“Pleasant enough. It was a long walk.” I consider what Rocco said about horses and how long it took to get here. “Last week you offered horses and livestock, and I declined, because we hadn’t had time to consider.” I smooth my hands on my skirts and fix my gaze on the collar of his jacket again. Speaking to King Harristan was always a bit terrifying because he was sointense. Rian is nothing like that, but I’m desperate to regain some footing after the way we arrived here. “I’ve had time for some reflection, so I’d like to request both to be delivered to the house as soon as possible.”
His eyebrows go up. “Was this reflection on your part, Miss Cade?” His eyes flick to Rocco, standing quietly along the wall.
“Yes, after discussion with my guard,” I say.
Those words land with a bit of weight, and Rian’s eyes don’t leave Rocco’s position. After a moment, his gaze returns to me. “Your guard?”
Maybe I shouldn’t be calling himmine, but I don’t want to backpedal. “Yes.”
Rian’s expression turns a little more coolly assessing, and I wonder if he’s going to ask what kind of person begins by trying to stab him, then starts asking for favors.
But he doesn’t. “Very well,” he says. “I can outfit you with two horses and a wagon to return, and enough silver to buy chickens and a goat when you pass back through town. Dabriel can give you the names of some vendors, or I can ask her to accompany you. Would that be sufficient?”
I hesitate, and it takes everything I have not to look at Rocco for confirmation. “Yes,” I say again. “Thank you.”
As soon as I say the words, I wish I hadn’t. I don’t want to thank him for anything.
I wait for him to demand something ofme, but he doesn’t. He simply nods. “You’re welcome, Miss Cade.”
Miss Cade.He keeps calling me that, though he called me Tessa before I tried to hit him.
But it makes me think ofhisname, and I study the line of his jaw because I still don’t want to meet his eyes. “I don’t know what to call you.”
He frowns a little. “You can call me Rian, as before. Everyone does.”
“Is it really your name?”
He nods. “I didn’t lie on the ship. Itisa nickname from childhood, a shortened form of my middle name. I didn’t lie at dinner with King Harristan either. My father—the last king—had a complicated family tree, and there was no clear heir to the throne. I was named Galen after my mother’s brother, and Redstone was her surname. I was a captain on a ship before I ever made a claim for the throne, so I’ll never expect anyone to address me as royalty. It still takes me by surprise when people do it.” He pauses for a long moment, then leans toward me. “I tried not to lie about much at all. Truly.”
I keep my eyes locked on that spot on his collar, studying each individual thread. “You lied aboutenough.”
He sits back in his chair. “I offered Prince Corrick the truth, before he died. I’d offer you the same, if you’re ready to hear it.”
Before he died.My heart gives a lurch, and I clench my hands in the fabric of my dress to keep from shuddering. I wish I still had the dagger. Maybe it’s better that I don’t.
Rian’s voice softens. “But it doesn’t need to be today.” He leans forward again. “Please. I know you’re grieving. I don’t want to be your enemy.”
“You killed him!” I shout, and for the first time, I really look at him. “Corrick, and Lochlan, and Kilbourne, and Silas—”
“No!” His voice is just as angry, and just as loud, and it shocks me still. “Ididn’t.”
The echo of our voices reverberates like a bell, and I can feel my fingernails nearly drawing blood from my palms.
“Your lies convinced us to get on that ship,” I say, seething.
“Well,hislies put us in danger.Again, I told him to stay out of that room, but you took it upon yourself to break the lock. I told him that it would be a risk for ships to attempt to follow us, and brigantines were on the horizon by the third day. I told him—”
“You were keeping a girlprisoner.”
“Yes, so we would have leverage to get past Oren Crane safely. And because she was lost in the attack, wedidn’t.” His eyes, so much lighter than Corrick’s, are so fierce. “I lost people, too, Tessa.Mypeople died, too. Because ofhislies. Because ofyouractions.”
“Don’t you see that the lies began with you?” I demand. “Don’t you see that you set everyone up to fail?”
“Is that what you think? From Ostriary’s point of view, the lies havealwayscome from Kandala. You can’t even deny it! Your entire country is a breeding ground for treason and insurrection. I said no sailors, and he brought a sailor. Hell, he brought one of the leaders of yourrevolutiononto my ship. The citizens of your country are being poisoned by Moonflower, and you sayIset everyone up to fail? Why is it all right for your prince to lie and cheat and steal to protect his people, but you hold me to a different standard? Your people might have been dying—well, so weremine.” He smacks the table so forcefully that it echoes.
I’m breathing so hard. Tears might be on my cheeks.
Rian takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. He presses his palms together in front of his face.
