That will change if Alek is here.
He must see the quick burst of alarm in my expression, because his smile is predatory. “Tycho. I’m glad to see you arrived in a timely manner. I know the king had concerns.”
Concerns. The word is barbed, every point aimed at me. I had no idea Alek was attending the competition. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
I grit my teeth and tighten my grip on the food. “If you’ll excuse me.”
He moves to block my path. “Something happened to the queen before you left the palace. What was it?”
I think of the queen’s sorrow, the king’s tense worry, both of which are wrapped up in a tragedy that might have been caused by an action I took. I won’t give Alekanyof that.
“You’ll have to address your questions to the queen.” I glare at him, thinking of how much doubt he cast on me in the throne room. “You remember how to do that, I’m sure. Now move.”
He doesn’t. “You’re hiding something,” he says, his voice low. “Thekingis hiding something.”
“Hiding something from a man rumored to work with the Truthbringers?” I say. “What a surprise.”
“Are you referring to yourself? I believe those rumors now point atyou.”
I want to throw a punch. My hand has already formed a fist.
Alek leans in and says, his voice low, “I know where you went, and I know what you did.”
My chest constricts, and I suck in a breath—but I hold my temper and try to shove past him.
I should know better. Alek isn’t one to let a physical altercation pass him by. He grabs hold of my arm, and I whirl, letting my fist fly. Maybe he didn’t expect me to retaliate so quickly, because I get him in the jaw an instant before he ducks to drive an arm into my abdomen. I regroup to hit him again, ready to seize one of his blades, but an arm grabs me from behind.
I struggle, thinking it’s his guards, but Alek has been grabbed aswell. It’s Emberfall’s Royal Guard. Commander Zo is standing between us, Princess Harper at her side.
To my surprise, they let me go, but they keep hold of Alek.
“You willunhand me,” he snaps in Emberish. “Do you know who I am?”
“I know you assaulted a member of this court,” Harper snaps back. “Do you know whoIam?”
Alek inhales like he’s going to spew venom. He probablydoesknow who Harper is, but he bears nothing but disdain for Emberfall.
Prince Rhen speaks from the end of the hallway. “Watch your words, Lord Alek.Iknow who you are. I will remind you that you are in the heart of Emberfall, not your home country.” His tone could slice through steel. “My brother may need to pander to you, but I do not.”
Alek grits his teeth—but we’re surrounded by guards now. He looks at Harper. “Forgive me, my lady,” he says, and if I didn’t hate him so much, I’d be impressed at how quickly he can strip any disrespect from his tone. One of Rhen’s guards still has his arm pinned, but you’d never know it. “It’s been a long ride. I shouldn’t have let Tycho provoke me. I let my temper get the best of me.”
These words slice intome, and my gut tightens. Just like in Syhl Shallow, he’ll be forgiven. Another arrow of doubt will pierce my reputation.
But Harper says, “If Tycho provoked you, he probably had a good reason.” She looks at the guard pinning his arm. “Let him go.”
The guard does. Alek tugs his armor straight.
Prince Rhen has crossed the short distance to stand at her side. “If your travels have been so wearying, I suggest you spend the remainder of your evening in your quarters. I’d be happy to have the Royal Guard escort you.”
A threat hides in his words, and a shred of Alek’s arrogance lights up his eyes, but it doesn’t make it into his voice. “Of course, YourHighness,” he says craftily. “I trust your servants can deliver a full meal for me and my guards?”
I’m hoping Rhen will tell him to eat the food I’ve dropped on the floor, but the prince simply says, “Certainly,” and his voice is just as smooth as Alek’s was.
Alek bows to them both, then turns away. Rhen looks at Zo and speaks quietly. “Make sure he doesn’t find any further provocation.”
She smiles. “Yes, my lord.”
Once they’re gone, the tension in the hallway evaporates, leaving me with more shame and embarrassment than any latent anger.
