I meet his gaze, angrily swallowing. “Who. Is. Tilla?”
“Oh,Tilla.” Dayton draws out her name. “She was Kel’s old flame. Long golden hair, huge—”
“I don’t want to hear it!” I snarl, fire flashing inside me like a match lit.
“Hugearmor.” Dayton slumps down in his chair. “She’d wear steel even over her dresses. She’s from the Spring Realm, after all.”
My eyes flick to Ezryn. At least he’s still on my side, acting his usual rigid self. Though I can’t see, I can feel his constant glare on Caspian.
“Why are they all acting like he’s some long-lost friend?” I whisper, leaning closer to Ezryn. “He’s the bloody Prince of Thorns.”
Ezryn gives a long sigh, and whispers back, “Because in a way, he is a long-lost friend. There was a time the five of us spent many nights like this together.” Ezryn hesitates, and I spy his fists tightening under the table. “And now we have no choice but to play this twisted game of pretend. With our magic so weakened, we cannot evict him from the castle. With his power unbound, challenging him to a fight would be unwise.”
I’d had the same thought earlier; I just didn’t think playing pretend with the Prince of Thorns would be so easy for the Princes of Castletree. Especially Kel.
“Ezryn.” Caspian leans on the table, twisting his body to us. “Do you remember? I think your brother came down to join us for a day, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Ezryn says stiffly. “He lives in the Starweaver Mountain Range that encloses the Prismatic Palace.”
“Oh damn,” Dayton slurs. “You think Ez is intimidating in his armor? Just wait until you meet Kai. That guy is a scary motherfucker.”
“Kai is…” Ezryn immediately stiffens. “Kairyn is passionate about his beliefs.”
What’s Caspian’s game with this? If he’s trying to win Ez over, he just made him more uncomfortable.
“There was one night,” Caspian looks up as if striving to recall, “you both went out into the forest, and when we looked out, all the trees were lit up.”
Ezryn emits a soft sigh. “Yes. He was telling me about his time at the monastery. We came upon a dying tree. He wanted to show me what he’d learned, and we used our magic together.”
“To save the tree?” Caspian leans in, dark eyes wide.
Ezryn gives a breathy laugh, and it’s like I can feel a weight being lifted off his shoulders. “That was our intent, but our magic intertwined and spread through the entire forest. It was the first time I felt connected to him in years. I saw him and he saw me.”
My heart lifts at the happiness in his voice. Okay, so maybe Caspian’s story isn’t so bad. “What were you all doing there?”
“It was a celebration of the Spring Equinox, a small gathering for the High Rulers and their partners,” Farron explains. “Ezryn and I had just been crowned. Kel had yet to take the rule but came in his father’s stead.”
“You brought Dayton as your special guest.” Caspian gestures to the Autumn and Summer Prince.
Farron flushes, but Dayton throws an arm around him. “You weresonervous to ask me.” He smiles. “But Damocles was happy I was there. Made me go berry picking with him.”
Damocles. The name makes me pause. I overheard it in the Summer Realm. If Dayton didn’t attend as High Prince, it meant there was another High Ruler of Summer during that time. Caspian’s words from the ball play in my mind:The drunkard who let his brothers go off to battle alone.
But the memory doesn’t seem to haunt Dayton. It energizes him.
“Hey, it was a better choice than Tilla,” Farron mumbles.
All four of them collectively groan. I’m almost inclined to join in. Dayton had told me Kel had a former great love. Was it this Spring Realm woman? Is that why they all hate her?
And if this was a retreat for the High Rulers, why was Caspian there? It doesn’t sound like he was their enemy at that point.
But something about recollecting this time has allowed everyone to unwind. Even Kel has lowered his guard as he joins in the complaints about Tilla.
What is Caspian’s scheme here?
The easiest way to gain favor with people is to hate someone together.Caspian’s words float through my head even as his lips tell another story.
How is he doing this? Dark magic from the Below? I try to concentrate on the words in my head and push them back.Doesn’t seem like a great way to forge lasting relationships.
