“What value would you say you’ve brought to the United Realms in recent years?”
Swallowing against a constriction in his throat, Tor said, “I hadn’t realized that my worth was being measured in such a way.”
“Is not every person measured for how they contribute to society? Drinking and carousing is hardly a productive lifestyle.”
“I had a position,” Tor said stiffly. “It was not to your liking.”
“You were not fit for command,” Varex ground out.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Tor kept his words light with an effort. “That was a matter of opinion.”
“Nearly a dozen guardsdied,” Varex snapped, eyes blazing.
Tor clenched his teeth until his jaw creaked and didn’t snap back. His stomach churned. He knew exactly how many people had died. He could never forget it. But did it constantly have to be thrown in his face? Should one mistake ruin everything?
“What do you want of me?” he asked instead, voice clipped.
With a visible effort, Varex reined in his own temper, though his voice had an edge when he spoke. “To do what you’re good at.”
“Meaning?”
“Bessar and Vayrin have an alliance.”
It wasn’t like this was news, but Tor gamely agreed, “Yes, they’re united by a political marriage. Following, I believe, your example.”
Fernila sat up straighter, and Varex laid a hand over her arm again. Why was she evenhere? Simply to sit there and be anxious and critical?
“It is concerning,” Varex pronounced. “We are connected to Filon and Lotar through marriage ourselves, and that forges strong alliances.”
Varex offered the Queen a smile that was so sickeningly tender that it took Tor a moment to focus on what his brother was implying. Normally, he’d try to address his brother’s erroneous assumption that marriage always made a strong alliance, but he had something even more important to say just now.
“No.”
Varex’s attention snapped back to Tor. “I beg your pardon.”
“I realize it’s not a word you hear very often anymore,” Tor said wryly, “but I trust you still understand its meaning. I said ‘no.’”
“Princess Terila is a very attractive prospect,” Varex continued, rather like Tor hadn’t spoken at all.
Although Terila was more powerful than Fernila, that wasn’t saying much. Someone who could be that charming and that abrasive in practically the same breath depending on who she was talking to made Tor think of nothing more than a viper. They hadnotbeen compatible, in more ways than one.
Tor grimaced. “Her beauty is the only thing to recommend her.”
“Is that not what you value most?” Fernila asked pointedly.
Glaring at her, Tor snapped, “The criteria for which I search for a bed mate and life-long companion are not at all the same. As I believe is true for most people.”
Fernila stiffened, her lips compressing, but Varex proceeded as though they weren’t insulting one another.
“It is the duty of children of the Crown to marry,” he said calmly.
“We are not simply chips on a board. We arepeople,” Tor argued.
“People with a duty totheirpeople,” Varex corrected with a chiding expression, like he thought Tor was being purposely ignorant. “And since you’re spending your time here drinking the nights away and seducing the Queen’s attendants—”
“So that’s what this is?” Tor interrupted, shooting a look of loathing at Fernila. “You want me out of the castle because I’m bothering the tender sensibilities of your wife?”
It was surely why Terila was being touted rather than Marwila or Solil or any of the other second or third-born royalty. Clearly, they wanted to get rid of Tor and didn’t want to risk him living here with his spouse afterward.
