The Hollow Crown (Kingfountain #4)

Staeli shrugged off the younger man’s exuberance with narrow eyes, ignoring him utterly, and headed to the periphery of the room to speak in low tones with some of the Espion gathered there.

Fallon smirked at the snub and leaned forward, thumping the table with his elbow. “Cousin, Cousin, Cousin, so you didn’t come to Marq to watch me face the Gauntlet. I’m crushed. Truly. But how did you find Morwenna? You look like a local girl,” he added, tugging at the garter around her elbow, then letting it snap back against her arm. She pulled her arm away from him.

“I found her,” Morwenna added with a sly grin, “chasing after the thief Dragan.”

Fallon startled, sitting up, his expressive eyes widening. “Truly? The blackguard is here?”

Trynne nodded. “I felt his magic and he felt mine. I don’t think he realized whom he had stumbled upon until he saw me from the window of the bookshop. He fled when Captain Staeli and I went after him.”

“Of course he did!” Fallon said, his brow wrinkling. “Now there’s a man I’d like to drown in the Deep Fathoms. So he took one look at you and tucked tail and ran.” He shook his head. “Well, if I run into him, then I’ll be sure to punch him in the mouth for you. Ere I turn him in to the Espion for greater tortures.” He reached out and playfully pushed her shoulder. “I can’t believe you are here. I hadn’t expected it.”

“I knew you were here,” Trynne said, giving him an arch look.

“A lucky guess, perhaps?”

She screwed up her nose. “No, your sister told me.”

“So you’ve been to the palace recently? How fares Genny? I’ve not seen either of you in months!”

“She is in excellent health,” Trynne replied. Her stomach was still a little giddy, but each moment with him made her feel more at ease. “There are many cares at the moment.”

“Aren’t there always? People worry too much about things they cannot control. Never greet a devil till you meet one or cross a bridge before you’ve reached it. Ten times out of nine things aren’t as bad as we fear them to be.”

“Don’t you mean nine times out of ten?” Morwenna quipped.

“That’s how I heard it originally,” Fallon said, giving her a wicked smile. “But every saying can bear a little improvement. So, Cousin,” he said, addressing Trynne again. “You no doubt wonder why I am here with the king’s poisoner.”

“It had crossed my mind,” she answered in a neutral tone.

“Well, Morwenna stumbled into Dundrennan . . . did she already tell you? Ah, she did. Yes, she literally stumbled there, sprawled out on the floor. What a mess. I was able to coax a few secrets from her, namely, how she arrived using magic. You know how much I loathe secrets.” He gave her a slightly challenging look. “In order to get a seat at the ‘Table of Splinters’ and become a permanent member of the king’s council, one must pass all the Gauntlets. There are only so many seats, you know. I intend to be the first who passes all of them. I’ve passed the one in Edonburick, naturally. I’ve also been to Legault. Theirs was easy. Legaultans have no imagination. It’s no secret how much Prince Elwis and I hate each other. Our fathers have sworn that they will do everything they can to keep us apart. But I know dogs like Elwis never sleep without dreaming about mischief. Elwis is eager to see me fail. So I hatched this idea of getting into the city before anyone learned I was here. The Gauntlet is this evening at dusk, and I intend to win it and then vanish before Elwis’s nose.” He wagged his eyebrows. “Poisoners know the arts of disguise, and Morwenna especially so.” He glanced at the king’s half sister again and gave her a knowing look. “I can’t wait to see Elwis’s face when he realizes he’s lost to me.”

Trynne felt a little wary by the tone of the banter. “Will Elwis be competing? I thought he was already a champion of Brugia?”

Fallon shook his head. “You are right. He already bested it. He’s also won the badges of Occitania and Legault, but that’s it.”

“So you’re tied?”

Fallon shrugged. “Not for long. When I get this one, it will put me ahead. That I do it under his nose will add salt to the steak.”

Trynne felt a guilty throb in her heart. Fallon didn’t realize that she intended to pass the Gauntlet as well. Right under his nose.

“So this is your first time to Brugia, is it not?” Fallon asked, scratching his bottom lip and arching an eyebrow.

“It is,” Trynne answered. “It’s a beautiful city.”

“It smells like dead fish,” he bantered.

“So does Edonburick, I hear.”

“Only down on the docks, not up in the cliffs. I miss our chatter, Trynne. So you are training to be a Wizr yourself? Do you know how to whisk yourself away now like your mother does, or did she bring you?”

Trynne felt a little offended. “I came on my own.”

He held up his hand repentantly. “Good, that’s good. So why haven’t you come to Dundrennan to see me? Now that I know you can, I’ll be expecting it.”

“I can’t really just . . . go wherever I want,” Trynne said, glancing over at Captain Staeli.

“Why not?”

“Because my parents trust me, Fallon. My father may not be the head of the Espion anymore, but he may as well be for all they tell him.”

He waved his hand. “That’s an excuse. You don’t because you are afraid.” He pitched his voice lower. “You’ve had that bodyguard with you ever since you were attacked.”

Trynne’s heart was starting to burn with discomfort. She wished Morwenna were not witnessing the conversation.

Leaning forward, his elbow planted on the table, Fallon tapped his lips on his clenched fist. “I’m sure your mother is worried sick about you right now. That’s what parents do. She probably gave you a very short leash for this visit, but you’re nearly a grown woman now, Trynne. Time to leave the nest.” He reached out and snatched her hand. “We are going to sneak away and steal a boat. Right now. Morwenna, would you distract the captain for a few moments?”

Trynne jerked her hand away, her cheeks flushing. “I will not do that, Fallon Llewellyn.”

“Why not?” he challenged. “Because you’re afraid. No one is going to recognize us. No one is going to hurt you. I’d love to show you some of the sights. We’ll be back, get a scolding, and then you can watch me win the Gauntlet before you leave. Morwenna? Help me persuade her.”

Trynne was tempted. The thought of riding in a gondola with Fallon, just the two of them, was enticing. The truth of the matter was that she wasn’t afraid of being away from Captain Staeli. She was afraid of breaking her parents’ trust in her, the oath she’d made never to go anywhere without a guard. What was more, she could almost hear Myrddin’s voice in her head—never swear an oath falsely. Yes, this was about more than a simple afternoon.

“I don’t think she wants to be persuaded,” Morwenna said, reaching out and touching Trynne’s arm. “You’re very impulsive, Fallon. She is not.”