Banneth had suggested leaving Nicholas out of the evening, saying it only increased the chances something would be given away, but Sage was unwilling to let the prince out of her sight. If Alex was right, there might be an opportunity while they were at dinner to catch one or both of the assassins. She didn’t want to risk something happening to Nicholas while Alex and Darit were busy. Banneth needn’t have worried, though. Nicholas played his role well.
When Sinda asked Banneth if he could marry Lani, she blushed and then cried when the king granted his permission. The princess’s limit, however, was reached when Sinda went to kiss her. Lani turned her cheek to him.
“Don’t think you can take liberties now,” she said teasingly as she met Sage’s eyes with a different look entirely. Sinda kissed Lani chastely and returned to his seat.
Banneth cleared his throat and took Sage’s hand again. “I had not thought to say anything yet, but now seems opportune.” He raised Sage’s fingers to his lips and looked at her in a way that made her wonder if he’d been truthful when he said he didn’t love her. “This afternoon I asked Mistress Saizsch to marry me.”
Nicholas cheered and jumped up to kiss Sage on the cheek, then went to shake the king’s hand while Banneth looked genuinely puzzled at the gesture. In the corner of Sage’s vision, Sinda tensed, then recovered and smiled. Lani beamed at him. “Isn’t it wonderful, Dev?”
“Most wonderful,” he replied, raising his glass. “I wish Palandret all the happiness I expect to have.” He took a sip without waiting for anyone else to join his toast. “When does My King intend to tell the council?”
“Tomorrow,” said Banneth. “With the Demorans coming, I wish to proceed as soon as possible.” He glanced at Sage meaningfully. “The sooner this union is cemented, the better for both nations.”
Sage flushed and looked away. Sinda’s smile widened.
For the rest of the meal, they discussed when the weddings should be held and who should be involved. Minister Sinda insisted no money for his and Lani’s should come from the treasury, that he would bear the cost himself.
The hard gleam in Lani’s eyes told Sage she was tallying every minute of his betrayal for repayment.
98
ALEX NESTLED BEHIND an ornate tapestry in the dark corner of Sage’s dressing room, thinking how funny it was to have such a decorated closet, when he heard the door to the servants’ passage open in the next room. He flexed his hands a few times before going perfectly still and waited for the shadows to go through her room, searching. Not finding what they wanted, the dolofan came into the dressing room and began touching and pressing fabrics and items lying around.
“Here,” one whispered in Kimisar. He slid Sage’s second dagger from under a pile of silk.
Alex recognized Kamron’s profile as he made a face. “You win. I’ll go secure our escape route.”
Stesh tucked the knife in his belt. “I’ll wait in the garden where I can see when he puts the lamp out.”
“Don’t get caught, little brother.” Kamron flicked his ear. “I won’t save your pretty little nose this time.”
The Kimisar made an obscene gesture and slipped out the door. Kamron stayed behind, poking through Sage’s things and tucking a few pieces of jewelry in his vest. Alex had been worried about losing the man while following him, but Kamron’s greedy delay meant Alex was able to take him down right there.
After using several of the silk scarves lying around to bind the Kimisar, Alex poured a triple dose of medicinal tea on the man’s gag. Then he dragged the limp body out of the room and back into the servants’ corridor. About halfway there Alex realized he’d overestimated how much his body could take. Though brief, his struggle with Kamron had exhausted him and undoubtedly set some of his healing back a few days. He had to rest every few feet, and it took much longer than expected to reach Banneth’s room.
Originally Alex had planned to be there, waiting with Darit, but when he’d seen Sage dressed for dinner and wearing only one knife at her waist, it occurred to him how she could be blamed, and he decided to wait in her room. Darit’s relief was plain on his face when Alex finally appeared.
“I had to admit, there was a part of me that did not trust your honesty,” the Casmuni told Alex as he took the Kimisar’s legs and helped carry him into the bathing room.
Alex wasn’t insulted. “I have much to atone for with you, Darit,” he said. “Especially as you saved Sage and my prince.” Darit only nodded. Once the Kimisar was set against a wall and his restraints rechecked, Alex collapsed in a corner. The next thing he knew, the king had returned from dinner.
“Saizsch is in her room,” Banneth said, gently shaking Alex’s shoulder. “She will wait for you to return before coming here.”
Alex rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Where is Darit?”
“He left after the guards saw me speak with him. That way he has an excuse to be close when my body is found.” The king pulled a familiar black-handled dagger from his jacket. “Saizsch sends you this.”
“Thanks.” Alex used the wall to help him stand and accepted the weapon. On the opposite side of the room, Kamron was still unconscious, his half-open eyes glazed with the effects of the sedatives.
Banneth watched Alex walk around to loosen his muscles. “I know you are risking your life now for Saizsch and Nikkolaz,” he said after a few silent minutes. “But this is also for me, and I am grateful.”
“I, too, have much to be grateful for,” said Alex simply.
The king hesitated. “I would have treated her well, but I knew that she would never care for me like she cares for you.”
“I know this.” Alex paused to offer Banneth a smile. “That is why I am not angry. Besides”—he looked away because there was a small part of the situation that was painful, even if he didn’t want to admit it—“I cannot blame you for seeing her worth.”
Darit returned then, and Banneth went about preparing for bed as though nothing was wrong. A manservant helped him undress while Alex and Darit stayed out of sight. Once his man was dismissed for the evening, Banneth settled cushions under the bedclothes to make it look like he was there, extinguished the lantern, and slipped back into the bathing room. He’d wanted to stay in the bed as bait, but both Alex and Darit considered that too dangerous. They took places in the corners of Banneth’s silent bedchamber and waited.
Alex almost missed the man’s entry. The assassin came in with a breeze that rippled the sheer curtains leading to the patio. Dark as it was outside, the king’s chambers were darker, giving Alex and Darit a slight advantage. The moon wasn’t up, and Stesh cast no shadow as he glided, wraithlike, into the room. Despite the Kimisar’s intentions, Alex couldn’t help admiring the man’s stealth.
Stesh had his back to Darit’s corner, and as he approached the king’s bed, the Casmuni eased away from the wall. Alex was in his line of sight and didn’t dare move. There was a low hiss as the assassin slid Sage’s knife free of the sheath. One hand reached for the lump on the bed.
The hand froze and the man stepped back.
Darit was still halfway across the room. Before Stesh could turn around, Alex leapt from his corner, resisting the urge to throw his knife—they wanted him alive. The assassin reacted instantly, hurling the dagger in his hand at Alex, but Alex was already diving down to the carpet. His intention had been only to give Darit a chance to get closer. A burning stripe across his left shoulder told him he’d been grazed by the blade. The impact on the floor was far worse, and Alex nearly blacked out from the pain as he rolled into the side of the bed, clutching his bleeding arm.
By the time Alex had recovered enough to stand, Darit was struggling with Stesh on the other side of the bed. For a moment he hesitated, unsure which man was which in the darkness, then the pair separated. Darit’s sword swung out and Stesh deflected it with a curved dagger. Alex flung his knife at the Kimisar’s hand, knocking it away, and Darit sliced around. Stesh dropped to his knees, clutching his middle. Darit kicked him over and stepped on his neck to hold him down as Alex slumped on the bed, gasping.
“Palandret,” Darit called softly. “It is finished.”