Only he wasn’t sorry. She could tell by the glint of delight in his eyes.
“The Book of Knowledge that our seer so kindly presented to us demands the Trials contain risks to those who would take the throne. No doubt to prove that once the new monarch receives the crown he or she has the ability to keep it. After all, the getting of power is often the easy part. It is keeping it that can prove difficult. The Council of Elders must do its utmost to make sure the person who wins the Trials has the ability to lead Eden through the difficult times ahead.”
“And if we refuse this insult to us and to our father?” Andreus asked.
“Then Lord Garret will ascend the throne and he will decide how best to handle any who could jeopardize the legitimacy of his reign.”
The Bastians, defeated by Carys’s grandfather, were executed in Garden City in the exact spot where the Tree of Virtues now stood. Those who escaped and their heirs had plagued Eden with the threat of war ever since. Carys had no doubt the Council of Elders would advise Lord Garret to kill her, Andreus, and their mother, and the kingdom would say nothing against it.
“Prince Andreus and Princess Carys.” Elder Ulrich stepped out of the cluster of councilmen with his hands raised. “I understand this all comes as a shock. None of us expected your mother’s mind to collapse under the strain of this tragedy. Unfortunately, there is no turning from these unfortunate consequences. The Kingdom of Eden is depending on all of us to do our part. Can we count on your honorable participation?”
“We are the children of King Ulron,” Carys said before her brother could voice the denial she saw on his lips. “Our father was the Guardian of Light and Keeper of Virtues for more than two score years. He taught us that it is our responsibility to do what is best for the realm. We would not dishonor him by turning away from our duty to Eden.”
Andreus opened his mouth to speak, and Carys gave him a look willing him to trust her. Yes, she knew he couldn’t compete in physical trials—ones that could result in death. The strain of whatever the Council of Elders devised could trigger an attack. If Carys couldn’t help conceal it, Elder Cestrum would see Andreus’s struggles to breathe and he would recall Seer Kheldin’s prediction. The Council would seize on Andreus’s weak heart in order to remove him from contention for the throne.
Virtues went out the window when self-interest was at stake.
But knowledge was power and right now Carys wouldn’t let the Council know that she and her brother weren’t going to play this game.
Her brother frowned, but gave a slight nod before saying, “Princess Carys and I understand the importance of our duty. We will do what we must to ensure King Ulron’s legacy lives on. I’m assuming the Trials will start in a few days, once the Council has time to prepare?”
Elder Cestrum waved off Andreus’s assumption with his iron hand. “While circumstances surrounding the upcoming coronation have changed, the need for a quick transition to a new monarch has not. Eden needs a king or queen to secure the realm. The Council will meet throughout the night to create the rules and tasks governing the Trials that will commence at the tournament tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. That gave them almost no time to find a way out of this insanity. “Do you think that’s wise?” Carys asked, ignoring the dread blooming deep in her stomach. “After all, the tournament was planned to celebrate the coronation of the Queen. To use it for something else could be considered mocking the fates.”
“The tournament will still celebrate the upcoming coronation, and the gathering of the court and commoners alike will give the Council an opportunity to explain the purpose of the contest between you and Prince Andreus.” Elder Cestrum glanced back at the Council members, who all nodded their agreement.
All but Elder Ulrich, who stood out of Elder Cestrum’s line of sight and was watching Carys with his one good eye.
Elder Cestrum turned back to Carys and Andreus. “The tournament will demonstrate to everyone that the Council of Elders, Eden’s seer, and King Ulron’s surviving children have agreed on this path to determining the new monarch. After so much tragedy, the people will not only be glad to have contest champions to cheer for during the tournament, but they’ll be inspired to learn their prince and princess are willing to go to great lengths to prove their worthiness to wear the crown.”
Great lengths. An outsider might not hear the threat in those two words, but Carys did. Especially since the Council had just made it clear their preference was to put Lord Garret on the throne.
Or most of them did. What Elder Ulrich wanted was unclear. He had warned her and Andreus about tonight’s Council meeting here in the Hall of Virtues. Did he want to help them block Elder Cestrum’s plot to put Garret on the throne—or had he intended to lead her and Andreus to the slaughter?
Carys stared at him, hoping to see some sort of sign as to his motive, but his expression was inscrutable.
Carys wondered. Ulrich might not be a friend, but maybe . . . just maybe he might not be a foe.
“You have a long night ahead of you then, my lords,” Carys said. “And apparently my brother and I will have a long day tomorrow. So unless anyone has another book to read from, I bid you good night. Andreus, are you coming?” She gathered her skirts and paused to see if he’d heard the message she’d spoken just for him.
“You go ahead,” he said with a nod of understanding. “I would like to examine this Book of Knowledge to make sure there aren’t any other surprises. Get some rest, Carys,” he said with his attention back on the Council. “It sounds like you’re going to need it.”
Rest, she thought as she spun and walked out of the chamber, was something neither of them could afford. Not if they were going to avoid being caught in the trap the Council of Elders were setting.
Carys headed back through the brightly lit but mostly empty hallways of the castle to her rooms and noticed there were more guards posted than usual. Possibly because they thought they’d be enforcing the rule of a new king tonight. That alone told Carys that Captain Monteros couldn’t be counted on to help her and Andreus. His loyalty clearly belonged to the Council of Elders. Perhaps she could find a way to buy his support back, but after tonight it was clear she and Andreus would never be able to truly count on him. The only people she and her brother could depend on to keep them safe were themselves.