They were severe and tired looking, their skin and eyes dull. They could turn the most exciting topic into a lecture that droned on for hours, their speaking pace that of a snail.
Killian avoided them at all cost, even if they were technically neighbors. The council members lived in the same wing as Killian and Hokda, though spread out on different levels. They all gave Hokda a wide berth which Killian envied. Maybe there was something to being an irritating asshole that worked in Hokda’s favor after all.
The council had been there to report on the preparations for Fyar’s centennial jubilee, around the city as well as within the palace estate, and to finalize the schedule of the palace’s private festivities.
They broke it down to the minute and by the third day’s plan, Killian was near snoring.
Ingara would be the stomping grounds of a month-long festival, a never ending party to celebrate Fyar’s reign. The second month of the new year, the month that Fyar bowed before his people and soaked the soil with his blood, sealing his fate forever.
Fyar would not join his people to dance in the streets, but he would have his own celebrations within the palace walls. Ten days at the end of the month, consisting of feasts and parties and drinking for days at a time, along with a friendly hunting competition between the lords.
The schedule was simple. The first three days would consist of parties stemming from Fyar’s welcome feast the first night. Many passing out in their chairs only to wake up and begindrinking again immediately.
On the fourth day, Fyar would host a royal hunt. A competition held in the forest to the west of the estate spanning three nights to determine which lord could take down the most impressive creatures.
On the eighth day—the day Fyar had been crowned a century before—would be a feast in his honor. Followed by more parties and more drinking.
Then, everyone goes home. The end.
“Are you excited, at least?” Killian asked, leaning against the mantle. “It’s only a couple weeks away.”
“Excited? Excited for my home to become overrun with drunken pests? No, Killian, I’m not excited. But it’s tradition, so I will bear it.”
“At least you can also become a drunken pest.” Killian pouted. “Some of us will be working.”
“Aw. Poor baby,” Fyar mocked him. “Don’t worry. I’ll sneak you some drinks under the table.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
The key turned without a click and Kade barreled into Hokda’s office, the one thought in his mind was to get in and out as fast as possible. He hated that room, it made him sick. He’d been sent back from where he’d been in the green houses with Hokda, instructed to grab a packet of seeds the healer had left on his desk.
Kade stopped dead in his tracks when he came face to face with someone standing behind Hokda’s desk, one of the healer’s ledgers—the ones the apprentices were never, ever allowed to touch on threat of death—open in his arms.
They stared at each other, neither really knowing what to do.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” blurted Kade.
“Neither are you,” Porthos shot back.
Kade pointed at Hokda’s desk. “I was sent to collect something.”
“Oh.”
Kade took a long time to move. His steps were slow, hesitant. His mind was racing.
Did Hokda know that Porthos was there? He had to. Or else that would mean Porthosbroke intoHokda’s personal patient records.
That was cause for expulsion.Even for a prince.
The small bag of seeds was right in front of Porthos in the center of Hokda’s desk. Kade edged around it, nervous and wary. The other apprentice closed the book that he was snooping through as Kade reached over him for the seeds, but it was too late, he’d already seen whose records they were.
Kade’s eyes flew to Porthos’. “You—”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Why are you looking through the king’s records?” Kade took a step back. This was bad. This was worse than bad. The situation somehow worse than he’d thought possible. Screw expulsion, Porthos was looking at execution. The king’s records were beyond off limits.
“Don’t freak out. I can explain.” Porthos caught Kade’s arm, stopping his retreat. “Let me explain. Please, Kade.”
