The Duke of Nirocha inclined his head to the king, then turned to the guild master.
“Only my assurance that I am committed to discovering the cause, as His Majesty has requested me to do,” he said.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” The guild master didn’t sound reassured. He wrung his hands, looking stressed. “But Your Majesty, I must tell you that I believe the situation requires urgent attention. If the Dust continues to move unpredictably, there could be a great many implications for all the city’s inhabitants.”
“I understand,” the king repeated, a note of finality in his voice. “I have placed the matter in the duke’s capable hands, and if you make a time with His Grace, I’m sure he will hear all relevant information you can give him. But I cannot discuss it further at present.”
The man at last accepted his dismissal, bowing to both the king and the duke before allowing the king’s steward to usher him from the room.
“I will begin my own inquiries,” the Duke of Nirocha said quietly to the king. He bowed to Elowen and her mother. “Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
Elowen watched him stride toward the door, momentarily distracted from her purpose.
“What was that about? I recognized that other man. Isn’t he the head of the Craftsmen’s Guild? Is something strange happening with the magic in the city?”
Did Patrick know about whatever it was? Was that why he’d been so tense about Simeon’s account at the watchtower? If so, the issue wasn’t confined to the city.
“Never mind, my dear,” the king said peaceably. “You have more important matters to focus on.”
Elowen frowned, a familiar frustration gripping her at always being kept in the dark over anything important. But then memory returned, and she realized her father was right.
“Yes, I do,” she agreed. “I’m here for your answer to my question, Father, and I need it now, not at dinner.”
“Elowen.” There was a warning note in her mother’s voice.
“I know, Mother, but we’re out of time for subtlety,” Elowen said.
Her mother wasn’t appeased. “You don’t seem to understand how much is at stake for our kingdom, Elowen. This alliance is important. Do you forget how recently we were on the brink of war with Carrack, the strongest military power onthe Peninsula? And they weren’t the only ones withdrawing from diplomatic relationship with us. Now that Carrack has an alliance of sorts with Siqual and Dernan, we cannot afford to remain isolated.”
“I know, Mother,” Elowen said. “But they all know now that we weren’t behind the violence and unrest they were experiencing.”
The king shook his head with a sigh. “It’s not that simple, Elowen. Suspicion settles deeply within a kingdom. Simple facts are often not enough to remove it. Your mother is right. This alliance with Siqual will bring security to our kingdom. Carrack will no longer be a threat.”
“So you must be cooperative, Elowen,” the queen added. “You will, won’t you?”
“Of course I will,” Elowen said, a little hurt. “When have I ever failed to do my duty, Mother?”
The queen’s face softened. “Never, of course. You’re a good girl, Elowen. And I know you’ll do our kingdom proud in this alliance. But you must admit that I have cause to remind you of your duty, with all this talk of yours about conditions.”
“Condition, request, I don’t care what you call it,” said Elowen. “I just want to know whether you’ve decided to grant it.” Her eyes were back on her father, their expression pleading as they returned to the main point of the conversation. “I’m going to be completely cooperative with the alliance, I swear. I just want this one concession.”
The king studied his only daughter. “This is truly important to you, Elowen?”
“Very important,” she assured him.
He nodded slowly as he thought it over. “Well, I don’t see any harm in granting the request, Lisbeth.”
Relief flooded Elowen, her future suddenly feeling much more bearable. She didn’t let her mother’s noise of disapprovalworry her. The queen might sometimes be impatient with her husband’s overly soft heart toward his children, but she would never actually stand against the king.
“I don’t see the necessity at all,” Queen Lisbeth said half-heartedly.
“And I don’t see the harm,” the king repeated. “It’s not as though I’m in a great hurry to send the child away, Lisbeth.”
“She’s not a child. She’s eighteen, and certainly old enough to be forming a marriage of alliance.” But there was no conviction in the queen’s protest. She’d already resigned herself to the decision.
Elowen had won. And no victory had ever tasted sweeter to her. She could face Prince Theodore with equilibrium now.
A very good thing, too, given that the door to the audience room swung open at that moment to reveal the castle’s steward.
