Page 58 of A Legacy of the Light

“How is your research in the library progressing?” the king asks. I don’t fail to notice how he glances down at my chest, and I shift in my seat.

I peer over to Tavish and see that he’s hiding a smile behind his glass. He spotted where his father’s gaze drifted. Again. I narrow my eyes subtly at him before turning my attention back to the king.

“I have learnt a lot so far, but there’s still so much for me to understand.”

“It must have been quite a shock for you. Your grandfather didn’t tell you anything of the Craobh when he gave it to you?” There’s a gleam in his eye as he asks me. This is what he really wants to know.

“No—only that it had been in our family for a while and that my granny would have wanted me to have it.”

Raghnall leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, crossing his hands underneath his chin. “I see.” This dinner is starting to feel like an interrogation.

The servers return with our main courses, a variety of meats and roasted vegetables. I continue to make a point of thanking the Seelie whenever they take my plate or refill my glass. Tavish and Raghnall might be royal, but they could still appreciate their staff.

The silence in the room is making me uncomfortable and I’m left wondering what Raghnall is going to ask me next. I’m surprised and relieved when he directs his question at Tavish, asking him how the training of the new guards is coming along.

“Very well. We have some promising warriors amongst them,” Tavish replies. “Elsie started training with Reyne today, too,” he continues and I have to resist the urge to kick him under the table. Not that I could reach him thanks to the massive table. His shins are safe. For now.

Why would he share that? I narrow my eyes at him and he checks where the attention of the king is before he winks at me.

God help me with that wink. It does funny things to my insides.

“Is that so? Reyne has been well trained by General Macleod. I don’t doubt you’ll be more competent than most in a short space of time.” There’s a reluctant admiration from the king as he discusses Reyne and her father.

“Yes, I only started today, so I have a long way to go,” I reply, then focus intently on my food, not wanting to participate in this conversation any longer. I would hardly call what we did today training in the way Tavish means it.

King Raghnall asks me a few more questions as we finish our meal. Where I went to school, what I studied, if I have any hobbies. All seemingly innocent questions but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s trying to uncover some secret.

As the evening wears on, Tavish and his father drink more wine. The more the king drinks, the more human he seems, as if he’s slowly shedding his royal persona.

He and Tavish share a few jokes, and my lingering unease loosens as Tavish visibly relaxes and Raghnall tells me stories about Tavish in his early years.

“You should have seen him the first time he lifted a sword, Elsie,” he laughs. “He could barely hold its weight! And he was so uncoordinated.”

“I would never have guessed that based on what I saw today.”

“Well, that’s what hard work and dedication gets you,” Raghnall replies, and for a second, he looks at his son with pride.

Tavish notices and dips his head before looking away quickly. I sense these moments don’t happen often and, if they do, they’re after the king has had a few glasses of wine.

Raghnall even shares a few bits of information about himself. When and where he was born—in the port city of Caithness four hundred years ago—how he met his wife, and how they came to be married.

I might feel like he was opening up to me, if I hadn’t already read everything he told me in the history book in the library this morning. He hasn’t told me anything I wouldn’t be able to find out for myself.

What’s his game here?

We’re served our dessert—a delicious fruit torte that makes me think of Grandpa—and the surface-level conversation continues. I’m glad the focus has shifted from me; Tavish and Raghnall are discussing some of the courtiers and their recent requests, or areas of the city that I should see.

I join in when I need to but keep mostly quiet, observing the two Seelie together.

We are almost finished with the final course when a guard rushes into the room, out of breath. He rights himself before bowing deeply. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Your Majesties.”

“What is it, Eòghann?” Tavish asks.

I recognize the man as the guard who was flirting with Reyne yesterday morning, but his expression isn’t light or teasing as it had been then.

“Rebels have breached the city.”

Chapter 16