I jumped at the familiar drawl and threw myself out of the stranger’s arms faster than I had ever done anything in my life.
My face burned as I steadied myself, pulling up to straighten my dress as the crown prince stepped neatly out of the darkness behind Darren and me.
“Blayne.” Darren’s voice was a growl as he stepped forward, pulling me behind him.
“Really, brother.” The crown prince folded his arms. “The library?”
The non-heir refused to rise to the bait. “What do you want?”
“Father sent the servants to find you, but I knew you’d give them the slip.” The crown prince’s gaze flitted to me and then back to his brother. “Lucky for you, I just asked them where she went and, well, here I am.”
“Tell him I will be there shortly—”
“Now.” Blayne cut him off with a sharp reprimand. “Do you think I like listening to those old men argue for hours on end? The Council isn’t even present—they are still dealing with the rebels in the south. I’m not doing this alone. There will be plenty of time for romancing your bride after the Pythians arrive.”
I nudged Darren, thinking about how angry the king had been just a couple nights before. I still didn’t trust Blayne one bit, and I hadn’t the slightest doubt he would tell the king who was responsible for Darren’s absence if he delayed.
The non-heir gave a loud grumble. “Just give me a minute, Blayne.”
“Smile, little brother.” The crown prince gave his brother a hard clap on the shoulder and retreated back into the hall, calling out, “Just think, if we secure my Pythian princess, this happily ever after for you and your lovely, little lowborn can come that much sooner.”
As soon as Blayne turned the corner Darren slumped against the wall and gave me a tired smile. It was the first time I realized how fatigued he really was—the shadows under his eyes hadn’t been quite so evident in a dark library when my mind had been too consumed with feelings to notice.
“I doubt I’ll get much sleep.” Darren sighed. “The Pythian ambassador is ruthless. Father’s advisors will spend the whole night debating how to proceed and nothing will get done.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
He shook his head and took my hand, interweaving his fingers with my own.
I started to smile, and I was about to tell him to go, when I remembered something that had been pressing at my mind since arrival. “Darren?”
“Yes?”
Now was the time to ask. Do it now, Ryiah, you aren’t going to have a chance later. “While I was in the north…” I swallowed. “Do you think you would be able to talk to your father about increasing the funds he sends to the border villages?”
“Ryiah.” Darren’s grip tightened on my hand. “We are preparing for war and trying to negotiate with the Pythians. The Crown’s purse is limited. What little we send is all the treasury can afford. It costs a great deal to host an army as large as ours.”
“But—” What about the people whose livelihood was burned to the ground? What could they do? I tried again. “How are the northerners supposed to fend for themselves?” I thought of my first month in service. “While I was on duty we came across a large bandit camp, Darren. They turned to crime when the Crown couldn’t help. Wouldn’t it be better to find a way to help them and prevent the north from turning on its own?”
“That is why we have patrols. We can’t save everyone, love.” His eyes grew distant for a moment, and I knew he was thinking of what happened the year before. “No matter how much I wish we could.”
“Won’t you at least try?”
“Father will never consider a petition from me.” He squeezed my hand. “I was taught command, never policy, but...”
I waited for Darren to finish.
“He might listen if the request came from Blayne.”
My face fell.
Darren wasn’t a fool; he noticed the moment the expression crossed my face.
“I know my brother is difficult—”
You could say that again.
“But he cares about Jerar. If you take away anything from tonight that would be it.”
I bit my lip. I had no choice. I had to try. For Ian. For all the northerners who had lost their home to the Caltothian raids. I just wished our plan didn’t depend on Blayne. Every instinct was telling me it was wrong.
I didn’t trust the crown prince for a moment. But Darren did. And try as I might I couldn’t find a reason to refuse.
I just hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.
Chapter Seven
“Tonight is going to be such a lavish affair!”
Sofia flounced around the room as she finished fitting me into a swirl of cream-colored skirts, oblivious to the frown that was written all over my face. “Just wait until the prince sees you in this gown—he won’t be able to take his eyes off you!”