Once we’re in the hallway, some of my tension dissipates. Not all of it, though. Malin strides along beside me, but he waits until we’ve turned a corner before he glances back over his shoulder, and then he seems to relax.
He whistles softly through his teeth. “So . . . ?I should make thattwodrinks?”
“At this point, I don’t think a tavern would stock enough.” I glance over, then lift my arm, the one he grabbed. I have no doubt the king saw the motion, and I hope Grey doesn’t hold it against him. “Thank you for the warning. I know this assignment was important to you. You didn’t have to risk yourself for me.”
“I wasn’t going to watch you hang yourself.”
I give a humorless laugh. “Anyone else would have.”
He hits me in the shoulder. “No. They wouldn’t.” We walk through a doorway flanked by Syhl Shallow guards in green and black, and Malin’s eyes narrow. “Or theyshouldn’t.”
I think about this as we climb stairs and head for the opposite side of the palace. My quarters are close to the royal suites, nowhere near where we met with the king. I still can’t figure out why Grey took usdown to the east wing. It’s not even a commonly used area of the palace.
But there were a lot of guards stationed in the hallway, which seems to indicate he’s there a lot.
You’re both to keep this to yourselves until I determine a path forward.
I.
Notwe.
I’ve been so focused on the conflict between me and the king that I haven’t considered that he might have conflict with anyone else—especially not Lia Mara.
If anything could keep me from collapsing into my bed, it’s this. But it’s too early to go find answers. Even Noah won’t be awake yet.
We finally reach my floor, and I ask servants to ready an unused room for Malin. I show him where I’m quartered, then lead him to his own.
“You can ask the guards to call for food whenever you wake,” I tell him. “I’ll come find you later when I have a sense of what our orders are.” I hesitate. “I’m sorry you have to be sequestered from the army for now.”
He’s looking around his room, which isn’t very large for the palace, but it boasts a massive bed piled with blankets, a small sitting area, and a private washroom. A servant is just stoking the fire in the hearth.
Malin turns to me and says, “I really don’t feel that I’m due an apology for getting a room likethisinstead of having a cot in the barracks.”
I give him a tired smile and turn for the door. “Get some sleep. You know where to find me.”
His voice calls me back. “Tycho.” Then he winces and glances at the departing servant, as if remembering we’re in the palace, and we’re not two simple soldiers on the road anymore. “My lord.”
My smile widens, and I shake my head. “Tycho.”
He doesn’t smile back. “You saved my life,” he says. There’s no teasing in his voice now. “That cost you something.” He hesitates. “I won’t forget it.”
He’s right, it did cost me something. But I don’t care what Grey said. Faced with a dying soldier, the kingwouldhave done the same, as readily as he poured that glass of water. I’ve watched him and idolized him and trained alongside him for years. Grey shouldn’t be surprised that every action I take would be a shadow of his own.
The instant I have the thought, it strikes me that maybe this is part of our conflict: maybe he sees failings in me that he truly sees as failings inhimself.
I think of the way Malin stopped me from losing my temper.No onein the Syhl Shallow army would have done that for me.
For the first time, the gold-and-red livery doesn’t bother me quite so much. “You’re welcome, Malin.” I put out a hand. “For the good of Emberfall.”
Malin clasps it without hesitation. His brown eyes meet mine, and he gives me a nod. “For the good of all.”
CHAPTER 23
JAX
I expected my first days in the forge to be hard, but they’re not.
They’re nearly impossible.
