“I assumed you met on the guard,” Cas said.
“We did. He was assigned to some of my training when I joined. But we didn’t really get along until we were both on leave and—” He stopped suddenly, sitting up. “I just realized that maybe I shouldn’t tell you this.”
“Now you have to tell me.”
“It involves us doing something illegal. But for a good reason,” he added hastily.
“Unless you’re about to tell me you were partnered with Em to kill us all, I really don’t care.”
“Not quite that bad.” He took a breath. “It was my brother. He was caught stealing. He’s not a bad guy, it’s just that our family was going through a hard time and he’s not known for his good decisions.” He looked anywhere but at Cas. “And, at that time, all criminals were being sent to join the hunters.”
“Oh,” Cas said, the shame of being his father’s son hitting him full force, once again.
“I didn’t think it was right, for him to basically be sentenced to death or become a murderer just for stealing some food,” Mateo said quietly.
“It wasn’t,” Cas agreed.
“So I decided to bust him out of prison, when they were transferring him,” Mateo said. “Galo came through town on his way back to the castle, and I was supposed to join him. But I was panicking at the time, and I told him everything, and he stayed and helped me.”
“You two were successful, then? You saved your brother?”
“We did. And Galo didn’t even know me that well at the time. If we’d been caught, the two of us would have been sentenced to the hunters as well. But he can’t pass up the opportunity to save someone.”
“Maybe he already liked you,” Cas said.
Mateo ducked his head with a smile. “Maybe.”
“Where’s your brother now?” Cas asked.
“Um, he was moving around a lot.”
“I didn’t ask so I can punish him.” He reached over and grabbed a pen and a slip of paper from the desk and handed them to Mateo. “Write his name down, along with the town where he committed the crime. I’ll send a pardon.”
Mateo blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yes. I’ve pardoned at least a hundred criminals recently who fled instead of joining the hunters. I’m happy to.”
Mateo looked like he might cry as he grabbed the paper and scribbled on it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Mateo handed the paper back to Cas. “Galo really didn’t say anything else? No hint as to why he’s going to save an Olso warrior he barely knows with a Ruined he doesn’t even like?”
“I think he and Aren are becoming friends, actually,” Cas said.
“Oh, wonderful. That makes me feel better. Galo’s becoming friends with the ridiculously attractive all-powerful man.”
Cas bit back a laugh. “I don’t think it’s going to be a romantic trip to Olso.”
“It better not be,” Mateo muttered. “But Aren will protect him, right? He really is as powerful as they say, so he has to protect him.”
“I’m sure he will,” Cas said, as much to reassure himself as Mateo. “I don’t think Aren would have let Galo go with him if he didn’t think he could protect him. And Galo probably has faith Aren can keep him safe, or he wouldn’t have gone. He’s not stupid.”
“No, he’s not,” Mateo said, almost begrudgingly. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if he went just to spite me.”
“That seems like a bit of an overreaction.”
“I did go on a recruitment trip just to avoid him,” Mateo said.
“He didn’t seem mad about that. Just sad.”
Mateo dropped his eyes. “Oh.”
“For what it’s worth, I would have been mad at him too, if I were in your shoes. We just got out of danger and he ran right back into it.” Cas cocked his head. “I am a little mad at him, actually. Why couldn’t he just stay here and save himself for a change?”
“Thank you,” Mateo said, spreading his arms wide. “That’s exactly what I said.”
“Give him a hard time when he comes back,” Cas said. “For the both of us.”
“Oh, I will.” He vigorously ran his hand through his hair, mussing the curls. “How is Emelina? Or, Queen Emelina? I’m sorry, I don’t know how to refer to her.”
“I don’t know how she likes to be addressed, honestly. The Ruined are pretty casual with one another. And she’s fine. I’m giving the Ruined some space this morning. Have they come out of their rooms?”
“Not that I’ve seen.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Em, actually. I need someone coordinating the security of the Ruined while they’re here. And she wants to get started with the Weakling, so I need someone in charge of getting guards and soldiers to help her. A few staff members, too.”
Mateo’s eyebrows shot up. “Me?”
“Em is wary of new people, and you’re the only guard she knows. Jorge can’t do it all, and he already agreed to let you take charge, if you’re up for it.”
“But . . . you know I’m not actually the best guard, right? I mean, I’m fine, they wouldn’t let me stay if I wasn’t, but there are certainly better ones. I’m not nearly as good with a sword as Galo is, for example.”
“Most people aren’t as good as Galo.”
“Well that’s true.”
Cas smiled. “I’ve seen you fight, Mateo. I’m not worried. But the Ruined are capable of protecting themselves. This is more about making them feel welcome, and safe. I think it would be better if Em has contact with other people in the castle besides me. And I don’t have a lot of people I trust a hundred percent.”
Mateo blinked, like he was surprised to discover he was one of those people.
“You’re welcome to say no. It’s a request, not an order,” Cas said.
“No, of course,” he said quickly. “I’d be happy to.”
“Good. Jorge has some information for you, so you should meet with him, and then go to Em. I think she was headed to the shed after speaking with the Ruined.”
“I’ll go right away.”
Cas stood and walked to the door. “Thank you, Mateo.” He smiled at him over his shoulder. “And I’m sure Galo will come back safe.”
“He better.”
Em found the Ruined in their rooms, and recruited Mariana and Gisela to head outside to the stables with her.
“How was last night?” Em asked as they walked down the hallway. A maid saw them coming and quickly ducked out of sight. “Any problems?”
“No problems,” Gisela said. Her face was neutral, less angry than it had been last night.
“We’re fine,” Mariana said. “Uh, some Ruined went . . . exploring this morning.” She looked over her shoulder like she might spot them lurking in a corridor.
“Exploring?” Em repeated.
“They’re just checking out the castle.” Gisela cocked an eyebrow. “Were they supposed to be confined to their rooms?”
“No. They’re free to roam.” Em pretended not to be nervous about Ruined just wandering the castle alone. They knew the polite thing to do was to wait for a guide to invite them on a tour.
Em pushed a door open and stepped out into the sunlight. She spotted the shed straight ahead, not far from the stables. She’d broken into it once, a few nights after she’d first arrived in the castle. It had been full of cutlery and candlesticks and other boring things that had probably been unwanted gifts.
No one had been protecting it then, but now two guards stood in front of it, watching as Em approached with Mariana and Gisela. Em stopped in front of them and they bowed.
“I’m here to take a look inside,” she said. “They told you I was allowed access?”
The female guard nodded and turned to unlock the door. She stepped back to allow Em inside.
A yell sounded from her left. She tensed, reaching for the dagger she’d slipped into her belt, and whirled around to face the stables.
Two young Ruined—Selena and Patricio—stumbled out of the stable, a guard and a stable hand hot on their heels. The guard pointed at them and yelled something. He put a hand on his sword.
Em broke into a run, headed for the stables. Gisela and Mariana followed close behind.
“We weren’t doing anything!” Selena yelled, her hands balled into fists at her side.