I took bread and cheese and ate, washing bites down with sips of wine.
After feeding Farris a piece of bread, Reyla stroked his cheeks, not looking Dorion’s way, though I could tell she was observing him from the corner of her eye. She watched him with that careful attention she reserved for potential threats. Smart woman. He'd concealed things from us inside the labyrinth. I had the advantage of history with him, though I trusted him only as much as anyone could trust the heir of a rival court.
“We met almost daily for months,” he said. “Autumn afternoons in an orchard where the leaves turned gold around us. Winter evenings in an abandoned keep where we'd build a fire and sit beside it, talking until dawn.” His voice roughened. “I thought I'd found my future. But one day, she stopped coming. I didn’t know why, and it ripped me apart.”
He stared at the floor, lost in the memories. “When I heard the Irridain princess was going to marry, I thought nothing of it. But my father was sent an invitation to the wedding. I’m sure it was a formality. It wasn’t like our courts were friendly, though we weren’t bitter rivals like with Evergorne. He didn’t want to go and sent me in his place. Imagine my surprise when I saw the woman I loved walk down the aisle to join her life to someone else.”
“I’m sorry,” Reyla said softly. “Do you think she married him willingly?”
“She seemed happy enough to do it.” He sighed. “I left during the vows. Couldn't bear to watch her promise herself to someone else when she'd already given me her heart.” He stared at the food. “Or so I thought.”
Turning toward the hearth, he flicked his hand and wood appeared on top of the burning-down coals. Flames licked greedily around the dry tinder that snapped and popped. Facing us again, he shook his head. “Laphira was supposed to take the crown after her father’s death, but her mother has been reluctant to hand it to her. From what I heard recently, Naveer keeps saying that Laphira’s not quite ready. The court seems happy enough with her on the throne.”
He grunted. “Laphira was sitting beside me at dinner, but only her exterior. It was like the inside of her, the woman I love, was gone.”
“She could be putting on an act. With Naveer as a mother, I would too.” Reyla scooted forward to grab a slice of cheese. She bit into the slice, chewing.
“There’s something odd about everything here.” He let out a breath. “I don’t know what to make of it.” He looked between us, including Farris in the gesture. “I need to figure out what’s happening to her and why.”
“Did you tell her who you are tonight?” I asked.
“I couldn’t.” He sounded completely devastated. “I can't risk exposing you two.” His hands clenched. “But I'm dying inside watching her like this.”
I felt bad for him. If this was Reyla, I’d be ripping this place apart to find out what was happening. The thought of losing her, of watching her become an empty shell like Laphira, made my blood run cold.
Dorion sent us a pleading look. “What do we think could be wrong with her?”
I shook my head. “We can ask questions, see if we can discover what’s going on.”
Reyla nodded. “Moira and Calista will help.” She glanced up atme. “How does what I saw tie into the chandelier and Laphira’s behavior, if it does at all?”
“Hard to tell without more information.”
“I didn't imagine the whispers or the change in the chandelier.” Steel edged her voice, the tone she used when someone questioned her abilities.
I tugged on a strand of her hair. “I believe you.”
“Thank you.” She pressed her face into my side before turning to Dorion. “What’s Queen Naveer’s skill? That might give us a clue to all this. Of anyone, I’d suspect her the most of doing something like this to her daughter, though I can’t figure out what she might gain other than holding onto the crown.”
“She has two skills. Willbinding is one,” Dorion said. “She can influence people's choices, making them believe their decisions are entirely their own. It's subtle. Victims never realize they're being manipulated. They think they're acting on their own desires.”
“That explains a lot about this place,” I muttered. A skill like that would make everyone here potential puppets. “I’d read her skill was deathsense.”
Dorion nodded. “That’s the other.”
“She can feel when someone dies and absorb the energy released at the moment of death,” I explained to Reyla. “The stronger the person's magic, the more power they gain. It's a rare enough skill that most don't understand how it works. My ancestors researched all the rival courts' abilities.” I met Dorion's curious gaze. “Standard precaution.”
Dorion paused as he was lifting food toward his mouth. “What did your ancestors discover about Halendor?” He bit down hard and chewed.
I grinned, and I supposed it did come out a touch feral. “That’s confidential.”
Wildfire poked my side. “You can tell me later. Whisper it in my ear.”
I brushed my lips against her cheek. “Tonight, I'll share all of Evergorne's secrets with you.”
“Don’t drag Halendor into that,” Dorion grumbled.
Reyla's expression grew grim. “Willbinding and deathsense together explains why she runs deadly trials.”
