11. Kasten
There wasn’t enough time to sleep; there never seemed to be these days. I had to get to Duke James before the news did.
I washed and turned up outside his estate unannounced at the time civilized people would be eating breakfast. It wasn’t polite to call until eleven, but I wasn’t here to be polite. Quite the opposite.
I took a moment to make sure my anger was under control before talking firmly to the footman.
“I will see Duke James now. It’s urgent, and I don’t care what he’s doing.”
The footman licked his lips and shifted his weight between his two feet. “If you would just follow me, my lord, I’ll take you to the gentleman’s room. I can serve you the finest quality drinks and Cerith cigars while you wait…” Something in my gaze made his words die.
I blinked slowly and cocked my head to one side, the aggressive stance making the man take a step back. “Where is he?”
“In the orangery, my lord,” he managed weakly.
I took off without waiting for him to mutter any further nonsense and pushed past squealing maids and gawking servant boys. I headed toward the back of the house which overlooked the fine gardens. It didn’t make sense for the orangery to be elsewhere. The house was decorated in the typical fashion for Adenburg: pale and sickly apart from dark blue doors. Uniform and boring.
My anger simmered below the surface. How dare he confine Sir Cley. How dare he threaten me like this. I schooled my rage into cool, ruthless calm as I threw open the lattice doors and entered a large conservatory full of citrus trees and giant blue butterflies.
Duke James sat drinking tea and eating cakes with a younger woman. He half rose in surprise when he saw me, then decided to stay seated. Another insult. He was well groomed, his short black hair neatly oiled, and his royal blue jacket brought out the warmer hues in his brown skin.
He dismissed the woman with a kiss to her gloved hand. She had barely vacated her seat before I took it.
Duke James frowned at me as if I were a naughty child. “Ah, the young general. I must say your entrance is quite unorthodox. Did your mother never teach you…ah no, of course not. She couldn’t.”
I ignored him. “You’ve taken my man without my permission. I have come to take him back.”
He frowned and poured himself another cup of tea, taking his time to stir the sugar. The delicate clink of silver on ceramic jarred against my anger. I kept my breathing slow and deliberate and the rest of my body completely still.
Duke James took a sip. “I am the head of the city guard. It’s my job to investigate any threat to Adenburg’s security.”
I scoffed. “Really?” So much went on that he deliberately didn’t investigate, making the statement laughable. I would give an arm and a leg that Duke James had only arrested Sir Cley because Lord Lyrason had told him to.
I lounged back in my chair as if relaxed. “And what evidence or reason do you have for keeping the head of my personal guard prisoner?”
Duke James stroked his long fingers along the thin porcelain of the teacup. “I apologize for the unpleasantness of this, but I must ask. Why was Sir Cley here at Adenburg while you were in Kasomere? His actions appeared suspicious to the guard.”
I crossed my arms in annoyance. A servant set a clean cup and saucer in front of me and poured some tea. If the teapot hadn’t already been on the table, I would have suspected it was poisoned. Still I inspected the rim of the cup for any powders before I drank. It was floral and delicate, and I pretended to savor it while the duke narrowed his eyes at my casual movement. “I sent him back after learning of the disturbance that occurred on my wedding day. He was under orders to make sure my affairs were safe in the city. Unrest can be bad for business. I didn’t want to leave Highfair unprotected either.”
Duke James shook his head while giving a slight smile. “I see.” He leaned forward. “Well, there have been some questions surrounding a certain recent prisoner and his links to Sir Cley. I have just sent a missive to Lord Charles requesting the prisoner he caught in his jurisdiction a few days ago. I hear there is significant evidence against him. He’s been associating with all the wrong people. You can watch me torture him, if you wish, but I suspect he will confess to his connection to the attempted assassination of Lord Lyrason and to Sir Cley and…” He looked me up and down. “You really should have better control over your men. For that is what Sir Cley was really doing, was it not? Covering for this rogue?”
Inwardly, I sighed in relief. I had predicted his moves correctly and been just in time. I stirred my teacup with the ridiculously small silver spoon. “Lord Charles’s prisoner? Did you not hear? He released him without charge. Apparently, it was nothing but groundless suspicions.”
Duke James’s face fell, though he covered it quickly.
I leaned forward. “So, Duke James, tell me again what your evidence is for linking Sir Cley with the unrest? Sir Cley, who was with me that entire day I was getting married in front of many witnesses? Or surely, you’re not implying it was me behind the assassination? Haven’t you already blamed the Red Men? Such an accusation against one of royal blood would need a lot of evidence indeed. Your city guard can’t go around simply arresting anyone.”
He pursed his lips, and his annoyance radiated across the room. I allowed myself a moment of satisfaction.
He flicked his fingers. “No, no, the charges were against your soldier. His actions were still suspicious. He appeared to be searching for people of interest.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Appeared? People of interest? Is this the best excuse you have for holding my man prisoner?” I let some of my anger creep into my voice. “Without any word to me? The discipline of my household and my men falls to me first and foremost.”
I hadn’t won yet. Duke James fidgeted but still had some fire in his eyes. “I am the overseer of Adenburg’s guard. I may hold and question whomever I wish if I am concerned about the security of the nobility here.”
I reached over and took a pink macaroon, eating it slowly to show how little his words bothered me. “You realize that if I lose Sir Cley, I will have to fill his position for the coming campaign. I hear there are lots of young men clamoring for fame in the war. Your son for one. Wasn’t he recently advocating for glory on the front at the colloquium? A few words of praise here and there, a letter of recommendation to the king, and you may find him taking control of Sir Cley’s battalion fighting on the third wing. With me. And somehow, for reasons I cannot fathom, the fighting always seems thickest around me. There are more stray arrows, more ‘accidents.’”
The duke’s fingers tightened on his teacup.
I smiled at him. “Though it always brings honor and glory to have one’s son so willing to give up his life for his country, does it not? Especially when he has no brothers to take his place.” I shook my head with a sad expression. “Your parents moved to Fenland from Cerith, didn’t they? Must be hard for them to leave their family behind. Weren’t you one of three siblings? Yet only your son remains to carry on their line. What a noble gesture for him to volunteer to fight when the future of your family is so fragile.”
He only took a moment to consider, then his lips twisted in disgust. “You may take your man back with you. But my suspicions are not alleviated, General. Watch where you tread.”
I placed my teacup down and stood. “I’ll take my leave then. But whatever suspicions you may have, don’t you dare take one of my lead men again.”
Duke James snorted, hatred in his eyes. “Next time, I might come closer to the heart of the problem.”
I gestured my arm wide. “Lead me to Sir Cley. I don’t have all day.”
The willowy man made a show of adjusting his pure white cuffs before slowly walking me to the door to hand me over to a footman. He was aiming at calm, but I could see him failing. The anger and frustration boiled closer and closer to the surface as his footsteps became clipped and his breaths quicker. I rested my hand on a concealed dagger. At the last minute, he pushed against my back to mutter in my ear. “One day, I will destroy everything that you treasure, Kasten.”
I snorted. “I treasure nothing.” Threats didn’t work on me when the king would probably manage to kill me before anyone else did.
He kept his voice to a whisper. “Everything you’ve touched, everyone you’re connected to…gone.”
I kept my face neutral, but it was harder this time because Sophie’s face flickered before my eyes.
It took every ounce of will for me to keep my voice steady. I couldn’t let him infer anything. I needed his threats to wash off like they always had. “Goodbye, Your Grace.”
He smiled, though his eyes were violent as he stepped back. “Tick tock, tick tock. Your time is running out. Go and get yourself killed like the loyal dog you are. Lick the hand that strikes you, for whether you snap and bite or wag your tail and go, the outcome will be the same. There’s no future for you, Kasten, and I will make sure that nothing of your legacy survives.”