“Of course!” I shake my head. “You don’t need topayme.”
“Food isn’t free.” He takes my wrist and drops the coins into my hand.
Tycho will bring him back. I’m frozen in place for a moment, because I can’t wrap my head around all of this. Has Jax befriended Lord Tycho? Is Lord Alek right?
I close my fingers around the coins just as hoofbeats pound in the lane again. I’m expecting the return of the magistrate, but instead, a chestnut gelding slows to a stop beside me, and Alek himself swings down from the saddle to stand at my side. “Callyn,” he says. “Is Lord Jacob troubling you?”
“No,” I say. “I heard the horses—and I was worried about Jax, so—”
“Alek.” Lord Jacob looks absolutely gobsmacked—but it takes him less than a second to recover. His gaze darkens. “You’ve been ignoring a royal summons,” he says, with unveiled anger. “I know what you did to Tycho. I should drag you back to the palace right now.”
“A royal summons?” Alek says. The air flickers with danger. “I feel certain I sent word regardingmyside of the events.”
“Fine. I’m going to give youmyside.” Lord Jacob draws a blade.
So does Lord Alek.
Clouds above. Like a fool, I jump right between them. “Stop!”
“Move,” Jacob snaps. “You don’t know who he is. What he’s done.”
“I can tell you whathehas done,” says Alek. “Jacob was involved in the first assault on Syhl Shallow’s army.”
My heart freezes in my chest.
Alek isn’t finished. “He was commanding the soldiers who killedyour mother. The same soldiers who killedmymother.” His voice is ice cold. “He was with the soldiers who slaughtered my sister.”
“Your sister was aspy.”
“My sister was loyal to Syhl Shallow,” Alek snaps. “Whileyouwere involved in the insurrection that allowed this magical king to take the throne.”
“If you want to talk aboutinsurrection,” Lord Jacob growls, “maybe we can talk about whatyouare doinghere.”
The words fall like a guillotine. I’m not sure how or why, but the tension seems to triple.
The flat side of Alek’s sword touches my elbow. “Step aside, lovely. I’m not sure words are going to solve this.”
Maybe my mother would think I’m a coward, but I’m not going to watch them hack each other to bits right in front of me.
“He’s here forme,” I say to Lord Jacob. I wish I’d thought to bring that ax I keep near the barn. I focus on what Alek just said about my mother. About his family. That same fire from his voice lights a spark in mine. “I don’t know anything about a royal summons, but Lord Alek has been coming to Briarlock to seeme.” I take a step forward, toward his blade, and Jacob falls back a step. “He’s herenowbecause he saw you talking to me, and he doesn’t trust you. If what he said is true, thenIdon’t trust you.” Those coins are still clenched in my fist, and I fling them at him. “I’ll take care of Jax. I don’t need your money.”
The coins scatter in the underbrush. Lord Jacob is staring at me in disbelief. His eyes go from me to Alek and back. “Look,” he says to me. “I don’t think you understand who heis. What he’sdone.”
“I haven’t treated Callyn with anything but kindness,” Alek says from behind me.
“And you drew your sword first,” I say sharply.
Lord Jacob swears in a language that’s not Syssalah. His jaw is tight, his eyes full of anger. “Fine.Fine.” He sheathes his weapon. “I will gladlyreturn to the Crystal Palace to inform the royal family that I found you here, and you feel your presence at court is not warranted.”
“Oh, I’ll return to court,” says Alek. He hasn’t put his sword away at all, and there’s enough vicious promise in his voice that I worry he might finish the fight that Jacob almost started. “When I decide I have the time. My business keeps me rather occupied.”
“I’m sure.”
Alek inhales, and I realize he reallyisgoing to continue this fight, so I turn and put a hand against his chest. “I’ve left Nora alone too long. Would you walk me back?”
He falters, which is more surprising than the almost-violence.
“For certain,” he says. He gives Lord Jacob a contemptuous nod, takes up the reins of his horse, and turns to walk by my side.
