“You’re loyal to Emberfall.”
“Yes. And to Grey. And to those who are loyal to him.” He pauses. “I understand my brother made a choice when you and Tycho had this …” He glances at me. “Altercationin Briarlock.”
“Are you questioning his choice?” says Alek.
Rhen smiles dangerously. “Never.” He pauses. “I can say without hesitation that I would have made a different one.” He shuffles. Deals. Shrugs. “I would have questioned you both and acted accordingly.” When he looks at Alek, his gaze is piercing. “Had you failed to appear, I would have considered that an admission of guilt.”
“How lucky I am that you were not making the decision, then.”
“Indeed you are. The bet is to you, Tycho.”
I toss a coin on the table without any care for the cards in my hand. I’ve watched a thousand sword fights, but none have come close to the level of tension in this room.
There’s something fascinating about that. I’ve spent years with Grey on the training fields, but this is a different skill altogether. I was ready to draw a weapon a moment ago. But with Alek, I need to be smarter. To figure out a way to rely on more than just my talents with a blade.
“You bear a distrust for magic,” Rhen is saying to Alek.
“You do too, I’m told.” He glances at Rhen’s hands. “You do not wear the rings your brother has shared with an honored few.”
“I have no need for magic,” Rhen says. “But I do not begrudge my brother his talents.”
“I do,” Alek says. “I’ve seen the damage magic has caused to the people of Syhl Shallow.You’veseen the damage magic has caused to Emberfall. Grey has been king for four years, but where is magic’s benefit to either country? Our former queen was formidable. No one woulddare attack her court. And now we have a queen who’s been attacked more than once. She refuses to allow her guards and soldiers to act, under the guise of wantingpeace. Instead of peace, we had protestors slaughtered in the castle hallways.”
Alek leans in against the table. “And now, his magic seems to be putting our queen at risk. Her lingering illness is no secret to those at court. The princess’s disappearance has not been explained. If the king cannot be trusted to use his magic to protect the royal family, why should anyone else trust him?”
Rhen’s eyes flick to me, but I say nothing. The king and queen were planning to make an announcement, but I don’t know if they actually did. I may have lost my position at court, but I still know how to keep secrets.
I glare at Alek. “You keep implying everyone else is unworthy of trust, but it’s you. You’re the liar. You’re the one sowing discord.”
“Again,” he says. “When have I lied?”
“Tycho is suspicious of your motives,” Rhen says. “That makesmesuspicious of your motives. What are you really doing in Briarlock?”
Alek shrugs lazily. “Nothing.”
I grit my teeth. “If your intention is to harm the king—”
His eyes flash to mine. “How couldanyoneharm the king,” he says, his tone low and mocking, “if he has such powerfulmagic?”
Something about those words lodges in my thoughts. I’m not sure what, and I turn them around in my head.
“If you are found to be plotting against the king,” says Rhen, his voice just as low, “it will not go well for you.”
Alek bets. “Are you attempting to threaten me?”
“Threaten you!” Rhen laughs. “No. I am attempting towarnyou.”
I’m frozen in place, but I’m hardly listening now.
How could anyone harm the king?
I know how. I flex my fingers. Just like my rings gave me magic,Iishellasan steel can be charged to repel magic. I’ve seen a dagger that could cause injuries Grey was unable to heal.
I remember a line from one of the first letters we found.
Gather your best silver.
We thought they were gathering funds. Planning another large attack on the palace.
