“It is but the truth.”
Leyv’s breathing stopped. The queen and the prince stared at one another, still as statues. Lord Riis thought he saw Inga’s gaze flicker over to him. Was she requesting his help? He’d nearly opened the partition to reveal himself, when Rhistel released a low, menacing laugh.
Inga’s shoulders tensed. “Your brother already knows, and I fear he will speak the truth soon enough, for he loves his wife.”
Danger glinted in the heir’s brown eyes. “How would you be aware of what Vale intends to do?”
“I’m in contact.”
Rhistel stood. “Is this some ploy to make sure I never sit on the throne?”
“Why would you think that?”
“There has to be a reason you never went for it yourself, Mother. I believed that you think fae with our powers should not hold such positions. You’ve been brainwashed into that weakness, but I assure you, Mother, I intend to take the Throne of Winter, whether through right or by might.”
“My son . . . the king will not allow it when he learns the truth. Saga will be his heir.”
If Magnus wins the war to come . . .Lord Riis thought from his hiding spot.
“You don’t deny my reasoning?”
Inga said nothing, which seemed to be all that Rhistel needed.
“So Saga is legitimate, is she?”
“She is.”
The prince took two steps closer to his mother and leanedin so that they shared breath. “Who says the king,my father, will need toallowanything?” Rhistel raised a hand and removed the glove that kept his whisperer magic nullified. “Especially when I erase this truth from your mind. It will be like you never spoke. And as for Vale—well, I’ll come up with something to explain his addled mind. He was always so dimwitted, anyway. It would not be hard to convince the masses that the whore of a Falk manipulated him.”
He lunged, but Inga dodged the hand coming for her. In his hiding spot, Lord Riis gripped the wall. Should he reveal himself and use his own magic to nullify Rhistel’s power? Yes, then Inga and the Lord of Tongues could come up with a new plan. He very nearly pulled aside the lattice when the door to the queen’s chamber burst open.
“Stop!” Princess Saga rushed inside just as the queen grabbed Rhistel by the arm.
Leyv saw the moment Inga whispered her son. She rarely left tells, but their son—a profound whisperer himself—was no normal fae. His eyes went vacant, his body slack.
Saga stopped in her tracks. “What are you doing to him?”
“Daughter, I can explain. I?—”
“You had better for Isawall that just happened, Mother.” The princess spoke with a seer’s authority. “I know what you told Rhistel about him and Vale and Lord Riis. I witnessed how my brother reacted. I thought to arrive in time to stop him from hurting you, but it seems I didn’t have to worry. You protected yourself against him, somehow. Theonly thing I do not understand is why he looks like that.” Saga pointed a finger at her brother.
Lord Riis’s heart thudded. Saga still knew nothing of the whispering powers her mother and brother possessed. So she hadn’tseeneverything that had occurred.
Inga released Rhistel, and his eyes cleared to normal, though when he sat back down—unbothered, Leyv knew Inga was still in control.
“Shut the door, Saga,” the queen said. “I’ll explain everything. I’ve been wanting to for many turns.” She swallowed. “Though the truth will endanger me, Rhistel, and you as well.”
The princess shut the door. Before she sat, however, she turned to the lattice. “Isawyou too,Lord Riis. You may as well emerge.”
Inga chuckled, though there was no delight in it. “Please, Leyv.”
He slid the lattice aside, and though every part of his being wanted to run and take Inga in his arms, he refrained, if only for Saga’s sake. The princess, after all, did not seem too impressed with him or her mother at the moment. It would be more prudent to fight his impulses and stay away.
The princess and the spymaster gathered around the queen, all the while the prince sat there, still and without the haughtiness that was his nature.
“What did you do to him? Is this from reading his mind too forcefully?” Saga eyed her half-brother.
“No, my dear,” Inga said. “I—and your brother—are whisperers.”
