Ella would like this man. I bit my lip to keep from snickering. It was wrong to be feeling amiable in such hostile conversation, especially when the stakes were so high.
“You must have heard wrong.” Blayne’s smile never fell. “Princess Shinako didn’t flee. In truth, she was so close to my dear, sweet brother that upon hearing his love for a lowborn the two of us agreed to call off the wedding and cede her dowry to the Lady Ryiah you see here before you now.”
Duke Cassius took notice of me for the first time. His scrutiny made me want to squirm; I could feel his gaze taking in every inch of my uncomfortable appearance, from my burning face to the nervous wringing of my hands. “You are lowborn?”
I opened my mouth, wetting my lips to reply.
“My court heard the rumors, but I never imagined that bit to be true.”
How could I explain? Blayne’s explanation now was the Crown’s interpretation of Ascension Day, and I was afraid of saying the wrong thing. I could see King Lucius watching from the corner of my eye.
Darren placed the palm of his hand on my back. “Lady Ryiah hasn’t been lowborn since her apprenticeship. She earned a place in court of her own accord, as a mage.”
“A mage to marry into the Crown?” His tone held blatant disbelief. “Doesn’t your Council of Magic forbid it?”
I glanced to Darren but he just shook his head, eyes fixed on his father. Blayne and the rest of the duke’s retinue had gone silent.
King Lucius corrected the duke with a curt address. “You forget yourself, Cassius, the Crown already has a mage in its ranks.”
“Prince Darren?” The man scoffed. “I’ve heard the tales your traders spin in Pythus. Forgive me if I am a bit skeptical of a prince as prestigious as they claim.”
The king’s reply was instantaneous. “Darren will be a part of the Candidacy. I trust your brother will be sending his emissaries the same as the last?”
“He will. And I will be a part, regardless of however this plays out.”
King Lucius’s hand tightened on his throne. I could see him struggling to maintain composure.
Blayne took over for his father, trying to flatter the duke instead. “I recall you won quite a bit on a wager for Marius during your youth.”
“Yes.” Cassius didn’t bother to hide his contempt. “What can I say? A Pythian never loses.” His eyes stayed glued to the king’s. “We take our bets very seriously.”
“As do I.” Lucius’s words were ice. “And there is no surer bet than my son.”
It didn’t take much to recognize they were no longer talking about Darren or the Candidacy. The air was drowning in tension and neither the king nor the duke looked away. I wondered who would win: the brother of one of the most scrupulous kings in history, or our own?
The refreshments arrived just in time. Two sets of servants jostled around our circle, thrusting drinks into hands before the two leaders could pull out the swords and duel on the spot. Blayne took over the conversation, and slowly the tension began to ease into more pleasurable territory.
Sensing an opportunity to escape, Darren took my hand just as his father called his name.
The prince groaned. “I’m sorry, Ryiah.”
Don’t leave me!
My teeth grated. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” As long as the courtiers don’t try to engage me in conversation about their estates. I forced an encouraging smile on my lips as we parted ways.
The few times I had been forced to partake with the court I’d been engaged in an endless barrage of conversation. It wasn’t because I was charming, or debonair, or full of charming remarks.
It was because they all deemed me a gullible pawn in their play for power. One that I wanted nothing to do with. Every smile and eloquent aside held a secret, and I wasn’t fool enough to pretend I could see through to the true intentions behind. Darren had warned me many would seek out friendships to secure royal favors, and I had yet to discern the ones I could trust.
I had never made a promise to engage in frivolities—if the ambassador was occupied then I had fulfilled my duties, and after the many cautions not to “humiliate” the Crown I told myself the best tactic really was evasion. I could not embarrass myself if I had no one watching to witness my courtly blunders.
Several minutes later I had made it to the palace kitchens, dress and all, and I was cackling away, sitting on the stool next to Benny as he finished the final touches to that evening’s dessert, berating his least favorite members of court. The air smelled of candied ginger and mace. Mixed with the steady heat coming from the ovens I could almost pretend it was summer, and I was out in the field practicing my lunges with Ella instead of a cold, marble palace.
Benny finished icing his newest creation and looked up from his task. “How are the negotiations faring?”
“I wouldn’t know.” I snatched a tart that had not quite finished cooling and yelped, dropping it back to the rack. Too early. “The Pythians don’t seem to like us much.”
“The servants they brought claim their princess has already received an offer of marriage from Prince Klaus.”