“Advise,” I say quietly. “Do we need to move?”
He shakes his head. “No, Your Majesty. I lost them miles ago.I doubled back through the creek half a dozen times to cover my tracks.”
But still. That was very close. “If they came this way once, they’ll do it again.”
He nods, then wipes the rag against his cheek, wincing when it finds broken skin. “I don’t remember the night patrol being that determined.”
“Someone is paying them to bemoredetermined.” I imagine it’s Allisander, or one of his barons. I keep thinking of Arella Cherry working with the head of the palace guard, though. I still don’t know how or why they’re tricking people into thinking I’mpoisoningthem. “They know I’m out here somewhere.”
Saeth nods and looks out at the night, but he says nothing to that.
As always, there are so many people, so many angles, so manyworriesto consider. I have all of Kandala to think of, but when I’m sitting here in the dark, it’s hard to cast my concerns beyond the people in front of me. Like Annabeth, who came to tell me about her means to sneak into the palace. Like Quint, who’s whisked away Saeth’s water cup to refill it without being asked.
Like the man at my side, who must have run formilestonight, just to protect me.
All while worried about a family that he hasn’t seen in more than a week.
When I was first crowned king after my parents’ assassination, I had to choose my own personal guard. It would have been easy to use the same men my father had used. As the crown prince, I knew them all, and was familiar with each one of them.
But my mother and father had died on their watch, and in the days after it happened, I found I didn’t trustanyof them.
So I discharged them all.
When it came time to interview applicants to staff myownpersonal guard, however, I found it more challenging than I expected. It didn’t help that I had years of hearing little remarks about my illnesses, little snickers about my frail health, little moments of mockery behind my back when I would pass. Comments that weren’t quite soft enough for me to ignore—especially when they were coming from the hall guards themselves. Comments that would have been petty to address but sat under my skin for weeks.
I would sit across the table from each man and woman and try to remember if it was someone who’d mocked me behind my back, or if it was someone I could trust with my life. Until our parents were slaughtered right in front of us, we rarely faced any threats. But suddenly I was trying to discern which guards would truly risk their life to save mine, when a week before I was trying my best toignorethem.
But for some reason I’d remembered Saeth from when he’d been among the general guard. I don’t remember what he said during his interview, and it probably didn’t matter. When he sat down at the table, he’d looked familiar, and it only took me a second to remember why. He’d been a hall guard when I was younger, and some footmen were whispering when I passed. Saeth had snapped at them to stop.
He was one of the first guards I chose.
I should’ve known he had a family.
It’s quiet and cold and dark, and I think Quint and Thorin have gone back in the house, so I say, “Ben told me about your wife and children. That you’ve been worried.”
Saeth goes absolutely rigid, and his head whips around, but he doesn’t look at me. He’s looking for Thorin.
“He didn’t betray you,” I say.
“He shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Saeth.Adam.I asked him. I should’ve asked earlier.”
He glares at the door, then gives an aggravated sigh and runs the rag over his neck again. “Leah knows the risks. She’s a brave girl. She’ll take care of them, Your Majesty. You shouldn’t have to trouble yourself.”
Every word of that sounds like he’s trying to convincehimself.
“If I could give you leave to return home,” I say, “I would.”
“I’d be arrested,” he says. “I’m sure they’re watching her.”
“No doubt.”
His throat jerks as he swallows, and his jaw is set, his eyes fixed on the trees. “I won’t abandon Thorin either.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I pause. “If we could manage it safely, would you be willing to bring them here?”
He goes still again.
