I preened, watching my knight speak. He was so smart. So good at what he did.
“You were very brave, Princess,” he said. “When you called that boy out by name. Most people would’ve run or hide somewhere, or hoped they didn’t see them. But you address him and to his face. I’m proud of you.”
I smiled. “Thank you. But it's really your fault I recognized him at all. You know how my memory fogs with faces. But you pointed him out before we left. You said he looked weird, and I remember trying to think of why.”
Elías bobbed along. He turned to Willoughby to say something else, and then it hit me, what he said in the kitchen back home. He never forgot a face.
I thought about it, about those five, simple words: he never forgot a face. I thought about the meaninglessness of the skill. Then my stomach sank.
Elías was a liar.
My eyes darted between him and my cousin. I could hear myself breathe. Nothing else. They laughed about something, the yard sort of spun.
Either my Lord Commander and closest friend was a liar because hedid,on occasion, forget a face, or my Lord Commander and closest friend was a liar because he didn’t. He knew Willem’s face and he called him Evergeen anyway. On purpose. And Mr. Evergreen knew Elías, and didn’t tell me. On purpose.
“Princess?” Elías asked. “What say you?”
“Huh?” I asked, returning to the moment.
“I said we should have dinner, just the three of us, when I return,” he said. “Yes?”
“Oh.” I nodded, despite the rapid fire of questions that entered my head. “Yes, of course.”
How long had he known Willem was here? Had he even tried to deliver my letters? Did he care?
“Svana?” Elías asked. “I have to go.”
“Right. Yes,” I said. “Safe travels.”
He offered a curt bow. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Sure, yes,” I said.
“I’ll send word as soon as I intend to leave so that you know when to expect me. What would you like me to tell you father?” he asked. “Did you think of anything?”
“...Tell him whatever you like, Ser. I thought of nothing.”
“Right. I’ll make something up then,” he said. He mounted his horse. “Get some rest. I’ll see you when I return.”
“God speed,” Willoughby said.
Elías’s shape blurred into the brightness of the horizon. My cousin and I met eyes, and after a moment of that he said, “You’re not up to something, are you?”
“What?” I scoffed. “Don’t try topredictme, Daniel. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“I’d just like to know ahead of time,” he said. “I think that’s a fair ask.”
“Ijustconceded toward remaining here. Did I not?” I said. I turned to walk back into the Palace, toward Mr. Evergreen.
“Would you like company?” he offered. “Not that you have a choice. I kind of feel as though I should keep close to you, lest I suffer the wrath of the Lord Commander.”
“Hecanbe hot-tempered,” I noted. “But he also trusts your judgement. And he’s no longer here. So. What you do is up to you.”
“I don’t think that’s accurate,” he said. “I think he perked up a little when you threatened to reassign me. I think it excited him, maybe.”
“Excited him? No.” I paused in stride, turning to him. “First of all, nothing excites Elías except new books, and second of all, he picked you for this detail, you should know. Like, on purpose. Not because he didn’t have other options. He had plenty of them.”
“Yes. I’m very blessed,” he said.
