Self-consciousness bled from him. While he didn’t move from her touch, his eye darted away. “I should let you rest.”
“I’d love a little company.”
His dark brows drew together, but before he could speak, there was another knock on the door. “Lady Vincetti,” her guard called in. “Princess Jayveh and Princess Sadia are here to see you.”
Berron took a step back, breaking contact with her. “Enjoy your company.”
“Berron—”
But he was already striding for the door.
Jayveh led the way inside, her fear for Amryn driving out all else. Sadia was also worried, though Amryn felt her spike of curiosity as she watched Carver’s brother flee the room.
Jayveh fussed over her, getting more pillows and pouring her a glass of water. Sadia had brought a vase filled with colorful flowers selected from the palace gardens. The warmth of their care and friendship enveloped Amryn.
They were still there when Ahmi arrived with food, and since she’d brought enough to feed a small army, Jayveh and Sadia ate dinner with Amryn. The conversation ebbed and flowed easily, distracting Amryn from her various hurts. By the time they left, her heart was full. And yet, the evening brought another surprise visitor.
Ahmi opened the door, allowing Alora Vincetti to sweep inside. Worry bloomed inside Carver’s mother as she took in Amryn’s appearance, but an indignant sort of outrage punched through when she caught sight of the bandage wrapped around her throat. “Cregon promised me that you were all right!”
Before Amryn could say a word, Alora had rushed to her bedside. “Saints, that man! I could strangle him sometimes. Are you in pain? Do you need another pillow? Should you even be sitting up? Oh, you poor dear, your eye is swelling shut!”
Amryn stared, a little overwhelmed by Alora’s fussing. No, it was more than just the woman’s concern that overwhelmed her. It was the unexpected wave of maternal care that made Amryn’s eyes suddenly sting.
Alora clucked her tongue as she studied the bandage. “Were you cut? Bruised? I should send back to the townhouse for a bottle of myarnisea. It’s better than anything the physicians here have, I’m sure of it. The recipe has been in my family for generations. It always helped heal the bruises and scrapes my children got—and my husband as well, despite his best efforts to refuse proper care so he canheal likea real man. Complete idiocy. If he wasn’t the love of my life, I probably would have pushed him into the ocean in the middle of a hurricane by now . . .”
“I’m fine,” Amryn finally managed to say when Alora paused to take a breath. “It was just a graze. I’m sure the bandage makes it look worse than it is.”
Alora didn’t seem convinced, but she stopped her inspection. She claimed one of the bedside chairs Jayveh and Sadia had used and instantly scooped up Amryn’s hand. When she noticed the bruising and small scrapes there, she began fussing all over again.
Ahmi obediently brought over a salve when asked, though she’d helped Amryn apply the ointment already. Although, to be fair, most of the salve she’d put on had been wiped away on Carver’s shirt.
Amryn’s cheeks warmed at the memories that rose. It wasn’t exactly appropriate to recall their passionate kisses when Carver’s mother sat beside her.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” Alora said, pushing up her sleeves before twisting open the jar of salve. Amryn caught sight of a slim gold bracelet around Alora’s wrist. She was surprised to see it, since Carver’s mother wore no other jewelry. Despite being a noblewoman, she clearly dressed more for comfortable practicality than anything else.
“The whole city is in a state of disorder,” Alora continued, deftly smoothing the soothing ointment over Amryn’s scuffed palm. “Cregon sent me a message, telling me about Ford’s injury, but he assured me the rest of you were fine. He didn’t want me to leave the house, but I couldn’t very well stay away. I visited Ford first, of course, and I checked on Elowen. I knew Carver might not be in, since he and Cregon will probably both be in meetings half the night. They work too hard.”
But if Alora thought Carver wasn’t even here . . . Amryn’s chest squeezed. “You came to see me?”
“Of course! I’ve been so worried.” Tenderness filled her eyes as she studied Amryn. “You’re the woman my son married. That makes you my daughter. How could Inotbe worried about you?”
Overwhelmed by those simple words—and the beautiful acceptance therein—Amryn’s throat constricted. She couldn’t speak, even if she knew what to say.
Alora, however, didn’t need a response. She gently squeezed Amryn’s wrist, then said matter-of-factly, “Give me your other hand. This ointment will have to do until I can bring you myarnisea.”
Chapter 44
Carver
Themeetinginthethrone room was a somber affair. The emperor had never looked more defeated than he did as Morelli and Keats reported on their findings at Market Square.
Thirty-seven innocents were confirmed dead. Many more were wounded, and many of them would likely die in the coming days. The final death toll wouldn’t be known for a week or more, but they already knew it was too high.
The city guard had managed to capture only four rebels. Two were grievously injured, but they would all be interrogated. No one in the room expected to learn much.
The Rising had been horrifically calculated in their attack. They hadn’t targeted Zagrev’s busiest square, probably in an effort to avoid a faster response from the city guard. They’d fired from the rooftops, where they didn’t expect to meet any resistance. And they’d planted men with knives at every alleyway and road around the square to catch any who tried to flee.
The attack was a shocking blow to the emperor’s shining city. And a chillingly clever tactic. It was far easier to attack a city square than to lay siege to the emperor’s palace, yet it was just as demoralizing—if not more so—to the people of Craethen.
