“Maybe he is. But I’d like to know what he’s saying.”
I take a long, slow breath. This feels like standing at the edge of a cliff. It’s one thing for Alek to trickme. I don’t want to help him trick the queen. I bite at my lip. “He said he never lied, and that he had ample opportunity to attack the king, and there was no reason for him to beheld in Emberfall.” I pause. “He says he had no involvement in what happened in Briarlock, and he implied that someone was working against himandyou.”
“Does he know who?”
“No. Well—he didn’t tellme.” I hesitate.
The queen’s eyes narrow. “Out with it.”
“I just—” I wince. Alek is so diabolical. “He implicated your sister.”
“Nolla Verin?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” She pours herself another glass of wine.
I nearly fall out of my chair at the casual way she saysHmm.
Then she adds, “Do you think he would tell you more?”
Now I want to drainmyglass. “More?”
“If I arranged a private meeting, do you think Lord Alek would speak freely about his suspicions? Or do you think he would be wary?”
“I . . . have absolutely no idea.”
“He is clearly drawn to you if he sought you out in the arena.” Her voice softens. “And if he spoke to you about his sister and mother—if hebondedwith you, as you said, I don’t think that was a trick. He may have manipulated you in some ways, but I do think it’s possible he felt a genuine connection. Would you be willing to see what else he would say?”
I almost can’t believe we’re having this conversation. It has gone nowhere I thought it would. “I’m not a spy, Your Majesty. He knows I hate him. I don’t think I could convince him that I was there out of genuine interest.”
“You misunderstand. I don’t need you to be a spy. I don’twantyou to be a spy.” The queen shifts her weight and leans in against the table. “Callyn, I need to protect my daughter. I cannot be at war with all of my people. If you are willing to speak with Alek, and if he is willing to be open with you, then I would ask you to listen.”
I brace myself, and I cast a glance at the girls, then drop my voice. “But . . . ?what if he just blames your sister? Or what if he says that the king is a threat to you? What if he says that’s why he wants him dead?”
She frowns, and a bit of that pain from earlier flickers in her eyes. But maybe she’s bracing herself, too, because her voice is strong and clear. “Then I would like for you to convince Lord Alek that his queen is ready to hear everything he has to say.”
CHAPTER 15
TYCHO
I set a hard pace out of Ironrose, my heart full of bitterness. I hate that I’m leaving Jax, I hate that I’m wearing this gold-and-red uniform, and I honestly hate that I have a soldier by my side.
Overhead, the sky hangs heavy with clouds that promise rain before nightfall, bringing a chill to the air. After we met in the arena this morning, Prince Rhen gave me strict orders to take shelter before dusk each day, and to not ride out until full light—which will probably stretch my four-day ride into five. It’s one more point of bitterness on top of so many others, and I let Mercy have her head for a full-out gallop so I don’t have to talk.
To my surprise, Malin rides flank and doesn’t complain, matching my pace effortlessly, as if we’ve trained with each other for years instead of meeting a week ago. I really shouldn’t be agitated, because he seems to be a fine soldier, and I know he was kind to Jax during our journey. He’s experienced, too, with two narrow stripes on his shoulder, which makes him a second lieutenant. It’s not his fault that he came up through the army on this side of the border while I fought on the other.
But I hate these colors and I hate this uniform and I hate everything about this journey.
Oh, and now it’s raining.
I sigh. At first it’s a gentle rain, easily ignored, but it quickly turns to a downpour, which means we need to find shelter. I travel light, but we have a ways to go, and I won’t have wet tack and saddle blankets rubbing sores into the horses if I can help it.
We find a small tavern that doesn’t have a stable, but it does have a low overhang where we can tether the animals. I tell Malin we should strip the gear so it can dry while we wait out the storm.
He gives me a brisk nod. “Yes, sir.”
We haven’t said much to each other since leaving Ironrose, but that’s my fault. I glance at him over Mercy’s withers as I unbuckle her breastplate. “I’m not an officer, Lieutenant. You don’t have to defer to me.”
