“I wouldn’t have suspected you of being prone to sentiment,” Elowen said, clearly still irked with him.
Maybe not, Theo thought, fighting his own annoyance. But good manners would have to be sufficient in place of the emotional volatility she apparently expected from him.
“I understand your feelings,” he said with cool politeness. “I also am not excited about the idea of having to engage in a meaningless competition for your hand when the matter is already settled.”
Elowen said nothing, but judging by the stiffness of her posture, she wasn’t softened by his words. Abandoning the attempt to say the right thing, Theo turned his focus to more important matters.
“Did I understand the master of events correctly that at the end of this tournament, our betrothal will be formally sealed?”
“That’s correct,” Elowen said.
Finally, a straight answer. “And is that when our wedding date will be set?”
Elowen didn’t reply, too focused on drinking the cold juice a servant had just poured into her chalice. When she was finished, she rose, addressing Theo as if he hadn’t spoken.
“Excuse me. I have preparations to make before the first event.”
She swept from the room, leaving Theo to watch her retreat with a frown creasing his forehead. What wasn’t she telling him?
Prince Patrick appeared before he could get too lost in his thoughts, inviting Theo to accompany him to the tournament field. The area that had been prepared was just outside the city wall, at the point closest to the castle and the noblemen’s district that surrounded it. In no more than ten minutes, the two princes had left the city and were approaching a small city of large tents interspersed between marked fields and training yards. On the far side of the fields, Theo could just catch a glimpse of a staggering number of hay bales collected for a purpose he didn’t yet know.
He noticed as he walked, responding politely to Prince Patrick’s somewhat tedious conversation, that Dust swirled faintly around them at all times. A glance to the side showed that at least one of the prince’s guards was surreptitiously swinging a pendulum with a leather thong attached to it, and wore a look of intense concentration. Theo had thought his kingdom progressive with the employment of a magically trained bodyguard for his sister, Princess Miriam. But perhaps he’d been wrong. Was the use of magically trained guards in Torrens inspired by the recent attack on Miriam, or had Siqual been further behind than they realized?
There were a number of temporary stands erected for spectators at different points of the vast tournament fields. Judging by the crowd beginning to gather in the nearest one, the first event—a foot race for commoners—would be held on the circular dirt track that had been cleared just within the festival area.
“The first day is mainly commoner events,” Prince Patrick was explaining with the serious air that seemed habitual for him. “They require less organization. But all the court events are now open for registration, so most of the court will be here today, signing up for their chosen events.”
He inclined his head, and Theo followed the direction to see two notaries sitting behind a large table. The king’s steward hovered watchfully behind them, and a line of men dressed in the garb of noblemen was forming on the table’s other side. The younger ones were jostling and laughing together, elated with all the excitement.
“The notaries will check their lineage documentation,” Prince Patrick explained. “But naturally your entitlement to compete has already been approved by my father directly, so please enlist at your convenience.”
“Thank you,” Theo said. “I’ll do so as soon as I’ve reviewed the schedule of events.”
Prince Patrick dipped punctiliously into a half bow, then took his leave. Theo watched him go with private relief. He saw no malice in the other prince, but he was thankful that Elowen wasn’t as solemn. Honestly, the Torrenese people had some gall to gossip about Theo’s stiffness given the manner of their own crown prince. He felt a flash of sadness at the thought of Elowen’s words about her brother, both for her sake and Patrick’s. Much as Theo had learned from a young age that it was best not to let emotion enter into any part of his duty, at least he could be natural with his siblings in private. He would beashamed to show as little warmth to Miriam as Elowen received from her brother. And as for Xavier…well, Theo usually wanted to push him off a galloping horse, but somehow that didn’t make him any less fond of the infuriating heir to their father’s throne.
Paulson shadowed him as he moved through the crowd, but he had no need of the guard’s magic craft to clear his path. Space opened all around him as he moved, many of the eyes on him showing as much suspicion as curiosity. Theo wasn’t surprised. It would be unrealistic to think that the proposed alliance between Torrens and Siqual would wipe away all the tension of the previous period, when all the other kingdoms of the Peninsula had suspected Torrens of involvement in the spate of unexplained attacks within their borders.
Theo took his time exploring the tournament fields, only returning to examine the lists of events once the foot races had started and the crowd around the tables had dissipated. As he approached, he saw two figures standing off to the side behind the table, and increased his pace. The king was unmistakable both from his bearing and the presence of his guards. No one hindered Theo as he also moved behind the tables, and he was able to catch the end of the conversation between the king and a man Theo now recognized as the Duke of Nirocha.
“That sounds promising, Your Grace,” King Ronan was saying. “Continue that line of inquiry. I want the highest priority given to this investigation.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The duke bent his upper body. “I’m equally eager for answers.”
“I can imagine,” the king said. “I regret the impact this dam failure will have on your holdings.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.” The duke’s voice was heavy.
“As devastating as it is for the farmland, it’s fortunate that the mining and orchard regions weren’t affected. I trust thatwith judicious management, the export income will help bolster the losses from the farms.”
There was a slight pause before the duke replied. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”
The words were the same as before, but the tone was more guarded, something in the duke’s voice causing Theo to surreptitiously search his face. There was nothing to see. His scrutiny drew the other man’s attention, however, and a moment later the king turned and noticed his presence as well.
“Prince Theodore,” King Ronan said pleasantly. “Have you had opportunity to explore the tournament?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Theo said. “I was about to add my name for the main events.”
“Excellent,” the king said. He looked between the prince and the duke. “You’ve met our royal guest, I believe, Your Grace?”
