“I told you. I was scouting the area. We have Ruined do it every day, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I honestly don’t know what else you want from me.” He let out a humorless laugh. “I bring you food and supplies and warriors and an offer of marriage and you still can’t be bothered to even look at me twice.”
“I told you I was considering your offer of marriage.”
“What’s there to consider?” he snapped. “The alliance is mutually beneficial. I’m sending a warrior back to Olso to say you’ve accepted.”
“That’s funny, I don’t remember actually accepting.”
He took a step closer to her. “You need me. And you should be grateful I consented to this. There are plenty of women in Olso who would fall all over themselves to marry me.”
“Then why did you agree?” She crossed her arms over her chest, holding his furious gaze. “Could it be that you need me too? Perhaps more than I need you? You’d be king of the Ruined if I married you. You’ll never be king of anything in Olso.”
His face flushed. He had no reply to that, it seemed.
She smirked. “I can’t promise you an answer until after we’ve taken care of Jovita. If you can’t wait, then you’re free to leave.”
“And what will your advisers think about that?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I think you overestimate their affection for you, August. They’ll trust my judgment.”
He gave her a sour look and she smiled in return.
She was never marrying him.
THIRTY
VIOLET LED THE way through the southern province. Cas followed behind her on his horse. They didn’t talk much. They rode through the night after meeting Em, and Violet said they would reach their first stop by afternoon, so they pressed on through the morning.
Their first stop was a farmhouse, where one of the captains of the southern province lived. Violet said it was likely that he was the most informed on the status of the people and land in the area.
The house was large, two stories, and looked like it hadn’t been under attack yet. Farmland stretched out behind it. A long, narrow path led up to a tall iron gate in front of the house.
“We have to walk our horses up,” Violet said, dismounting her horse. “And put one hand in the air.”
“Why?”
“So they know not to attack.”
Cas did as he was told, one hand guiding the horse and the other straight up in the air. Through the bars of the front gate, Cas could see someone emerging from the house. The man strode across the dirt, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched them approach.
“It’s me, Franco!” Violet called.
Franco ran to them and pulled the gate open with a creak. He was about the same age as Cas’s father, his black hair streaked with gray. He was tall and broad, and he swept Violet clear off the ground when he embraced her.
“I’m so happy to see you, sweetheart,” he said. Violet laughed as he swung her back and forth for a moment before gently putting her back down. He glanced at Cas, his brow crinkling in confusion. He looked back at Violet. “Where’s your father?”
Violet shook her head, blinking several times. “He died in the attack on the castle.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“This is the rightful king of Lera, Casimir Gallegos.”
Franco’s eyes widened and he quickly bowed his head. “Your Majesty.”
“Nice to meet you,” Cas said.
Franco looked behind them in confusion. “Are your guards coming, Your Majesty?”
“It’s just me and Violet.”
“Please come in,” he said, obviously trying to hide his surprise. He called for a young stable hand to take their horses, and led them through the gates and into the house.
His home was bright and open, with large windows that allowed plenty of light. Cas could hear running footsteps somewhere, and two small boys appeared on the stairs, full of giggles.
“Carlos, go get your sister,” Franco called to them. “I want all three of you down here to meet our guest.”
The taller boy disappeared, his younger brother trailing after him.
“Have a seat,” Franco said, leading them to a sitting room with a beautiful view of the fields behind the house. “Are you hungry? I can have the cook whip something up for us.”
“Yes, please,” Violet said. They’d had only a little dried meat last night.
The two boys reappeared, a girl a couple of years younger than Cas with them.
“Violet!” the girl shrieked, running for her. She knocked Violet over onto the couch with the force of her hug.
“Nice to see you too, Paula,” Violet said with a grin.
“Paula, Carlos, Bruno, I’d like you to meet the King of Lera,” Franco said.
Paula let out a gasp and jumped away from Violet. She stared at Cas open-mouthed.
“Y-your Majesty,” she stuttered, doing an awkward bow. The boys bowed also, Bruno’s mouth hanging open when he straightened.
“You’re the king?” he asked.
“Uh, well …” Cas chuckled. “Sort of.”
“Not sort of,” Franco said fiercely. “You are the king.” He looked at Paula. “Will you take the boys back upstairs? I’ll call you when we’re ready to eat.”
Paula’s cheeks had turned pink, and she ducked her head and scurried out of the room with the boys.
“My wife is out visiting our neighbors,” Franco said. “She should be back in the next few hours.” He sat down on the couch next to Violet and briefly squeezed her hand. “She’ll be so happy to see you.”
“How have things been in the area?” Violet asked. “Have you been under attack at all?”
He shook his head. “Some warriors lingered after they were defeated at Fort Victorra, but we cleared them out quickly. And I haven’t seen any Ruined.”
Cas leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I want to be honest with you. You know I married Emelina Flores?”
Franco nodded solemnly.
“My connection with the Ruined hasn’t been severed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I made a deal with Emelina. If she and the Ruined left, I would leave them alone. Jovita broke that promise, of course, and they’ve retaliated. They’re not that far from here.”
“They’re not?” Franco asked nervously.
“No. I’ve been there,” Violet said.
“The Ruined don’t want Jovita in power any more than you or I do,” Cas said. “I want the support of the southern province, but I’m not going to deceive you about my relationship with the Ruined.”
“You think you can trust them?” Franco asked.
“I can trust Emelina. It needs to be understood that if you want me as king, it means you want someone who will stop the murders of the Ruined. I strongly oppose my father’s policies regarding them. I believe that we’re in this mess because of it.”
“I agree,” Franco said. “I was against the policy from the start. I started the petition we sent to your father.”