“Maybe my father will order an investigation if you formally request it,” Elowen tried. “I know he wouldn’t at my request, but he might at yours. Especially if he understands that the alternative is you removing Theo from Toledda like this.”
“I’m sorry Elowen,” Prince Xavier said, his voice low. “But there’s no way it would happen quickly enough. And at thisstage, I don’t think I could trust any investigation. This is my brother’s life at stake. I can’t afford to take chances.”
Elowen’s anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, but she knew she didn’t have the power to stop Prince Xavier from doing as he saw best. She wasn’t even sure she knew what was best. If someone had attacked Theo right in front of the king and gotten away with it, how could she be sure Theo would be safe in the castle? But he didn’t seem in any state to endure the rigors of the road, either.
If only he was able to decide for himself! Unlike her and Prince Xavier, he would be able to think clearly, undistracted by emotion. She hadn’t sufficiently valued his calm good sense until it wasn’t available to her anymore.
True to his word, the older Siqualian prince had his brother ready for departure before another hour had passed. The king had sent a messenger to Sindon, and in the meantime had tried to dissuade Prince Xavier from doing anything hastily, but he’d had no more success than Elowen. It was a difficult situation. Theo was a grown man, not a child under their care. However unwise they thought it, how could they refuse his brother the right to oversee his treatment? Elowen could see that her parents were offended by the older prince’s suspicion, but she could also see their unease at the possible implications for the alliance. Trying to prevent the Siqualians from leaving would only increase Prince Xavier’s mistrust.
In one thing the king and the visiting prince were united. Theo’s passage through the castle was swift and observed by few people. He roused enough to walk with his brother’s support, and the carriage waited as close as possible to the side door through which he was led. The king was undoubtedly concerned about the rumors that might spread, but Elowen was more aligned with Prince Xavier’s motivation. She knew that he hopedto delay news of their departure to prevent whoever might have attacked Theo from trying again while he was in transit.
Before she knew it, Elowen found herself standing by the carriage, watching as Prince Xavier settled his barely conscious brother as comfortably as possible.
“Theo.” Elowen’s throat was tight, fear overwhelming her. She shouldn’t entertain the premonition that was rising, that she’d never see him again. “I…I’m sorry you have to go.”
“I’m going.” Theo’s voice was deep and steady in spite of the confusion in his eyes as he made his observation. “I’m not supposed to return home until after we’re married.”
“Yes, I know,” Elowen said miserably. “That was the plan. But your brother thinks…he wants to…”
“I understand.”
The timbre of the words was so low it was a rumble in Elowen’s ears. She was sure that whatever he said, Theo didn’t remotely understand what was going on. He’d barely seemed to follow any of the arguments about his care.
“I’m sorry, Elowen.” There was a raw pain in his eyes that twisted at her insides. “I’m sorry I couldn’t please you enough to make you want to set a date. I wanted to, but…I don’t know how.”
“Theo, no.” Elowen’s protest came out choked. “That’s not—you’re not—”
The carriage was moving, she had no time to find the words. Theo leaned back against the seat, his lids heavy but his eyes still fixed on her face. Slowly, he raised a fist, resting it over his heart in a gesture she knew well.
Elowen’s breath caught, and she had to curb the impulse to run after the carriage and call him back. He was gone, and the future she’d finally begun to embrace felt like it was slipping through her fingers.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Elowen spent the next hour wandering the castle gardens in a haze, unable to bear doing nothing but unsure what to do. She didn’t blame Prince Xavier for wanting to remove his brother from what he saw as danger, but she was terrified as to the outcome. If they were right, and there was something sinister at work in Theo’s condition, taking him further from where it happened would surely take him further from any answers they might find.
Except that no one but Elowen seemed interested in finding answers. Her fear was enough to make her willing to defy her father’s orders and make further inquiries, but she didn’t think it would get her anywhere. They needed a proper investigation. Elowen stilled her aimless steps around the garden. She needed to change her father’s mind.
She hurried back into the castle, demanding of a passing servant where the king could be found. He scurried off to find out, and Elowen twisted her hands impatiently as she waited. Finally he returned, with the news that the king and prince were together in the king’s study.
Elowen felt her brow lower. No doubt they were discussing Theo’s abrupt departure. Did they intentionally leave her out ofthe conversation, or did it not even occur to either of them to include her?
She strode with purpose down the halls now, ignoring every servant she passed. Thankfully she encountered no courtiers, in spite of needing to traverse a significant stretch of the castle. Her movements were fierce, and she could feel the Dust they stirred up clamoring for her attention, begging to be harnessed and used. Maybe it was because of her determination to stop accepting her powerless position, but she’d never felt the magic of her movements more strongly. If only she had something useful to do with it. If only she could heal Theo. But that was advanced magic, well beyond her simple skill level. Even the physician hadn’t been able to do much against his rising fever.
When she reached the door to her father’s study, one of the guards hailed her. She ignored him, pushing the door open with unnecessary force. Or at least, that’s what she hoped her flourishing movement would make them think. She hadn’t meant to use magic to make the door fly faster, and she didn’t want Father and Patrick to get distracted from the main point by realizing she’d done it by accident.
“Are you talking about Theo?” she demanded.
Her father and brother both stared at her, the first bewildered and the second irritated.
“Elowen, you can’t just come charging in here like—”
“I’ve had enough of being told what I can’t do for the moment, actually, Patrick,” she said crisply. “I want to know if you’re talking about Theo.”
“Yes, Elowen,” said the king wearily. “Of course we’re discussing the situation. It’s a disastrous turn of events.”
“For which you share a significant part of the blame,” Patrick said. “So you might wish to consider your tone.”
