Licking his lips, Killian spoke slowly, choosing each word carefully. “Hokda and I…we don’t exactly see eye to eye on, well, anything. It’d actually be more likely that he ban you completely ifI’mthe one who introduces you. I think it’d be better if you pretend not to know me at all.”
Kade blinked at him. “Seriously?”
Killian could only shrug.It was a well known fact around the palace that the captain and the healer—the king’s two closest companions—had no love lost between them.
Kade clicked his teeth together, total concentration on his face. After a moment, he said, “Introduce me anyway. I’ll make up the difference. People like me.”
Oh, how optimistic. “Sure.Normalpeople like you. Hokda doesn’t like anybody.”Locked on Kade’s amber eyes, Killianread the pure stubborn pigheadedness and knew he wouldn’t change his mind. He sighed. “Alright.Fine. Twist my arm. I’ll introduce you.” He pointed his finger in Kade’s face. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Hokda is…something else. Fucking psychotic. Just a mean little bitch.”
Kade’s jaw dropped. He looked shocked, as if he had never imagined what Hokda’s actual personality might be. Most don’t.
With that settled, they agreed to approach Hokda—cautiously—the following morning.
“Take the bed,” Killian said, steering Kade through the arched separation.
“Killi, I can’t take your bed—”
Killian rolled his eyes. “My sofa is atleastas comfortable as any bed in the city. They spare no expense on comfort here.” He waggled his eyebrows, but then pulled up short. “But bathe first. I don’t want you to stain those sheets with your dirt. They’re silk.”
Kade glowered at him.
Killian’s face went flat at the sight of the figure coming towards them from across the courtyard. He looked around for somewhere to run. Somewhere to escape from what was coming.
He’d been taking Kade to the kitchens for breakfast before they went off in search of Hokda, but it seems as though their plans were about to be interrupted.
Kade had yet to notice their approaching guest. He leaned over the edge of the fountain, one hand outstretched as he fingered the shoots of a lily pad, completely engrossed. Hemade a choking noise of complaint when Killian wrenched him back by a grip on the back of his tunic.
“Be polite,” Killian hissed urgently. “Polite. I mean it, Kade. Now isn’t the time to be a brat.”
Mouth dropping open in offense, Kade meant to argue but he quieted quickly as Killian turned, put a fist over his heart and bowed. “Your Majesty.”
There was a sharp intake of breath before Kade followed suit. Stuttering out a nervous, “Y-Your Majesty.”
Fyar smiled, a small thing. It didn’t reach his eyes. His hands were folded into his long sleeves, the trail of his robes dragged across the courtyard he had no reason to be in.
This was an ambush. A trap. The first move in a chess match.
Straight-backed and severe, Fyar looked every inch the royal he was. His white hair artfully pulled back in winding plaits of braids, blank eyes gleaming in the morning light as he stared them down, the air around him seeming to spark with the promise of lightning.
Killian grimaced, he should’ve expected this: Fyar putting himself purposefully in their path in order to meet the intruder in his palace, not taking kindly to unknowns in his home.
Loran had no doubt announced Kade’s arrival during his reports, and Fyar, not one to sit around and wait, had taken their meeting into his own hands. In this case, by simply forcing them to face him when they least expected it.
Killian glared at Fyar over Kade’s shoulder as he made their introductions.
Beside him, Kade looked sick. Pale and clammy.
Fyar was the picture of poise.
“I’d heard you had a guest arrive,” said Fyar, tone ever politeand distant though Killian heard the scolding in it. “You should have told me you were hosting you brother, Killian. I would have invited you both for tea and dessert.”
“A generous thought.” Killian shifted closer to Kade, pressing their shoulders together. “And I would have, but it was a surprise for me, too.”
“Is that so?” Fyar turned to Kade, who went tense under the king’s heavy gaze. “What prompted your journey to Ingara so suddenly? I do hope nothing’s wrong in Turell.”
Kade’s throat worked. “No, nothing’s wrong, Your Majesty. I simply wanted a change of pace.”
“A change of pace,” Fyar repeated slowly. “I see. I guess we’re all tempted to chase a new adventure from time to time. Do you intend to stay long in the capital?”
