Resuming my meditation, I focused on the air moving through my lungs?—
“I don’t care about princess decorum. He’s a self-righteous prick.”
Rahzlyn’s voice decimated my concentration. I straightened, listening to her footsteps climb the staircase to the Chosen level. Alekko, Felaf, Gregorios, and Letti followed.
“Tell us how you really feel,” Letti muttered.
Alekko chuckled. “He has that effect on people.”
“You would know,” Felaf said. “Alekko spent years with him on the Martial Isles.”
“Was he always so… prickish?” Rahzlyn wondered.
Prickish? How original, I thought with amusement.
“He’s…” Alekko searched for the right words, if they even existed. “Always been a hard nut to crack.”
“He’s also your guardian,” Gregorios scolded. “We all come to this palace with our own afflictions. It is impudent to judge what we do not know about others.”
“I know that well, Seer,” Alekko agreed.
“It doesn’t matter what I say or do,” Rahzlyn protested. “He’s?—”
“I will have words with Raithe regarding his attitude,” Gregorios said. “Turn your mind away from him and toward your training instead.”
I stiffened, deciding any attempts at further meditation would prove unsuccessful. I slipped into my uniform, adjusting the mantle to my shoulder caps. The black and crimson–dyed wool that draped over my back was dipped in gold to resemble glyphs, differentiating our uniforms from the rest of the royal guard and signifying our rank.
I met Alekko and Felaf in the hallway as Letti, Gregorios, and Rahzlyn entered the queen’s chambers. “What’d I miss?”
Felaf regarded me with remorse. “You were recovering for a while. I was worried I’d somehow caused irreversible damage.”
I rolled my neck and shoulders. “Never better.”
“Glad to hear it,” Alekko said, relief in his dark eyes. “So, what do you make of our princess? Solipsistic leech, or just leech?”
Felaf glanced between us in confusion. I wasn’t amused despite the mirth gleaming in Alekko’s face. As if he knewsomething I didn’t. That somehow because of the stunt she pulled, Rahzlyn could now be trusted.
“To be determined,” I settled on.
Alekko shook his head before taking his leave.
Felaf said then, “Our lady has been resting mostly. She had an educational briefing on Alekko’s responsibilities as Commander. Now Gregorios is going to attempt Blood Sight on her and put together her natal chart. The advisors are demanding to see one.” Felaf shifted on her feet. “There’s still daylight left. Why don’t you grab some food from Nio in the kitchens first before joining us?”
My eyes narrowed on her. “Is there a reason you’re discouraging me from entering?”
She shook her head once, her lips pressed together tightly.
“Then I’m going in. I want to see him use?—”
Felaf caught my arm, exerting more strength than necessary to keep me in place. I retreated from her grip cautiously. Outside of the lashings or in the training ring, we never used our abilities against one another.
“She’s clearly having a hard time accepting her new Chosen status, and you’re not making it any easier. I don’t know what went down when you found her, but we must listen to Gregorios now and help her find her way. That means be nice to her, if you’re capable.”
I snorted at what I was hearing.
“What is with you?” Felaf hissed. “You’re normally so composed. Now you’re all… flustered.”
“I’m concerned,” I said calmly. “I don’t trust her.”
