His brush paused before continuing with a steady rhythm. “The king has always been destined for greatness.” He kept his tone measured. “Even as a child, it was evident he had a strong sense of duty and responsibility.” His lips quirked as if he was recalling a distant memory. “But he was not without his moments of warmth and kindness, nor his rebellious streaks, such as they were. That, of course, smoothed out once he turned seventeen.”
I wasn’t sure what age had to do with it, but sure.
“What about Lord Lorant?” I fidgeted with an earring left on the vanity. The stones appeared real, and they must be. They wouldn’t dress their future queen in fake, now would they? “Are he and Merrick close?”
Lord Briscalar picked up a delicate silver hairpin, staring at it as he twirled it between his fingers, as if contemplating how much to share. “He and the king were born at about the same time.”
“Who’s older?”
He frowned. “Lord Lorant, though I don’t believe by much.” His face smoothed. “His mother served in the royal court, though I never met her. My family has always served the royal family, but I’m only fifteen years older than the king, which means my father served back then. However, I assure you, my father personally took care of my training.”
“It’s impeccable.”
He gave me a sweet smile. “Lord Lorant’s mother passed away when he was young, and the bond between the two boys grew. Despite what happened . . . His scars—”
“Scars?” That slash on his face . . . The network on his hands and what I’d seen of his arms . . .
Lord Briscalar’s gaze met mine in the mirror. “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”
“You mentioned Lord Lorant’s scars, that something happened.”
“Such is the way with injuries, is it not?” He secured the pin in my hair. “They were raised like brothers. Not unlike you and your own brother, though obviously without the, hmm, fearsome reputation, shall we say?”
“Why aren’t you telling me how Lord Lorant received his scars?”
“Such a terrible thing.” He shuddered. “It makes him appear quite fearsome.”
“What happened?”
He blinked, his head tilting and his gaze losing focus. “I’m not quite sure I ever heard the full story.”
“Do scars cover his entire body?”
His posture tightened. “I’m not one who’d know such a thing, and I suggest you avoid getting drawn into court gossip to find an answer to that question.”
I was never one who enjoyed that type of conversation, but my curiosity appeared eager to be fed. It appeared the lord wasn’t going to give me a straight answer, however. “I heard Lord Lorant is called the Viper.”
“Sailor’s gossip.” He huffed, his mouth pinched. “It’s always wise to avoid being drawn into such things, don’t you think?”
I was getting nowhere with this conversation. “Both Merrick and Lord Lorant appear to share a similar magical skill.”
“You speak of the lord’s elemental aegis and King Merrick’s elemental symbiosis? A common enough ability.” His brow furrowed. “It must be since I know of at least two men who command it. In any case, while the two skills may seem similar, they’re anything but.”
“Could you explain them to me?”
“This might provide a stimulating conversation between you and the king, don’t you think?”
What about Lore? Should I ask him about his magic and see if our conversation would be equally stimulating?
“I’ll be sure to ask him, but could you give me some basic details?” I asked.
Briscalar delicately placed another pin in my hair, his focus on the art he was creating on my head. “Both the king and Lord Lorant possess a deep connection to the elemental forces, though each expresses it differently. Merrick’s gift lies in shaping the very essence of nature, while Lord Lorant . . . Well, he has an affinity for things that were once alive and those you might say are brought alive in a different way.”
Curiosity still banged on my mind. “Interesting, but not what I would expect from a mere bodyguard.”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine in the mirror again. “Lord Lorant may serve as a protector, but he’s far more than only that to the king. Their bond is one of deep trust, forged through trials and shared burdens. I would venture to say he’san extension of Merrick’s will, and the fates help anyone who dares challenge that.”
A shiver tracked through me. I’d already seen the king’s more deadly side, though I’d expected that more from Lore than the king.
