you should know, I intend to sail to Ithicana as soon as this storm breaks to meet with Aren and Lara.”
Straightening, she met Keris’s gaze. “I’ve made arrangements for Royce’s care and eventual imprisonment, as well as ensured his mother understands that he brought his fate down upon himself, which she has accepted gracefully. I’ve also sent compensation to Greenbriar to pay for the sister’s service, as well as to repair any damages inflicted on the property during the incident.”
This had been the way of things since word his father had died in the battle of Eranahl had arrived led Sara to one of the chairs and then went to the sideboard, pouring two drinks. He stared at them for in Vencia. Lestara running the household, much in the way Coralyn once had. It was a monumental task, managing the needs of so many, and not one Keris was well equipped to do, so he should have been grateful. Was grateful. But he also knew Lestara had an agenda, which meant every time she did something like this, it put his nerves on edge. “Thank you, Auntie.”
Annoyance passed through her amber eyes, but Lestara inclined her head. “Will you be joining the harem for dinner?”
He considered Sara, who was sipping at her milk, expression unreadable. “The family will have to forgo my presence tonight, but thank you.”
“You will be missed.” Lestara curtsied, then swanned out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.
Keris slumped back in the chair, resting his drink on his knee. Not knowing quite why, he asked,
“What do you think she wants from me?”
Around a mouthful of cookie, Sara answered, “To get in your bed.”
He jerked, nearly sending his drink crashing to the floor. “What did you just say?”
Taking a large sip of milk, Sara said, “I’m not entirely certain why, but all the aunties used to say Lestara wanted to get in your bed. I assumed you had a particularly comfortable mattress.”
Keris knew as well as anyone that growing up in this palace meant hearing things not intended for the ears of children, but that didn’t make it any more palatable. “Such things are not fit for your ears, this angle, he could see down to her navel. Annoyance flickered through him, and he pointedly looked young lady.” Then he frowned, a thought entering his mind. “What else did they say about her?”
“That Aunt Coralyn was grooming her.” Sara picked up another cookie, frowned at it, and then put
“Sara, we were so relieved to hear you were all right.” Lestara’s sandals made soft pats against theit back in favor of one with more marzipan. “I never understood that, because the aunties have servants to do their hair, so perhaps I misheard.”
“No.” Keris bit at his thumbnail, more than one piece falling into place as he remembered past events. “You didn’t mishear.”
Coralyn’s strategies for the family, and for him in particular, were likely more far reaching than he realized. Part of him wondered if he’d be seeing the results of all the little strings she’d pulled for the Keris snagged the cookie that Sara’s fingers hovered over, giving her a warning glance. She tucked rest of his life, almost as though she were still here.
Though in fairness, the rest of his life might not be long.
“Do you like being king?” his sister asked, and he focused on her, noting the cookie plate was now empty.
“Not particularly, but it’s better than the alternative.”
In the way of children, she didn’t acknowledge his answer, only asked another question, more softly. “What happened to Zarrah?”
Servants might well be listening. God help him, Lestara might be at the door listening, which meant the prudent course would be to shrug. Except he could see the interest in Sara’s eyes, knew that she’d been quite taken with Zarrah, who had shown his sister kindness and respect. Rising, he filled his glass and then went to sit next to her. “The Empress has sent her to a Valcottan prison.”
sister, Sara deserves every privilege.” Slipping the blanket off her arm, she draped it around the girl’s Sara’s eyes widened. “Whatever for? Zarrah is her family.”
wet shoulders. “I’ll order the dressmakers to come, as I’m sure none of your old gowns will fit, much This was dangerous ground. Sara was a child, and giving her valuable information put her at risk.
Except if his enemies ever got hold of her, ignorance would not save her. “Serin told the Empress some things about Zarrah that she didn’t like. Things she thought made Zarrah a traitor to Valcotta.”
His sister’s face filled with disgust. “Lies. Zarrah told me of the importance of honor. She’d never do anything to harm Valcotta.”
“She didn’t betray Valcotta,” he said quietly, lifting his glass to hide his lips from anyone peering through a spy hole. “But she did choose to stop seeing the world in the same way as the Empress, who saw that as the worst sort of betrayal.”
“It’s not reasonable for her to expect everyone to think exactly as she wishes.” Sara held up her milk glass, mimicking his method. “She is an empress, not a god.”
“I’m not entirely certain she agrees, and Zarrah has been made to pay the price.” Setting down his glass, he rose, helping her up. “Lestara will have a room made up for you, as well as proper clothing brought so that you might change out of these wet things before dinner.”
will have to
Sara’s jaw worked back and forth. “May I go with you to Ithicana?”
Even if his intent had been to remain in Aren’s kingdom, he still wouldn’t consider bringing her.
The Tempest Seas were too wild, too dangerous, and then there were the Ithicanians themselves …
“Not this time. Perhaps during the calm season, arrangements could be made with Lara to visit her.”
Sara looked away, chin quivering.
She thought he was abandoning her. Which was fair, because, in a way, he was. “It’s not forever.
I’ll be back.”
He hoped. There was every chance that he’d never step foot in Vencia again.
Guilt twisted in his stomach, along with the rising need to make Sara understand why he had to go.
Why it had to be him. Keeping his voice low, he said, “If I explain my plans, will you keep them secret for me?”
“Of course,” she said without hesitation. Yet though she’d kept many of his secrets in the past, Keris’s throat still constricted. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to speak, his voice still low. “I’m going to Ithicana to ask Aren and Lara to help me rescue Zarrah from prison.”
His sister’s eyes brightened with delight. “Will you marry her?”
If only that were in the cards. “I will march armies to save her, and that’s all you need to know.
Now do you understand why I need you to remain here?”
She nodded, and he helped her to the door. “Let us go find Lestara.”
realized. Part of him wondered if he’d be seeing the results of all the little strings she’d pulled for the
“READ SOMETHING TO me,” Zarrah murmured, her breath warm against his chest. “Something about somewhere else.”
Keris blinked against the glow of the sun shining in the window of the stateroom, watching the endlessly rolling waves. “Do you want to be somewhere else?”
Her body shook with silent laughter, and she lifted her head to meet his gaze, her dark-lashed eyes meant the prudent course would be to shrug. Except he could see the interest in Sara’s eyes, knew that capturing his soul. “No, but last time I let you choose, I was subjected to an hour on the history of coin making. I’d thought your voice could make anything interesting, but you proved me wrong.”
“My voice?” He lifted an eyebrow. “I hadn’t realized it was so intriguing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please. You know precisely the effect it has.” Taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice in mimicry of him and said, “The first known coins were made from electrum, a combination of silver and gold, with trace amounts of other metals.”