Ian leaned back against a tall crate and let his face go slack in the ease of an empty room. Having Gareth’s soldiers stationed throughout the castle was going to make his life incredibly stressful.
His moment of solitude was quickly interrupted, however, when Erich pushed through the small wooden door. The man was grinning.
“What could you possibly have to be smiling about at this hour and with death on our doorstep?” Ian asked, instantly annoyed.
Erich sat down on a chest opposite Ian, leaning back on his hands. “Having nearly been killed once, brother, I can laugh in the face of death. But, this particular smile is simply from the relief that I no longer have to hide my knowledge of Robin from you.”
“We are not here to talk about Robin,” Ian grumbled, crossing his arms. “We have larger problems at hand.” He looked toward the door, hoping to see Onric pushing it open.
Nothing happened.
Ian turned back to Erich. “But while we wait for Onric and Ashlin, explain to me exactly why you all decided to keep her a secret from me? Especially with everything that is going on right now?”
“It was not as simple as we ‘all decided—’” Erich started.
“Did you have a secret meeting about it?” Ian cut in.
“Well, yes,” Erich replied. “It is not like we knew about her for all that long ourselves.” His smile faded as he took on a more serious tone. “However, with the nature of her work...and the rules that she bends in order to accomplish that work...”
“You mean her breaking the law?” Ian asked.
“That just seemed like something that would bother you more than it did us,” Erich said. “And you are holding a lot of responsibility right now.”
Ian sighed. Erich had a point. It had been difficult enough to see Robin again, but for it to happen while she was actively breaking the laws that he had spent his life learning to uphold so that he could keep Iseldis safe and just...The reason their father had sent Robin back to Lockwood was precisely because she had questioned the king’s justice.
“No more secrets,” Ian said. “Her breaking the law did not actually upset me, and you should not have made that decision for me. There is too much at stake for us to keep information from each other, no matter how uncomfortable.”
Ian fully believed his own words. Robin breaking the law did not bother him now as much as it might have a few years ago. His understanding of justice had changed significantly over the recent months.
“No more secrets,” Erich agreed, looking up as the door squeaked open.
Onric and Ashlin entered the room, Ashlin holding two apples. She tossed one to Ian and one to Erich.
Onric sat down on a chest near Erich, but Ashlin walked across the room to stand at the table and look down at her tapestry.
“What happened yesterday?” Ian asked, holding the apple in his hand. He had not yet broken his fast, and his stomach was hungry but not yet ready for food. “After I fell asleep.”
“Gareth did not officially take control of the castle,” Onric replied. “He just started giving orders, and everyone has followed them.”
“Our men are loyal to us,” Ian said, not concerned. “With Father...I will lead the council today and give the orders. Gareth is a visiting king.”
Erich looked to Onric in a way that told Ian he was missing something.
“It is not just that,” Onric said. “Gareth brought three companies with him.”
“Three?” Ian leaned forward, shocked. “That is twice our number both here and in the city. Where are they?” Most of the Iseldan soldiers had been sent to the shore to await the Return.
“Many of them have taken over the empty beds in the barracks, and the rest are demanding rooms in the city,” Onric replied.
“And the people?” Ian asked, stunned that such a large development could have happened in the few hours he’d been asleep.
“They are not pleased,” Ashlin said, still standing at the table but facing them now. “But Gareth is here to save them from the Majis.”
“I should have stayed awake.” Ian brought a hand to his face.
“I do not think it would have made a difference,” Onric said. “He simply moved in.”
“He is brilliant,” Ian said. “He advises us to send our entire army to a remote location, then simply brings his own into our home while we are most vulnerable.”
