“I’ve arranged for a group of trusted guards to be posted around the castle tonight,” Alex says, as though he is delivering a casual morning report, though I can hear the emotion hiding underneath his words.
“What for?” My voice is hoarse, choked on tears I won’t allow myself to shed.
“To ensure that you are the one who…” He doesn’t finish his thought, but his words slowly penetrate my mind.
“You think there are others who will show up tonight? Others who will want to kill him?”
Alex looks at me like I am a naïve child. “Yes, Cal. I think there might be others.”
It has never occurred to me that there would be other Scotan citizens who might want the chance to rule Avon. It’s another reminder of how out of touch I have been, and how much work I will have to do if I am elected. I don’t want to be the kind of ruler who doesn’t understand his own people.
Dom, unusually silent, lets out a quiet sob.
Alex hands Dom his handkerchief, but his eyes never leave me. “Do you have everything else you need?”
I swallow. I don’t know what I need, honestly, other than to not sit in this room, in this house for the rest of the day stewing in my own misery. I push my chair back from the table and stand. “I need to get out of here.”
Alex stands too, but I gesture him to stay put.
“I will be back when I need to be. I know what I need to do.”
I squeeze Dom’s shoulder, knowing I should stay and attempt to offer her some comfort, but there’s nothing I can say to make today any easier.
Once I push my way into the hallway, I find myself following in my father’s footsteps. The door to his study is already closed, but I knock and don’t wait for permission to enter.
My father stands at the window, his gaze locked on the rolling hills of our estate grounds and the great mountains beyond. Sometimes I forget how beautiful Scota is with all of her lush greenery and rolling hills. I’m sure it’s something he is going to want to remember.
“I hope you haven’t come to tell me you’ve changed your mind.”
I cross the room, joining him in front of the window. “You know I haven’t.”
“Good.” He spares me a quick glance before his eyes return to the green and blue landscape outside. The sky is bare of clouds, for once, like the sun wanted to be here to witness his final day. “I know this is not an easy thing to ask of you, Callum. If there were any other way, you know I would take it.”
“I know.” I’ve spent many moments over the past few weeks fighting against his wishes, angry with him for even asking me to do the only thing that can be done. “I’m sorry I’ve made this more difficult than it needed to be.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t really be upset with you, Cal. In any other circumstances, it’s all a king can hope for—a son who doesn’t want to see him dead.”
“I know we haven’t always agreed on everything, and I know I have been hardheaded and stubborn. But I want you to know that I’m going to do everything I can to be the kind of leader who wouldmake you proud.” I swallow the emotion in my voice, but it doesn’t stop the sheen of tears from springing to my eyes.
His grip on my shoulder tightens. “You have always made me proud, Callum. What I want, more than anything, is for you to be happy. And despite everything, this week you have been happier than I have seen you in a long time. I hope you will allow yourself to keep that happiness, even after I’m gone.”
I hesitate before speaking again, not wanting to ruin this moment. But it could be our final one, and there are things I need to know. “I spoke with someone recently, someone who was born in Scota and abandoned by her parents.”
My father’s eyebrows rise. “Did she become a ward of the province?”
I nod. “She was sent to a Scotan orphanage. But it did not sound like any of the ones I have ever been to. The wardens were cruel and abusive to both her and her sister.”
He turns away from me once again, a heavy sigh on his lips. “I wish I could tell you her recollections are untrue, Callum.”
“So you knew this was happening? How many other orphanages were under similar rule?”
“Son, this is going to be a lesson you’re going to need to learn and learn quickly. Leaders—no matter who they are and where they rule—are not all-powerful. We can’t be everywhere at once, see everything happening. All we can do is put people we trust in positions of power and leadership.”
“What did you do when you learned of this information?”
“I removed the wardens from their positions, fined them, and banned them from ever working with children again.” He shrugs, but there is nothing easy or light about it, his shoulders sagging with the weight of responsibility. “There are going to be things you miss, Cal. You just have to fix them as soon as you become aware,and do whatever you can to make sure the same mistakes aren’t repeated again.”
I nod, taking my time to absorb his words, advice I will surely need should I take the helm as the leader of Avon.
