“Oh? Why?” What gods did the locals even serve? The last thing Draylon needed was a religious zealot on his hands.
“He translates documents for them and writes messages.”
Translates? “I see. What languages?”
May ticked points off on her fingers. “The main languages of Cormir, Renvalle, Delletina, and his mother taught him some Dragan.”
Cormiran?Only speaks RenvallianDraylon’s ass. Still, under the circumstances, Draylon wouldn’t tip his hand. “You paint him as a paragon. The man must have flaws.”
May bit her lip.
“Let me guess. He’s a drunkard, a braggart, a womanizer…”
“No! It’s just he has… well, a bit of a temper sometimes, especially toward his father. He’s also a bit stubborn.” She shrugged in awhat can you do?kind of way. “His brother paid private tutors to keep silent about his reading skills, but Yarif attended the temple school, like most second-born children. He has trouble keeping the gods and goddesses straight, so he prays to them all.” She pursed her lips. “The priests frown on such things.”
Draylon and Avestan studied under the same tutors until Draylon entered military service. Only third sons attended temple schools to study for the priesthood. Also, praying to only the God of War simplified matters. “Tell me more about this school.”
“Rather than military tactics, students learn numbers, letters, the running of a household, and how to be a good consort.”
“In preparation for being married off one day.”
“Yes. Prince Yarif isn’t fond of the notion of being used to seal alliances. He’s been quite… vocal on occasion. The temper I told you about.” May’s cheeks flushed. Around the cooking fires, she likely stayed pink-cheeked.
“I’ll be sure to heed your warning.” Draylon had witnessed that temper already. Yarif shouted during their meeting, demonstrating a stubborn nature as well. Seemed Draylon surrounded himself with stubborn men. Yarif would fit right in. “Thank you, milady. You’ve been most helpful.”
Draylon would play along but keep in mind that the little fox understood their every word. Maybe talking to others would present a clearer picture. No one could be as good as May described.
Particularly not the son of a traitor, even one taught to make a home instead of war.
Chapter Four
“Areyouokay?”Yarifknelt on the floor, embracing Emile and Adrina while fighting back the tears he couldn’t let them see. At least someone had seen fit to remove the children from the classroom in favor of the room Emile refused to call a playroom. He was nine, after all.
“We’re fine.” Putting her mouth close to Yarif’s ear, Adrina added, “Our governess took us straight to the soldiers when we left the castle.” The glare in her eyes a moment later didn’t bode well for the governess, now well on the way to being the sixth governess Adrina disapproved of.
Getting on the little tyrant’s bad side? Horrible idea.
Yarif nodded, fighting the urge to add his own glare at the woman who’d betrayed them. Especially in these uncertain times, he needed someone he could trust to care for the children. “I hope you’re not overly attached to her.”
“We’re not.” Emile folded his arms over his chest, condescending glare no match for his sister’s. “We’re too old to need a governess.”
An old argument. “Time will tell. But you’re okay. They’re not mistreating you?”
Emile snorted. “They’re not the ones I worry about.”
“What have you done?” Yarif kept his voice low, avoiding the governess’s hearing.
Adrina lifted her chin at a defiant angle. “A couple of the guards speak some Renvallian, so I told one that another called his mother a cow. How was I to know they were brothers and didn’t get on well? Or that they’re originally from Herix, and our word for cow means something worse there?”
Yarif palmed his face. “There’s more to this story, I’m sure.”
“They fought, so their captain took them away.” Adrina sighed, shoulders slumped in defeat. “He sent two more. They didn’t understand me.”
How fortunate all the captain did was replace the guards. If only there were some way to convey the danger without scaring the children senseless.
“The guards said Father and Baro are dead. Is that true?” Adrina squeezed Emile’s hand while asking.
Yarif had hoped to break the news gently. He cupped the children’s cheeks in his hands. “I am afraid so. And you’re not going to get rid of your guards with pranks. Please don’t provoke them. Be on your best behavior.” Yarif glanced from one twin to the other. “Both of you.” Deities, if anything happened to these two…
