“It better be,” he warned. “I want the Monvílles impressed by what they find here.”
I wasn’t certain anything would impress Lord Allemond, but I could at least make sure nothing went wrong. The salmon had just been delivered, and four large fish were in cold storage in the cellars.
Thinking on this, I was caught unawares when Jarrod said, “And you know I’ll expect your help with this land deal. I want your best efforts.”
As realization hit me, I couldn’t draw breath. My father had told him. Then my shock began to fade. Of course, Father told him. How better to sweeten the deal? I had so much hoped to leave that part of my life behind. The disappointment was crushing. Still, there was nothing for it now. Jarrod knew, and he’d use my ability every chance he had.
With a soft sigh, I was about to ask him whom he preferred me to focus on when Kai broke in.
“I don’t see why we have to suffer through this at all.”
Forgetting about me, Jarrod turned on him. “Don’t you? Well, then it’s a good thing you’re not the eldest! If we’re to gain Rolf a seat on the council, we have to match them tit for tat, and we can’t have them looking down on us.”
That was his goal? To gain Rolf a seat on the Council of Nobles? He was dreaming. New members were voted in by sitting members, and none of those men would ever vote for a Volodane.
Jarrod wasn’t finished. He pointed at me. “That’s where she comes in. Look at this place. Tablecloths. Tapestries. Porcelain dishes. Flowers on the table. Tonight, she’ll help make us look like one of them, and that’ll throw Allemond off his game. I’ll secure this deal and show him who we are.”
I kept silent. He’d only referenced my help with appearances.
Perhaps he didn’t know about my ability. Perhaps my father hadn’t wanted him to know. Had I been about to give myself away needlessly?
“I’m not saying I don’t like the changes here,” Kai answered. “I’m only saying we shouldn’t have to play up to the likes of the Monvílles to gain Rolf a seat on the council. We shouldn’t have to play up to anyone.”
“Then you’re a fool,” Jarrod answered. “And that girl is wasted on you. She should have married Rolf.”
Kai’s body went tense, and I feared he might be about to say something he’d regret.
“Might I be excused?” I asked to draw Jarrod’s attention. “I need to make sure your new clothing has been properly ironed.”
“Mmmmm?” he asked absently. “Oh, yes. Off with you.”
As soon as Jarrod gave me leave, I fled from the hall and hurried down the passage toward the stairs to the tower. I wanted a few moments in my room. Kai didn’t know it, but he’d done me a service by interrupting before I’d given myself away. Had Jarrod learned the truth, I’d have spent the remainder of his life reading anyone he doubted or wished to spy upon. From now on, I would guard my secret.
I made it only halfway to the entrance to the tower when Betty came trotting behind me. “My lady.”
I stopped. “Yes?”
“Lavonia is asking for you in the kitchen. She says the fish has gone bad.”
“Gone bad?”
“That’s what she says, my lady.”
To my surprise, Lavonia had actually volunteered to prepare and bake the salmon, leaving Ester free to focus on the sauces and other courses. But the salmon was to be the first, and therefore most important, course. I’d paid well for fish caught that very morning, and I’d checked them myself upon delivery.
Poor Betty appeared distraught.
“Don’t worry,” I told her. “I’ll go and see about it now. I’m sure she’s just being overcautious.”
I wasn’t sure of any such thing, but I turned around and headed west toward the kitchen. Upon arriving, I found it a busy place.
“Betty says there is a problem with the fish?” I asked, stepping through the archway.
Lavonia turned with her usual poorly hidden sneer. “They’re spoilt. We can’t use them.”
Everyone stopped working and listened to us.
I shook my head. “That seems unlikely. I checked them myself upon delivery. Those fish were caught this morning.”
“They’re down in the cellar, in the coolest room,” Lavonia said. “You want to come down with me to check them?”
Her eyes had narrowed and something in her voice caught my attention. My encounter with Jarrod and Kai had only reinforced my determination to leave a part of myself behind, to live a new life without invading the minds of others.
My father had also trained me to never read anyone without his express instructions. Doing so on my own would be the worst breach of rules imaginable. But this was a new world and I was living under new rules.
I couldn’t be blamed for any mistakes with this dinner tonight. Even the thought terrified me. What would Jarrod do if every detail weren’t perfect?
And in this moment, I had little doubt that Lavonia was up to something.
Reaching out, I let my own thoughts sink into hers.
A flash of hatred hit me like a wall. She hated me with a passion. Her life had been easy before my arrival, and she saw me as the reason her life had changed for the worse. Then I saw an image, a plan of her leading me alone to check the fish. They would be the same fresh salmon I’d already checked.
But days ago, she’d bought four salmon from the son of a fishmonger, and she’d let them spoil in the sun. I saw an image in her mind of her preparing and sending out the spoiled salmon for tonight’s dinner, and then in the aftermath, claiming she had warned me in front of all the kitchen staff, and that she’d shown me the spoiled fish, and I had insisted she serve it anyway.
She was going to ruin Jarrod’s dinner party and blame me.
I pulled from her thoughts, frightened and yet uncertain what to do. To dismiss her, I would need proof, and even then, I may need one of the lords of the house to back me up.
“I’m sure the salmon are fine,” I said. “I checked them myself. Please feel free to prepare them later.”
She shrugged. “As you like.”
Turning, I left the kitchen and headed for the front of the keep as a plan formed. I’d go to the barracks and find Sebastian. He was usually there this time of day playing cards. I’d show him the spoiled salmon out back of the hen house, and he would help me.
With purpose, I made my way out to the courtyard and across to the barracks. I’d never been here inside before, but the doors were open.
Stepping in, I found myself in a large room and then stopped at the sight awaiting me.
Tables had been pushed up against the walls, and about ten of the guards were watching two men in a sparring match. One of the men was a handsome young guard named Daveed. I only knew his name because he was a close friend of Sebastian.
The other man was Kai.