Prince Rhen intends to send me back to Syhl Shallow.
Of course he does. The worst part is that I agree with him. The kingdoesneed to know.
I force myself to nod. “I understand.”
“Grey and Lia Mara were to have the second part of the Royal Challenge in Syhl Shallow this autumn, but they will need to weigh the political ramifications of hosting an event after such a bold attack on the throne. Canceling could send a message of fear—but hosting one could be a risk. Even still, it would do well to continue their vision of unity between the countries. A sense of accord is very much needed right now. Lord Alek should be in the Crystal City by now. Once Grey interrogates him, he and Lia Mara will need to make a decision about how to proceed.”
Lord Alek.
The last time I rode courier between Emberfall and Syhl Shallow, he tried to kill me. I sure hope Prince Rhen was right about Grey keeping him on a short leash.
And I’ll be riding right back to a palace where the king doesn’t want me.
So much tension is coiled inside me with nowhere to go. The prince keeps writing and talking, but I’ve stopped listening entirely.
I saw the look in Jax’s eyes when I left him in the Shield House. Now I have to tell him that I’m leaving Emberfall.
Prince Rhen looks up from his paper, and I realize he must have said something that requires a response.
I have no idea what it is, but I nod dutifully. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Rhen’s not a fool. He regards me for a moment, then sits back in his chair and sets aside the parchment entirely.
My shoulders tighten, and I expect a word of rebuke, as that’s all I’ve gotten from Grey in recent weeks. Something like,You should be grateful, Tycho. You are the King’s Courier. You’ve already put the kingdom at risk. Jax could have found his fate at the end of a rope.
Rhen only says, “Should I send someone else?”
His voice is quiet, lacking recrimination, but I scowl and look away. I know my duties. I don’t even want to consider how Grey would react if Rhen sent a guard or a soldier with a missive like this. I’m in enough trouble already.
“No,” I say.
“I could. I know you expected to remain at Ironrose until you received a summons from Grey.”
That snaps my head back around. “No.”
“I’ve considered that it could be dangerous to send you, if therearescravers lying in wait to attack a magesmith.”
That nearly gets me. I hate how very badly I’d like to claim this excuse—but it sits a little too close to fear, and Grey would never allow it. If I want to keep my position, I need to be the one to deliver this message to the king.
“If there are scravers lying in wait,” I say, “it would be unfair to send someone else. At least I have magic to protect myself.”
“Ah, yes. Yourmagic.”
The way he says that makes me go still.
Rhen doesn’t look away. “I asked Jax if you used magic, and he denied it. Did he know?”
He’s asking if Jax lied right to his face.
I think of that moment in the tent, when he asked if Jax was causing a problem with the soldiers, and I brace myself. “Yes,” I say, “but you must know—”
“Tycho.”
“—he’s simply trying to protect me. He’s not causing a problem with the soldiers either. They’re worried about his involvement with the Truthbringers, but you know how gossip flies. Some of them think he had something to do with the scravers, but—”
“Tycho.”
I stop. My hand is tight against the edge of the table.
