“Kgosi won’t let him flail,” I said quietly to Barak.
“There is no higher commendation of the boy’s abilities than that,” Barak said with a genuine smile. “I knew he had something, but I hadn’t expected Kgosi to take him under his wing.
I pushed away the urge to bristle, and looked over my shoulder. The rise was just beginning to hide our view, but Icould see the top of Benji’s tousled head and knew he hadn’t moved from his spot next to Ciar’s snout.
From this distance, and just seeing his head, he still looked so small and young. It was difficult to think of him as a young man on the cusp of adulthood. But clearly Kgosi saw him as such.
“Let me know if there’s anything else needed. I’ll be at the palace, or possibly in my quarters. I think I’m about to receive orders,” I confided in the Furymaster.
His brows rose in surprise. “The king would sendyouout?”
I nodded.
Barak frowned. “I know there’s no better hands for the kingdom, but… is this the time for you and Kgosi to leave us? Even for a short time? I don’t have your insight, but it’s clear that something is afoot and war creeps up on the horizon. Yet, they’re sending you out?”
I shrugged, unable to give him any further details. “The king believes Kgosi and I are needed toavertwar. We are servants to the crown just like any others,” I said, though I wished in that moment it weren’t true.
Thank God, Bren would be coming with me. Having to leave her here would have felt like cutting myself in half.
We walked quickly together. Barak grew thoughtful. But neither of us had more to offer, so when the paths diverged, I farewelled him with one final handclasp and gratitude for his service to the dragons, then picked up my pace, jogging through the Keep, then running when I reached the paved road up to the palace itself.
I reached for Bren several times, in case she was close enough to link, but I couldn’t find her. Could only hope that her heart was safe this morning, and pray that whatever I would learn from the king, we could face with clarity and purpose. Together.
45. It’s Time
~ DONAVYN ~
When I was ushered into the king’s office, the queen was already present. As was another woman I’d met some weeks earlier, but whose name I couldn’t remember. She looked me up and down like a slab of meat
“Donavyn, you remember Lady Faye, from the Kingdom of Fyrehold?” Diaan said casually, as she was handed a goblet of wine by one of the servants.
“Yes, of course.”The woman Bren was introduced to yesterday.“It’s lovely to see you again, my lady,” I said with a formal bow.
“Oh, it’s lovely to see you as well, Donavyn.”
When I straightened, it was to note—then quickly turn from—the sickening light in her eyes. As I regarded the king, who sat in a wide chair he kept for private audiences, I was reminded that, although Diaan had often made me uncomfortable with herpersonalattention,she’d never been quitethatlascivious. Thank God.
“Sire, I received your summons and came as quickly as I could. I hope your messenger told you how far I was. I assure you I came urgently.”
“Yes, yes, very good, Donavyn,” Alexi said, waving my words off as if they annoyed him. “We’ve had news, and some progression—which is why the Lady Faye is here.”
I purposefully closed my eyes when nodding to her again, teeth gritted. “News, Your Majesty?”
But it was the Lady Faye who answered me. Stunned—why did the king let her intrude? He was usually very particular about controlling conversation, especially in his quarters, and withwomen—I was forced to turn and face her again so as not to be rude.
“Donavyn, I spoke with your assistant yesterday—a delightful young lady,” she added as an aside, along with a knowing look. “I am very gratified to learn that you’ll be visiting Fyrehold. I’ve been awaiting the chance to travel home—”
I caught Diaan burying herself in her wine to obscure an eye-roll, and my nerves began to jangle.
“—and I have asked Their Majesties if they might take pity on me and allow me to travel back with you.”
I froze.
Anger rose first—the king forcing my hand in ways he knew Icouldn’tdeny. Especially if the woman would welcome us into Fyrehold and offer social credibility among the nobles.
Then cold, hard fear.
She’d heard we were travelling soon?
