Instead of torches or lamps, the brackets on the wall held crystal orbs, which Varex had wrapped his magic around. They gave off a bright, steady radiance, reminding everyone—as if they could forget—that he was Extraordinary. Only Extraordinary could use their magic on objects they weren’t touching, and only a ruler was likely to light an entire giant room just to show off.
The showpiece room had ceased to have the power to impress Tor years ago, when he’d played here as a child with his twin. Still, there was an element of the chastised child about the experience of walking the entire length of the large space to come stand before the man seated on a throne. Varex was not alone, which was unfortunate—but Yomil wasn’t in evidence, at least, and that meant that Tor had only to contend with Fernila. Varex’s wife was one of Tor’s least favorite people, but at least it wasn’t herandYomil.
He finally reached the dais upon which his brother and the queen sat, and he offered an ironic bow that didn’t have a fraction of the grace or depth required before the High King and High Queen of the United Realms. Fernila’s face took on the pinched look with which Tor had become so familiar in the last five years, but Varex just looked resigned and a little bit disappointed. (That expression, too, was one which Tor readily recognized.)
Tor made sure to appear relaxed and at ease as he pasted on his most charming grin. “I hope that I haven’t kept you waiting. I had to find something to wear.”
The pained expression increased, and his brother said, “It’s almost two o’clock in the afternoon.”
It was like watching an inverted mirror, really. The same dark hair, the same pale skin, the same bright blue eyes that they’d inherited from their mother. Long straight nose, square jaw, solid shoulders… plus scowls, grimaces, and stern expressions. What had happened to the fun-loving brother who used to match Tor escapade for escapade?
Well, Tor could hazard a guess. Varex had gained a crown—and a judgmental wife.
Tor kept the smile in place with practiced ease. “Why, so it is. I didn’t make it to bed until late last night.”
“Or early this morning?” Varex asked pointedly.
“Entirely possible,” Tor agreed with a casual shrug. “I wasn’t keeping an eye on the time—I had more enjoyable things to be doing.”
Fernila flinched faintly, and Varex reached out to softly touch her arm before his attention returned to Tor, his gaze stony.
“The Queen was missing an attendant this morning.”
“Was she?” Tor made sure to keep his voice nonchalant. “Perhaps she was under the weather.”
Perhaps she was under Rin at this very moment.
Varex looked unimpressed. “Or perhaps she was in your bed.”
Tor tried to appear shocked. “Oh, is that who she was? I thought she looked familiar.”
Fernila spoke, her voice shrill and grating—and it wasn’t just the state of Tor’s head, it was always like that, at least when it came to him. “You have no right!”
Tor raised an eyebrow. “No right to take willing folks to bed? Goodness, has a law been enacted of which I am unaware? Brother, do enlighten me.”
Fernila flushed, face blotchy and clashing terribly with her red hair. Varex glowered at him, a predictable reaction these days.
“Watch your tongue,” he warned.
Tor felt his own lips tighten and then made a deliberate effort to relax them. He didn’t want to have anything in common with Yomil, after all.
“Varex.” He allowed some of his annoyance to color his tone. “I had a very enjoyable evening with an entirely willing woman. What do you want from me?”
“The list is endless,” Varex said sternly. “For a start, an end to the orgies.”
“I don’t recall any.”
“With the amount of drinking you do, that is hardly a surprise.”
Amusement dissolved some of Tor’s annoyance. He’d walked right into that one. “I mean there haven’t been any orgies recently. Seriously, Varex, not even one dancer, never mind a whole group.”
“But there were multiple people in your bed last night?” Varex asked pointedly.
“Uh, it wasn’t my bed, but yes.”
Rin was always up—ha!—for casual amusement.
“What sort of a message do you think that sends to everyone?” the King demanded.
