I scanned the royal table. And my eyes met amused green.
I stopped so suddenly, Madinia slammed into my back. She hissed a curse at me, but I was too busy staring at Lorian.
His gaze turned predatory.
What?
How?
Why?
“Setella?” Lisveth was glancing between me and the king’s table.
“Sorry. First time seeing so many nobles. I’m a little nervous.”
Madinia snorted again, and I moved automatically, sliding myself into the only empty chair. Unfortunately, that put my back to Lorian, and I refused to give him the satisfaction—or draw attention to either one of us—by turning around to glower at him.
How was a mercenary dining with the royal family?
Everyone stood once more, and I scrambled to my feet. The king was walking in. It was the first time I’d seen him, and I swept my gaze over him as I bowed.
Tall and broad-shouldered, Sabium looked like he was at the peak of health. Which he likely was since his healers no doubt used stolen magic from people like my brother. His cheeks were ruddy, though, his eyes so dark they were almost black.
The king gestured for us to lift our heads. We all stayed standing, and the room went silent.
“Today, I would like to welcome Prince Rekja from Gromalia to our court. May this visit pave the way for greater cooperation between our kingdoms for centuries to come.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Lorian’s voice seemed to caress every inch of my skin. For a moment, all I could think about was the way his mouth had felt when he’d kissed me, right before we parted inside the city gates.
Back when I thought he was in the city to find his next client.
I almost laughed at how stupid I’d been. I’d thought Tibris and I were cunning for managing to get into the castle. Of course, Lorian had walked in the front door while pretending to be a prince.
“Be seated,” the king said, and I fumbled for my chair.
One of the other women let out a quiet snort. “As if the king wants to work with those cowardly Gromalian dogs long-term.”
I didn’t look up. If I showed any interest, she would immediately clamp her mouth shut. Luckily, Lisveth lifted her head.
“What do you mean, Alcandre?”
Alcandre heaved a sigh. I didn’t need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes. “I mean Gromalia turned its back on us during the fae wars. They refused to get involved. They didn’t want to risk losing and the fae turning their attention their way. Luckily, we had the gods on our side. But if there’s one thing I know about our king, it’s that he values our history. King Regner was the one to seek an alliance with Gromalia. King Sabium may need Gromalia to help us shore up our borders, but he’ll make them pay for siding with the fae last time.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Dinner was a buffet of breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meat. So much meat. The wine flowed freely, and the servants brought out sweet pastries, candied fruits… It was the kind of meal I’d dreamed of in my village.
I didn’t taste any of it.
The queen’s ladies ignored me. Lisveth attempted to start a conversation a few times, but I was distracted, and she quickly gave up, likely tired of my one-word answers.
When my mind slowed enough, I listened to the ladies’ conversation, mentally taking notes of everything they were saying—even as I felt Lorian’s eyes on me.
The five other ladies had been accompanying the queen for years. Lisveth’s mother had been one of the queen’s close friends, and she’d died from fever shortly after Lisveth was born when the healer hadn’t arrived in time to save her life. Lisveth was the youngest of us all at just sixteen winters, and the queen treated her almost like a daughter at times.
Caraceli was the woman who’d once been in charge of the queen’s fire and was closest to Katina—the woman the queen had found at the market. The woman I’d arranged to return to her village.
When Katina arrived home, she would find her parents in excellent health. Caraceli seemed to hate me even more than Madinia, likely because I’d taken her friend’s place.
Caraceli and Madinia also hated each other. Madinia seemed to hate everyone, but occasionally when the queen wasn’t looking, she’d call Caraceli fire girl with a smug smile.
There was a reason no one seemed to like Madinia. And it wasn’t just because her father was apparently so close to the king.
Pelopia and Alcandre were sitting at the other end of the table, murmuring quietly to each other. I hadn’t yet learned how they’d come to be in the queen’s employ—likely Auria could tell me later. Both had nodded to me, but other than Alcandre’s comments about Gromalia, they’d stayed quiet. Likely because neither of them wanted to attract Madinia’s ire.
I could still feel Lorian watching me. How exactly had he ended up here? My heart thumped faster at the memory of the fae he’d met with near the Gromalian border. I needed to know what Lorian was planning and how his plans would affect my own.
I risked a glance over my shoulder when the room went quiet. The queen had gotten to her feet. With a few murmured words to the king, she walked toward the door.
“Do we need to follow her?” I asked.
Lisveth shook her head. “The queen likes privacy after one of the king’s dinners. And she especially enjoys being alone after the castle balls. We’re allowed to leave whenever we like.”
I studied the others at the king’s table, ignoring Lorian, who was deep in conversation with King Sabium. “Who are the other people sitting with the king?” I asked quietly.
Lisveth smiled. “They’re the king’s patriarchs. They own huge swaths of land, depending on how much of the king’s favor they’ve courted over the years. Down the end of the table is Patriarch Kofod.” She nodded toward a man with a mournful expression who looked drunk already. “Next to him is Patriarch Farrow—Madinia’s father.”
I studied the man. Madinia’s mother must have been a beauty, because other than their red hair, the two had no other similarities that I could see. I glanced at Madinia. She raised one eyebrow at me.
Patriarch Farrow was sitting next to the king. A powerful man, indeed. The Gromalian prince sat on his other side. “And next to the…prince?”