I know he’s kidding, but I’ve never met anyone who’s so particular about his clothes. To his credit, I like the jacket he’s wearing, too. It’s a green so dark that it’s almost black, with delicate light green stitching around each button—of which there seem to be a hundred.
“I can throw something else at you,” I say. “Where are we going?”
His eyes are piercing. “Tell me what the queen said first.”
I think of the queen standing at that window in the dark, watching the king but not wanting him to know.
She’s in so much pain. I don’t want anyone to cause her any more.
Alek frowns a little. “Do I need to prove myself to you every time, Callyn?”
“You won’t even tell me where we’re going. Do I need to prove myself toyou?”
That startles him, but he smiles. “Very well. We’re visiting one of the other Royal Houses. I’d like to introduce you to some people who may prove helpful in the future.”
I go rigid against the velvet seat. “Really?”
He shrugs again, nonchalant. “Yes. I’m meeting with some of my most important customers. As you and the queen both know, I’ve lost quite a bit of time while dealing with the king’s frivolous claims about my guilt.” He pauses. “But these people are important to me for more than one reason.”
I drop my voice, even though we’re alone in the carriage. “So these are people who are loyal to the Tr—”
“Who are loyal to thequeen,” he says, cutting me off before I can sayTruthbringers. “I’ve discovered in recent weeks that certain loyalties to Syhl Shallow may differ.” He pauses. “Do you understand?”
He must mean whatever is going on among the Truthbringers that allowed some of them to splinter off and attack the queen—instead ofprotectingher. I swallow and nod.
“Good,” he says. “Now tell me what you mean to tell me.”
I take a deep breath. “She said she doesn’t need sanctuary. She needs allies.”
“Indeed. Then it is doubly beneficial that you’re going with me. In fact, you should probably join me for all of my visits this week.”
I consider that. “As I said, I’m supposed to bewiththe princess every day, especially in the morning. Someone will get suspicious.”
“Bring Princess Sinna if you like.” His eyes flick skyward. “Bring your sister, too, if she can keep her hands to herself.”
“I can’t bring the princess,” I say. “Not without a full contingent of guards. I don’t know if they’d even let me. The king has doubled the patrols around the palace.”
His eyes narrow. “Why?”
“I don’t know. The queen doesn’t even know. But it followed the arrival of Lord Tycho.”
“Tycho! The king sent him away. He’s come back?”
I nod quickly. “Yesterday. Well before dawn. I only saw him briefly.”
He considers this for a while as the scenery flows by the silky window covering.
Eventually, he looks back at me. “If he returned this quickly, something must have happened in Emberfall. Are you certain the queen doesn’t know? Or is it that she hasn’t toldyou?”
“She doesn’t know.” This feels so deeply personal, but I’m sure gossip is going to spread soon—if it hasn’t already. “They’re not speaking at all now.”
He stares back at me. “The king and queen?”
I nod. “He’s staying elsewhere in the palace. I only see him on the fields or in the training arena now.” I hesitate. “The queen told him that she understands her people’s distaste for magic, and he stopped speaking to her. She’s . . . ?she’s rather distraught.”
Alek’s eyes have gone cold. “Did he harm her?”
“No! At least—I don’t think so.” I remember her sobbing on my shoulder. “He’s never . . . ?he’s never likethat. He’s very gentle with Sinna, too. I just—” My voice breaks off. This feels like the worst kind of gossip. “I think she’s hurt by hissilence. I don’t think she expected him to withdraw.”
