“With the sea at your back and the mountains at your front,” I observed.
“Our borders serve as a barrier, but also as a potential hurdle.”
“A siege,” I mused. “That’s how I’d attack elvish lands. Set fire to the surrounding villages and slowly make my way to your fortress, cut off your supply routes and starve you until you surrender.”
He smiled. “I’m glad I have you as my betrothed and not my opponent, Cedrych, but I’m comforted to know you would not choose assassination.”
“Assassination is for cowards. And whomever you install as ruler would forever be seen as illegitimate.”
“I agree with you on all points, which is why we have military units stationed at our borders, and I employ spies in every realm. Our stores are plentiful and we are nearly self-sufficient in our own production.”
“Always thinking ahead, Lord Vasil, be it battle strategy or the taming of one wayward prince,” I said with admiration.
“Yes, but the latter I do for pleasure.”
He winked suggestively and any witty response I might have conjured vanished in a rush of nerves, for his innuendo always disarmed me. Thankfully, we were interrupted then by a sharp rap on the door.
“Enter,” the lord said, and a woman with a long black braid trailing out of her peaked cap entered the room. Her skin was the same burnished copper as the lord’s and her eyes were dark as well, which made me wonder if they were somehow related. I recognized the woman from last night, one of the guards posted outside my bedchambers.
“Cedrych, this is Anika Farrow, my cousin on my father’s side and commander of the elvish guard. Anika, this is Prince Cedrych Avondale of Bivenbriar, my betrothed.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” Anika said with a neat bow.
“You as well, Commander.”
“M’lord,” she said with a nod to Vasil, “training has resumed for the royal regiment and the tournament is on schedule. Messengers have distributed the invitations. We’re still waiting to hear back if the Kazimir clan will be sending a delegation.”
“That would include my cousin, Sinclair,” Vasil said to me. “Any word from the guilds?”
“They’ll each be sending a party, along with their latest technology to be used in demonstrations and displayed at the fair.”
“Excellent. I’d like to arrange a tour of their facilities as well. I think my betrothed would enjoy the excursion.” He turned to me and I nodded with enthusiasm. I looked forward to seeing the elvish innovations and attending the tournament alongside Vasil. “And what clandestine activities are the Keepers up to these days?” Vasil asked.
“Rumor is, they’ve appointed a new leader, an elemental sorcerer of some kind, though their identity has not been made known. The man—wethinkit’s a man—wears a mask.”
“Coward,” I couldn’t help but remark.
Anika’s gaze shifted to me. “They’re using this betrothal as a way to stir up anti-fae sentiment and recruit more members.”
That last bit surprised me for my kind certainly had our prejudices, but nothing this organized. My mother had significant influence over what the daily scrolls published and any opposition to her rule was carefully monitored. It made Vasil’s commitment to security protocol all the more understandable and my own role in spreading good will, an imperative.
“I’ll speak with my scribe about releasing some profiles on the prince to soothe their ire,” Vasil said. Glancing briefly at mehe added, “We’ll commission a betrothal portrait as well. His face is rather pleasing.”
I schooled my expression, lest he revel in the delight that compliment inspired. “I have a question, my lord. Regarding the Keepers, why not have them arrested?” I asked.
The lord smiled indulgently. “Independent thinking is what inspires elvish innovation. And it’s bad form to arrest dissenters who’ve committed no crimes. It’s a slippery slope into extremism.”
I didn’t necessarily disagree; I only knew my mother would have quelled their efforts effectively and immediately.
“I have another favor to ask you, Commander,” Vasil said to Anika. “Cedrych is interested to learn more about our military operations, having served as a captain in the fae forces. I was hoping you could incorporate him into your morning drills?”
“I’d be delighted,” she said warmly.
Vasil then scrutinized me closely. “That said, Cedrych is my betrothed, so any training will need to be done with the utmost care and the explicit instructions not to harm him.”
“Naturally,” she agreed.
“I’m not some new recruit,” I said to them both. “I’m skilled enough to defend myself.”
