She bowed her head before the Crown Drassil in prayer.
Through the lattice that would have hidden a lady-in-waiting from view but kept her close enough for the queen to call upon her, Lord Riis watched Inga wait.
While Inga often lamented loudly that she could not keep a lady-in-waiting for more than a few moons, both of them privately realized it was a boon for them. With no highborn lady waiting to attend to the queen’s whims, Lord Riis had often used this entrance to sneak into her quarters undetected and see Queen Inga.
Or, on a day such as this one, he could watch Inga tell their oldest son a great secret. Perhaps if it went well, Inga would call for him to reveal himself. His heart squeezed at the idea as a knock came at the queen’s door.
“Enter,” Inga called out, seated on a settee by the fire. Ever clever, she’d asked for wine to be brought to her quarters.
The heir to Winter’s Realm appeared, dressed in Aaberg blue and gold, dark smudges on the fingertips of the ice-spider silk gloves he wore. One black smudge of ink streaked across his cheek.
Leyv eyed the gloves that protected the heir from inadvertent use of his magic. They were one of the few things Lord Riis had been able to give his blood son over the turns. Unless you were brave enough to steal from or bargain with the giant spiders, or you had the right connections, ice spider silk was nearly impossible to come by.Being from a wealthy merchant family that sourced only the finest materials, Lord Riis had the necessary connections.
“You called, Mother?” Before she answered, Rhistel gestured to the door as he shut it. “Where is your guard? In times such as these, you should have two with you.”
“I required privacy and therefore took it.” The queen arched an eyebrow. “I might say the same to you. Where are your guards?”
Rhistel crossed the room. Inga poured him a goblet of wine, which their son took with grace as he sat in an armchair closest to the fire.
“They’re not allowed around me during my studies, so I also relieved them of their duties. What is so important that we need to speak now?”
“What were you studying?”
“Considering recent news, I thought it prudent to brush up on the Falk and Skau line and their histories,” the prince replied. “Perhaps what I learn will help Father with his breakthrough.”
“He shared what he was doing with you?” Inga leaned forward. The king had not shared the details of his travels with her. He respected his queen, but also feared her. As he should. Given too much information, Inga could destroy Magnus. It was why he only shared what he must with Inga.
“He did. I cannot say more.”
“You were at the House of Wisdom, then?”
“The best place for Falk and Skau archives.”
Lord Riis held back a snort. Magnus, the fool, had wanted to burn the histories of those families. To keep themout of his castle. It had been such a fight to convince him to move them to the House of Wisdom.
“Indeed.” Inga let out a hum and looked out the window.
Nerves. Leyv recognized the queen’s tells, no matter how slight they might be. He wished he could be beside her, holding her hand, helping her speak with Rhistel.
“So, what did you call me here for?” Rhistel asked.
“Seal the door,” Inga answered.
Rhistel’s eyebrows shot up, but he did as his mother requested and with a wave of his hand, a barrier of air to prevent eavesdroppers.
Leyv leaned to the side so there’d be no chance he’d be seen through the lattice. It might be foolish to be this close, but he’d waited for this day, hoped it would come for so long. He didn’t want to miss a moment of the prince’s reaction, be it good or bad.
“There’s something I must tell you, son.” Inga moved before Rhistel. She held out a hand.
He took it, but not without hesitation. “You’re acting strangely, Mother.”
“You’ll soon understand.” Her voice sounded ever so slightly strained. “I’ve been keeping something from you. Both you and Vale since the day you were born.”
The prince stiffened. “What is it?”
“There’s no way to say this that won’t hurt or turn your world on its end, so I’ll come right out with it.” She exhaled. “You and Vale are not the sons of King Magnus.”
Rhistel retracted his hand. “To say such a thing is treason.”
