to my age, and went on to commit an impressive amount of treason. That aunt.”
There didn’t seem much else to say. Lenore completely understood why the extended royal family elected to stay home.
BARIS
“You need to be seen,” Raelle said.
“I am seen. Daily. Constantly,” Baris replied. Privacy was a luxury.
“In public.”
The morning’s council session ran long. Other members of the council filed out of the chambers to other appointments. Baris made the mistake of not immediately exiting the room. He lingered, scrolling through his messages while the room emptied. Truthfully, he needed to wait until the trembling in his hands subsided. Raelle and Des took the opportunity to cage him, taking the vacant chairs on either side.
“The media covered your injury on Station K-7 extensively. The people need to see their monarch recovered,” Raelle insisted.
There was wisdom to her words. Using the excuse that he needed to rest his shoulder, Baris had withdrawn from several public functions. It was time to put himself back on display.
“Then find some worthy cause and arrange a tour. A home for wounded veterans. A charity that feeds the poor,” he said. He could shake hands and make interesting noises while a stranger nervously explained how they rescued and rehomed unwanted companion animals. There was a sanctuary for karu who outlived their bonded. It happened often enough, as karu were extraordinarily long-lived. Sometimes, they returned to the wild and the sacred temple of Miria. Sometimes, they chose to bond to a surviving family member, often a child or descendant of the original bonded. Sanctuaries existed to care for the karu who were elderly or did not choose a new bond.
Surprisingly, the idea caused no pain. Baris expected to feel a pang of loss. Instead, he found himself warmed by the idea.
“Arrange a visit to the karu sanctuary for those who outlived their bonded,” he said.
Des called up the schedule on his tablet. “I’ll arrange a visit?—”
“I was thinking of something more immediate,” Raelle said, speaking over Des. “The Frostwings have a private box at the theater for the opening performance of Queen Pavele. Be my guest this evening.”
“The queen who refused to name an heir, causing her children to slaughter each other until she was the only survivor. I’m not in the mood for history,” he said, unimpressed. He’d much prefer to visit a karu sanctuary.
“It’s very popular,” Des added, as if that would sway Baris. “Tickets are impossible to get. People talking about seeing you there will be worth a dozen sanctuaries.”
Baris doubted that. He’d certainly enjoy the sanctuary more than the theater.
“I suppose the tickets are for tonight only,” Baris said. He’d miss his nightly walk in the garden with Lenore, and that distressed him. He didn’t wish to pretend to be entertained by a reenactment of his ancestors slaughtering one another while he felt flush and his hands shook.
“Only tonight,” Raelle said. “If Your Majesty does not wish?—”
Baris waved his hand. He relented, knowing that the councilor would not. “Very well.”
He’d send a message to Lenore to apologize for his absence and assign a guard to accompany her that evening.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
LENORE
Lydia clutched Lenore’s arm. “Oh my God, I’m freezing in these shoes.”
“You’re the one who insisted on open-toed shoes. There’s snow on the ground.”
