We reached Stormcrest with most of the troops intact, and I sent the ones who’d made it to pound upon the front doors and demand entry.
Though Pharis had a castle of his own, he had no soldiers. If he refused to open up, I’d come back with a battering ram and knock his doors down.
Love-spelled or not, he couldnotbe allowed to hold Raewyn here any longer. She needed to be with me where I could protect her from the Earthwives—and from him.
To my surprise, the battering ram wasn’t necessary. A male servant opened the door, looking beyond surprised at what he saw outside.
“The King’s men?” he asked, obviously recognizing the colors my soldiers wore. “What may I do for you?”
I slid from my horse and strode toward the door.
“We’re coming inside,” I said, and the man immediately bowed as he recognized me.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Gather the entire household in the center room while my men search the house,” I instructed. “And alert Prince Pharis. Tell him the King requests his presence.”
“The Prince is… indisposed,” the butler said, looking uncomfortable.
“I don’t carewhathe’s doing, I want him to report to me immediately,” I said.
The man blanched and bowed again. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I wasn’t clear. I’m afraid I cannot send the Prince to you because he… he is still abed. And I doubt very much if he can walk.”
“What? Is he injured?”
“No, but he is… drunk. Very,verydrunk. I will take you to his chambers, if you wish. Perhaps your presence will rouse him.”
That wasn’t what I’d expected to hear.
I’d assumed Pharis would refuse to see me, hide Raewyn, and make me search her out. Maybe even challenge me to a duel to keep me from taking her.
All of that, I was prepared for. What I found when I reached his chambers on the third floor of the palace, I was not.
The suite was a mess, the window drapes torn down, pieces of broken furniture strewn about the floor.
Looking around the room, I spotted Pharis. As the butler had said, he was in bed. Alone. Passed out drunk. The room reeked of wine.
What on earth?
I’d never known my brother to overindulge. He drank a little at parties, but he was always concerned with keeping his body in prime condition, and he certainly wasn’t one to drown his sorrows.
In fact, I’d hardly ever known him tohaveany sorrows. Pharis was usually so nonchalant about life.
In spite of being the one who’d ordered his flogging, I suddenly felt guilty.
Was he drinking to dull the pain of the lashes? Did he not have an adequate healer here?
Or maybe the public humiliation and torture had broken his spirit.
In any case, I ordered my troops to continue searching the house for Raewyn while I ventured farther into Pharis’ room and tried to wake him.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, I put a hand on his shoulder and shook it.
“Pharis. Wake up.”
He stirred a bit but didn’t open his eyes.
“Pharis, it’s Stellon. I need to talk to you.”
