I nodded to him. “Thank you.”
“They will lead the others,” Galen explained to me. “They will be in shifts around you as needed. Some will guard your rooms, whether you’re there or not. Others will support Zeph and Theron as needed on the move. Let me introduce you.”
He introduced each man in turn, and I did my best to remember their names. They didn’t know me, but they all had come, ready to defend me. It was reminiscent of my brothers back home, and I found comfort in the thought.
I felt my power, as if suddenly my heart stretched all the way to my fingertips, and farther still, as if there were a million fine threads that my fingers were stroking against. And in that moment, I was totally aware—of the stone beneath our feet, of the grains of fine sand moving over them, of the steel and silver of the armor and weapons of the men before me.
Breathing to control my power, I looked for my brother. Kairos watched it all in silent consideration. He was changing, my funny brother, and I wasn’t sure I liked it—certainly not if the change was because of me.
The men were dismissed, and I felt the gears shifting into place as Zeph and Theron gave orders, sliding twenty feet apart with me in the middle. Just like that, I felt a protective barrier between me and the world, and I could breathe easier.
“Dinner’s soon,” Galen said, coming to me again.
“Even after today’s events?” I asked.
“The court loves nothing more than to gather and spread gossip,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a great comfort after such a day.”
“Shy,” Kairos called. His sly gaze moved between Galen and me, and I felt heat in my face, like his eyes saw something that wasn’t there. I hurried over to him, and Kairos followed me back to my chambers without comment, Zeph and Theron a few steps behind him. When I went into my bedroom, Kairos stood at the door, watching me thoughtfully.
“Are you all right, Shy?” he asked softly.
I squeezed his hand. “Yes. Thank you, Kai.”
He kissed my cheek. He left with a sigh on his lips, and Zeph stood at the door while Theron gestured down the hallway. “We’ll be right outside your door, my queen.”
“Thank you,” I told them.
That Is Power
When the sky grew dark, Zeph knocked at the door. “The ishru would like to attend to you, my queen,” he said.
“They can come in,” I told him. “And thank you for asking.”
Zeph’s mouth twitched as he opened the door. “You shouldn’t get in the habit of thanking your servants,” he said.
I smiled. “You shouldn’t get in the habit of correcting your queen.”
He chuckled as he allowed the women in, and they quickly set about attending to me, changing my clothes and brushing my hair to prepare me for dinner. When I was ready to leave, Zeph led me through the halls of the Tri Castles.
The second floor was a huge room with white stone and tall windows. Glittering red fabric draped down the walls to pool on the floor. There were ten steps that led to a higher level against the back wall of the room, with space enough for a single table with four seats all along the back edge, so that those seated would look out over the place.
In the center of the lower part of the room, there was a large pit of fire with an iron shelf around it. Several pots were on the shelf, ostensibly being kept warm for the meal.
Something struck the stone with a resounding crack, and then the noise came again. I jumped.
“The queen!” shouted a voice, and I looked up to the raised level to see the small man in the long black coat striking a staff on the stone.
The rest of the people in the room—a host of nobility in a riot of bright colors and exposed skin—turned and looked at where I stood in the doorway. There was a moment when I didn’t move, didn’t breathe, staring back at them all in panic.
But then a young man in front bowed to me, and they all followed suit.
I took a breath and stepped forward, skirting around the fire to walk up the staircase. I didn’t like having my back to the people, and at the top I turned, just as the small man struck the ground again.
“The king!” he bellowed.
Calix strode through the room as the people bowed, his flinty green eyes on me alone. He mounted the stairs, his back ramrod straight, stopping two steps down. He caught my hand, his fingers sliding up my palm to thread through my fingers. Flipping my hand over, he pressed his lips against my pulse, and I wondered if he could feel it pounding back against his mouth.
“Where have you been all day?” I asked softly.
He met my gaze but didn’t answer. He climbed the remaining stairs but kept my hand captive, drawing me around the table. Pulling back the chair, he led me into it by my hand. I sat, and he took the chair beside me.
“Calix?” I asked.
He didn’t look at me.
The man struck the floor once, and everyone slowly took their seats. Danae and Galen appeared, together, and the man struck the floor again to announce them. They climbed the stairs without hesitation, and Galen helped Danae into her chair beside me before going to sit beyond Calix.
I touched her hand. “Are you all right?” I asked. “I didn’t see you this afternoon.”
She glanced at me and away, like the flicker of fire. “Fine. I should be asking you.”
My shoulders lifted. “Between your two brothers, I was well looked after. Where were you?”
“Hidden. We all have our roles in the service of the Three-Faced God.” She sighed, moving her eyes carefully toward Calix. “And I’ve been searching the city since.”
“For those people?” I asked.
“The Resistance,” she said, and now her careful eyes were watching me. “Your brother’s cause.”
“You cannot believe my brother would be involved in something that would put me at risk,” I said. Despite speaking to Kata, I still couldn’t believe it.
“No,” she said. “But they are growing stronger. And both my brothers must take action to quell such insurgence.”
“And I support them,” I said, raising my chin. I would never stand against Rian, but I didn’t like thinking of him stirring up violence against innocent people, even if he believed it was for a greater good.
Then again, I didn’t want to have to make my loyalties clear to either my brother or my husband.
Her eyes met mine. “Good. I’m sorry I wasn’t standing with you today. You must have been frightened.”
I nodded. “But I’m safe.”
Danae nodded.
The lids of the pots were all lifted, and an army of servants climbed the stairs to our table, offering the food to us. I couldn’t recognize a single thing; it didn’t look like meat or vegetables at all. There were liquids and things floating in the liquid, and it smelled foreign and strange.
Calix pointed, and servants placed dishes in front of me. The smell hit me and turned my stomach.
“What is this?” I asked Danae in a whisper.
“Fish,” she said, using a spoon to lift a chunk of something white.
My stomach clenched.
She gave me a small smile and passed the bread in my direction.
Tearing some of it off, I gave her a grateful nod.