“No.”
“No? You convinced Ser Willoughby that I wasscared of bandits.I should have you flogged for slander,” I joked. “Next time,come in his stead. I’d rather risk listening to you complain about chafing than spend the day with anyone else, but then again, that would eliminate therealpunishment, now wouldn't it?”
He narrowed his eyes and glowered at me. “You’re not being punished.”
“He said with a scowl. Is there not a clause in your oath about lying to your Princess?” I asked.
“I am unable to make the detail with my schedule. And youshouldbe concerned about bandits. You should not be traveling without a Blade.”
“I don’t travel without a Blade,” I said.
He tsked. “Mr. Evergreen is not a knight.”
“He trained knights,” I replied. I raised my brow. “Did you think I would not discover that little fact?”
“Then he’s told you about his role within the War?” Elías asked. “I’m impressed. How did you take it?”
“Take what? That he was in Chalke? Please.”
“Ah.”
“No ‘ah,’” I said. “So what of it? He and Ser Willoughby exchanged their secret facts. Perhaps I did not know themeaning of it all, but I do know that my cousin would alert me to anything I needed to know, unlike some other knights who call themselves allies. It’s no different than what I know aboutyourpurpose in the War, Ser, and if that doesn’t matter, then this doesn’t, does it?”
“You know what I did,” he said.
“Do I?” I asked. I sarcastically canted my head. “Do I?”
“The War is over,” he said.
“It is!” I told him. “And anyway, you should behappyI’ve invited her. All the merrier towatchme as you so dearly like, you voyeur. Just like the Prince wanted, too.”
“First of all, do you have any idea what that word means?” he asked.
I bristled. “I have a good concept,” I said. “I heard you call a knight that once.”
“I don’t think you actually do,” he replied. “It’s something perverse,” he said. “It means I watch you for sexual pleasure.”
I gasped.
“Exactly. Don’t call me that again.”
“I’m very sorry,” I replied. “I don’t think you do that.”
He rolled his eyes. “Secondly, that’s not what I was doing,” he said. “I was notwatchingyou.”
I frowned. “Yes, you were,” I argued. “Perhaps notperversely,but youwerewatching my behavior. You with Ser Willoughby, and His Highness with Cyrus. God forbid I invite my only true comrade to level the board.”
“Ah, now I see you’ve purposely excluded me as your friend,” he said.
“Oh, have I? Hmm.”
“Svana,” he said.
“Who’s tosaywhere your true loyalty lies these days?” I asked.
Elías frowned. “What isthatsupposed to mean?”
“The letter,” I replied, plain and intent with every consonant. He didn’t move at first. “You thought I wouldn’t realize. You thought you’d get away with it.”
