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"I'm no lady, Mir. Rhea will do."
"I hear you're about to fast hands with the king—that makes you at least a lady, if not a queen. Up you get, if you want a chance to enjoy your wash and swim, eat and dress. You're traveling within the hour."
32
CALDORYN
I don't miss the throng of curious onlookers at the windows, staring at us in wonder.
I'm all too glad to leave the city before my guests. I received them, fed them, entertained them with music, dance, songs and a hint of depravity. They'll return home with plenty of tales. Oh, no doubt they'll appear disgusted when they relay the events of the festival, from my treatment of the spies to my displaying Rhea at the feast, but they loved every moment of it. Our kingdom will leave them with a longing for sin and freedom.
My mother would no doubt have planned another ambush, and will despise me forthwartingyet another attempt on my life.
"Well?" Castian prompts, one of his pierced eyebrows lifting. "Any last-minute orders?"
He'll be holding down the fort in my absence.
I need Vessorian and Lark by my side for this trip. Silver wouldn't abide staying behind. Alrion, Castian, and Daeron picked straws. My spymaster got the only long one, so he is joining us, while the other two remain with my court.
"Don't get too stingy." As the master of coin, he has a tendency to limit our expenses beyond what is strictly necessary. He likes saving, although he doesn't need to. We're quite wealthy, after so many years of relative peace. The constant movement of our armies in the last twenty years has hit our coffers, but not enough to make up for centuries of opulence. "Keep the party going for a day or two."
"Then I can tell the southerners to be on their way?" he asks hopefully.
"Let Daeron handle that part."
Castian would literally order them to leave. Daeron, while a man of few words, can actually choose those words well, and play the game of lords and ladies.
"Where is he, by the by?"
"Sleeping yesterday off." Castian's lips hitch up at the corners. "He was, let's say, a little frustrated after losing against your lady. He would have liked that kiss. So, he dragged me to a party after we left her quarters."
I chuckle. Daeron ought to have asked for a kiss anyway. Rhea wouldn't have declined. Nor would I.
He's a close ally, and a good friend. Rhea needs my friends and allies on her side. She made enemies the very day she arrived here—my council, the better part of my court. I might want her to live, but if she can convince the people around me to care, it'll considerably increase her chances. And Rhea's quite excellent at making friends with that inviting mouth.
She emerges from the keep just then, wellwithin the hour—on the account of having close to nothing to pack, no doubt. She wears the pants and leather vest she had on during her trial yesterday and carries a light leather pack on her back.
Her guard—Rowl, a knight under Silver's command—is quick to grumble, "She wouldn't let me carry it," when he passes the captain of my guard.
Silver is indifferent. "Yourtaskis to make sure she keeps breathing, nothing more."
The Rhea's curves are on full display in those form-fitting pants, and my cock doesn't fail to notice. I am insatiable as far as she's concerned.
"The carriage will be here shortly," I tell her. "I take it the tailor wasn't done with your new frocks?"
She shrugs. "He had a few done, but nothing suitable for travel. I thought we were riding?"
She must have heard me mention it last night while she was dozing off. "We are," I confirm. "But I don't expect you to keep up with us on horseback for five days straight. You'll have the carriage, and a full guard."
"Because I am a woman?" she scoffs, clearly put out.
I laugh. "Silver and Lark are riding with me, darling Rhea. I'm giving you the carriage because you'll be more comfortable."
Wrinkling her nose, she shakes her head. "I'll take a horse."
I should have expected her to be difficult about this, as in all things. Whatever I say, she must rise against.
"By all means." She—and her poor tailbone—can die on that hill if it pleases her. "My stable is yours. Pick whichever mount will get the honor of carrying your wonderful ass."
