“Your notions are archaic.” Bertrand’s answering voice shocked Elowen with its snide unconcern. “You must be the only one in our court who thinks there’s any shame in treating a Siqualian however we might wish. You know as well as I do what filth they are.”
Elowen put a hand to her mouth, stifling the gasp that had almost escaped. She knew many in Torrens still held some resentment against Siqual and Carrack, but it shocked her to hear it acknowledged so openly and forcefully. Besides which, she could hardly believe the lack of respect Bertrand showed his father. He didn’t seem to care at all about the stinging rebuke the older man had given him.
“Your words are as dangerous as they are foolish,” the duke snapped back now. “You are clearly too young and hotheaded to understand these matters. What do you hope to achieve by publicly alienating the Siqualian prince? No good can come of that.”
“We’ll have to disagree on that matter,” Bertrand said, his unconcerned tone sounding arrogant even without the benefit of his expression. “I know exactly what I’m doing, and I won’t fail to achieve what I want.”
“And what exactly are you doing?” The duke’s voice was more dangerous now, and Elowen found herself edging backward. “A straight answer, Bertrand.”
“I don’t think you’d like it if I obeyed that instruction.”
Bertrand still spoke dismissively, and there was a moment of painful silence. Elowen thought the duke would surely force his son to answer, so the change in topic surprised her.
“Clearly you shouldn’t attend tonight’s event,” the duke said crisply. “If you can’t be trusted to conduct yourself with the dignity due your position, you cannot expect to enjoy the benefits.”
Bertrand began a hot retort, but Elowen didn’t stay to hear it. A door opening somewhere nearby made her jump, and she scurried back toward the manor’s front door, afraid of being caught eavesdropping. She was just hesitating inside the door, unsure what to do, when footsteps brought her gaze up to the corridor she’d just fled down.
Sophia appeared, her steps heavy for such a slight frame, and her eyes a little red. She started when she saw Elowen, who tried to make her smile natural.
“Sophia. There you are.”
“Elowen! I’m sorry if you’ve been waiting, I didn’t know you were here.”
“No, I dropped by unannounced, quite rudely,” Elowen said lightly.
“Never mind that. Did you come to tell me about the ball tonight? We’ve already heard.”
“No,” said Elowen, tongue-tied as the comment reminded her of the conversation she’d just overheard. “But I’m sure it will be an…exciting event.”
Unlike her own, Sophia’s manner was becoming more natural, and she looked almost hopeful as she asked, “Did you come because you want to leave for the tournament fields now?”
“Yes, let’s go,” Elowen said emphatically.
Sophia was quick to agree, and soon the pair of them were leaving the manor. When they reached the tournament fields, they sent their horses back with a groom, strolling intothe bustling area on foot. They had plenty of time before the second round of the weapons combat began, and they spent it wandering between the stalls that had popped up around the fields, buying fruit skewered on sticks, and sticky pastries to enjoy as they explored.
“This is the only time in my entire life I will ever be allowed to eat while walking,” Elowen said through a mouthful of sweet, jam-filled pastry. “Or in public. I need to make the most of it.”
“Don’t hold back on my account,” Sophia laughed. For a moment Elowen caught sight of the friend who’d been her companion through years of escapades. Then the cloud descended again, and Elowen’s heart ached.
“What’s wrong, Sophia?” she asked abruptly. “And don’t saynothing, because you’re not yourself. You haven’t been for weeks and weeks.”
Sophia’s eyes darted around anxiously, the little shake of her head seeming unconscious. “I…I don’t think I can explain it.”
“Is it because your father and brother are fighting?” Elowen suggested.
Sophia’s eyes were startled as they flew to her friend’s face.
Elowen shrugged. “I overheard them arguing when I went to collect you just now. They both sounded…agitated.”
Embarrassment flashed over Sophia’s face, then, with a sigh of surrender, she let her shoulders slump. “They have been fighting a lot lately, and I hate it.”
“But that’s not what’s been causing you so much distress,” Elowen prodded gently.
Sophia said nothing, but the truth of Elowen’s words was clear on her face.
“Sophia, is it because Simeon is in some kind of trouble?”
Sophia couldn’t stifle her quick intake of breath. Elowen was sure she was onto something, and she stopped walking, turning to face her friend.
