Chapter Five
T he Western prince? Pretending to be a cleric? Or at least he hadn’t said otherwise. Cador hadn’t spoken a word to him at the summit—had barely noticed him across crowded rooms. He hadn’t paid attention, and clearly he should have.
Especially given the way this fucking mainlander smiled at Jem.
And how Jem had smiled back. It was a dagger in Cador’s heart though he deserved it. To think of never being bestowed such a smile again—given so freely to this stranger like it was nothing—was unbearable.
What if Treeve was as treacherous as his father was purported to be? Tas had been dead set against asking King Perran for sevels and help.
And look at where Tas’s plan got me. Maybe Tas’s arrogant pride and suspicious mind doomed us all. I should never have agreed to it. To marry an innocent and allow him to be harmed in any way is the worst kind of treachery.
“Shall we sit?” Jem asked, motioning to the courtyard table.
Cador followed, sure to grab the chair closest to Jem’s. He had no cause to believe a word from this Treeve. He would protect Jem whether Jem liked it or not. He would keep him safe from barbarians and pretty-faced, smooth-tongued princes alike.
That was at least one thing Cador could do. He might never convince Jem to trust him again—might never earn that trust back. But he would protect his beloved from any further harm with his dying breath.
Jem said, “I don’t recall you having any interest in joining the holy order.”
Treeve smiled ruefully, voice still hoarse. “No. I arrived last night and wore the robe while they laundered my filthy clothes. I discovered it’s quite comfortable.” He motioned to their dusty clothing. “I’m sure you’ll see for yourself soon.” He began coughing.
Jem quickly refilled his cup with mead and gave it to Treeve, who drank gratefully. Jem asked, “Do you need water?”
Cador gritted his teeth at Jem’s fussing. Fancy Prince Treeve was fine! Cador had only throttled him a little. Well, perhaps a bit more than a little, but hardly!
Treeve put down the cup, his annoyingly full bottom lip glistening as he said, “I never intended any deceit, but when your husband appeared without you, I was afraid you’d been hurt or worse.”
“I’d never—” Cador bit back the lie in time. For it was a lie to say he’d never hurt Jem. He never would again though, not knowingly. But how would he ever convince Jem of that? Jem’s stony silence said it all. Cador asked, “Why didn’t the servants I encountered on the road mention you were here?”
Fine brow furrowed, Treeve held up his hands. “I don’t know. I didn’t divulge my purpose to any servants. Perhaps they didn’t think it relevant. Jem, I—”
“That’s Prince Jowan to you,” Cador snapped.
Ignoring Cador, Jem said, “Treeve, tell us what’s happened. Why are you here? Where is your father?”
Treeve swallowed more mead from Jem’s cup and plucked a grape from the platter of fruit on the table.
His fingernails were unnaturally neat. “He should still be four or five days behind me, assuming the fires are still under control. He’s stopping in every village to fan the flames of discontent. ” He grimaced. “Pardon the metaphor.”
Cador wanted to shake him until answers tumbled out but resisted as Jem asked, “Why are you here without him?”
“I gave an excuse and rode ahead to warn the clerics only to find them gone aside from a few relics. I suppose Ysella’s spies were a few steps ahead of me and she’s already sprung into action.
I’ve spoken privately with the old clerics still in residence about the threat my father poses, and they agree that blaming Ergh for these fires is not in Onan’s best interests. ”
“Blaming us ? What madness is that?” Cador clenched his fists. Where was his sword? He’d been distracted by Jem. Had he left it in the stable? Fool! “We have nothing to do with fires.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Treeve said. “These past months since the summit and your wedding, my father’s grown more and more surly and suspicious. He’s convinced Ergh wants to wage war with him.”
“What?” Jem shook his head. “Nonsense.”
Saying nothing, Cador was impressed with the ease of Jem’s lie and grateful for it, though he hated that he’d put Jem in this position.
“Then the fires began. Most importantly, a blaze in the Valley of the Gods.”
Jem went still. “The Valley of the Gods?”
“What’s that?” Cador demanded.
“Part of the border between Neuvella and Ebrenn,” Jem said. “It’s been contested for years as to where precisely the divide lies in the valley. My mother and King Perran have argued about it incessantly the past year or two especially.”
Cador asked Treeve—what a simpering name—“How did this fire begin?”
He shrugged. “It’s hardly rained since the winter snow melted and spring was scorching. But there are rumors that Neuvella sparked it to punish Ebrenn.”
Jem’s hackles rose. “My mother would never do that! She wouldn’t destroy the Valley of the Gods for spite!”
“I’m sure not. I hope she wouldn’t. We’ve tried to contain the damage to the forests and the sevel fields, but—”
“The sevel fields?” Jem and Cador demanded in unison.
Treeve blinked. “Yes. My father believes the queen is trying to destroy the crops. Sevels are one of our chief exports.”
Jem cleared his throat, his voice calm again. “True, I suppose they are. But my mother wouldn’t do that. I know our parents don’t see eye-to-eye, but—”
“It’s worse than that. My father’s now linked this strange drought to Ergh, saying the gods are punishing us for allowing Ergh’s return.
For allowing your marriage. That Ergh hasn’t repented after being banished and now the mainland is suffering.
At first, I didn’t pay it much attention.
My father has always had a doubting, unsettled mind.
After my sister died and later my mother, it’s been one conspiracy after another.
The difference now is that the people of Ebrenn are starting to believe this one. ”
“Fuck,” Cador muttered. While Tas had plotted to wage war for control of Ebrenn and the sevels, the idea was to use surprise to their advantage and force a quick surrender. If Perran was preparing for battle already, it could go very badly.
Managing to keep his voice steady, Cador asked, “Why didn’t you tell me all this when I met you?”
“You were the last person I expected to see, and I wasn’t sure I could trust you. I was afraid you’d done something to poor Jem. For all I knew you’d kill me the second you discovered my identity.”
Treeve glanced behind, but they were still alone.
“As I said, I came here to forewarn the clerics so they can talk him out of this madness. He’s come to engage them in starting some holy war against Ergh.
A war he’ll surely use against Neuvella as well.
My father has a hundred soldiers in his royal regiment, and they are duty bound.
Not to mention he’s been poisoning their minds against Ergh and exploiting their faith in the gods. ”
Jem said, “If we tried to speak reason to him—”
“He won’t hear it from either of you. He was furious about your marriage. Ergh beat him to it.”
Jem frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When he heard you were attending the spring summit for the first time, he concocted a scheme whereby I wooed and married you. Of course you’d have been nothing but a tool to manipulate your mother.”
Cador tried to hide his wince, the well of shame and regret boring deeper.
Jem smiled grimly. “A familiar tale.”
As he glanced between Jem and Cador with a raised eyebrow, Treeve said, “I refused, of course. I must say though that once I saw you, the notion of marriage was much more appealing.” He gave Jem an easy, charming smile.
As Cador considered ripping out Treeve’s spine, Jem scoffed. “You jest.”
“Not at all.” Still smiling, he added, “Alas, Cador’s gain is my loss.” He raised a brow again. “I’d thought given Cador’s concern earlier you were a winning match. Was I mistaken?”
“No!” Cador blurted. While his actions had made losers of them both, he didn’t want to discuss it with this man. Jem simply shrugged, and Cador was grateful he revealed nothing more.
A few of the elderly clerics who’d apparently been left behind because they were too frail to travel came to pray with them. One stooped old woman eyed Cador suspiciously and he glowered back.
Praying to false gods was the last thing they should be wasting their time with, but Jem stood, smiled, and bowed his head along with Treeve. Cador rose and held his tongue, which would have to be good enough.
But the prayers went on and on and on , and Jem wavered on his feet. Didn’t these clerics care that he was clearly exhausted? Jem and Cador were both grimy and weary from their journey.
“That’s enough,” Cador declared. He could be rude on Jem’s behalf.
“We must clean up and rest. We have a long journey south tomorrow.” He motioned Jem ahead of him toward the main building, and it was a sign that Jem truly was exhausted that he didn’t argue.
Treeve said goodnight and something else Cador didn’t bother listening to.
Jem murmured, “I thought they’d never cease.”
Cador grunted his agreement as they escaped down a lamp-lit corridor. He quickly realized he had no idea where they were to sleep. The girl from the stable appeared, jerking as she caught sight of them and shoving one hand behind her back.
Cador stiffened. “What do you have there? T…” Damn it, what was her name again? This day had been full of new people.
She swallowed hard. “Tamsyn. It’s nothing, I swear!” She blinked at them, still not revealing what she was hiding.
Cador took a breath to demand the truth. Before he could, Jem said softly, “It’s all right, we won’t tell on you.”
Her eyes flicked between them, and she gave Jem a tentative smile before holding out a half-eaten sweet bun.
“Oh, that looks delicious,” Jem said kindly.
“Do you want some?” she asked eagerly.