But then Ican’tstop. I rush on, heedless. “I’ll do my duty. I swear it. Whatever you need. I’ll carry your message to Grey. But please—Your Highness—please don’t send him back to Briarlock. If Alek is loose, he’ll kill him. I know he will. Jax can’t run. His father is dead. Even Callyn is gone. He’d be alone. He’d have no defense.Please.”
This time he waits until I’ve finished speaking, and I’m a bit breathless. Rhen hasn’t moved, and he’s just looking right back at me.
“Are you done?” he says.
I frown, abashed. I feel warmth crawling up my neck.
A line appears between his eyebrows. “Why would you think I’m sending him back to Briarlock?”
“You said you noticed problems with the soldiers,” I say, more quietly this time. “And I know he lied about the magic, but . . .” My voice trails off.
“He’s very loyal to you. I wasn’t looking to censure that, Tycho. I admire it.”
That makes me flush fully.
He continues, “When I mentioned the soldiers, it was because I do not want them sowing discord over Jax’s presence here. Tensions are high enough. We are at peace with Syhl Shallow. If there is a problem to be solved, tell me, and I will solve it.” He pauses. “I know you and my brother have yet to come to terms over your differences, but you offered me your trust. I’ll do my best to be worthy of it.”
On the day we left Briarlock, I refused to tell Grey what I’d sworn to Nakiis. But later, Rhen asked if I trusted him enough to tellhim.
And I did. When it comes to the king, I seem to have nothing but the capacity for failure anymore. But Rhen defended me against Alek, and more than once. He spoke up for me to Grey. He offered Jax the position here, and I have no doubt that a good part of his reasoning was as a kindness tome.
“You are worthy of it,” I say quietly.
“Thank you.” He pauses. “So tell me truly. Should I send someone else?”
I consider Grey’s reaction if someone else rode up to the gates of the Crystal Palace. I consider that remaining here might make Ironrose a target, if I’m the one the scravers are after.
I consider the sound of Jax’s breath when I pressed him up against the door of his room this morning. I consider how badly I want to stay.
I have to look away. “No. You shouldn’t send someone else.”
Rhen is quiet for a long moment. “Very well. But if scravers seekyou, sending you alone might leave you too vulnerable. With Truthbringers plotting against the king, I don’t want to make you a target for anyoneelse. Scravers aren’t the only thing we have to worry about right now.” He sighs, considering. “One of the soldiers we first left with spoke some Syssalah. Do you remember which one?”
I think of the young men playing a prank this morning. It should have made me smile—but it didn’t. I was too eager to get away from thesoldiers, my thoughts about Jax too wound up and complicated to process. But I nod. “Malin.”
Rhen makes a note on his parchment. “Take Malin, and wear army livery. You can be soldiers delivering orders across the border. Stick to the main roads, and ride through the day.” He looks down at the table and moves some papers until he reveals a map of Emberfall. “If you leave by midday tomorrow, you should be able to reach Redcrest by sundown.”
Wear army livery.I feel like a nail has been hammered into the side of my rib cage.
I force myself to nod, because I just swore that I would do my duty, and I can’t exactly walk it back now. “As you say.”
“The Truthbringers may have been stopped in Briarlock, but I hold no illusion that they werealleradicated. Any who remain will be more cautious. I know the scraver Nakiis helped you in battle, and I know you swore to fight at his side when he calls. But Nakiis was once bound to the magesmith Lilith—and she nearly caused the downfall of this entire kingdom. You must be wary, Tycho. If there are more scraver attacks, it will lend weight to the Truthbringer cause that magic is a threat. This will not go well for the king.”
“I know.”
Rhen looks back at his letter and writes for a while, and the silence builds between us again. It’s so different to sit with him instead of Grey. I don’t know when it changed, but all my time with the king seems to make me feel like I’ll never measure up.
Rhen speaks into my silence. “Was Jax satisfied with the Shield House? You didn’t say.”
I can’t help but glance at the window. I think of the way Jax would glare at Rhen’s tent every time he thought I wouldn’t notice.
He’s honestly lucky theprincedidn’t notice.
Prince Rhen said Jax was very loyal for lying to protect me, but I’m willing to bet at least half of it was sheer belligerence.
“Yes,” I say. “Overwhelmed, I think. He’s grateful for the position.”
Though I’m not sure how much gratitude will be left once I tell him I’m leaving again.
