Chapter 9 #2
Narza stood in front of Tait. In recent months, I’d seen Tait less and less.
When I did, his gaze was harder, like he hardly saw anything.
Turns drove sharper edges between my cousin and me.
He would look at me with a shadow in his gaze, no mistake, fighting an urge to slit my throat.
I suspected he despised me as fiercely as Harald.
Didn’t matter. I could hate well enough for us all.
But this…this drove something deeper through my chest. The Lady of Witches, a woman who shared my blood, had not spoken to me in turns. Now she was here, speaking to my cousin who despised me.
Narza’s hair was held off her neck in a circlet made of shells. Her gown was black, a shade she often wore when she entered the palace. I’d overheard some servants insisting she still mourned the place where her daughter died.
Some said when the Lady of Witches wore color, it would be proof she had a bit of hope for the Ever again.
What was she doing now? Plotting against me?
When my grandmother handed my cousin a fine satin purse, when Tait dropped the contents onto his palm and grinned, it struck deeper than any blade.
In my cousin’s hand was a small pocket watch. Finely crafted with a chain that glinted in the sunlight.
A gift. A damn gift. When neither could not even look at me?
Red filled my gaze. My steps were swift, I hardly realized I was moving closer.
“What are you doing here?” I said in a snarl, shoving Tait back against the wall.
He bristled as he always did at the sight of me. “Speaking to Lady Narza. Clearly.”
Bastard. “Well, get gone.”
“Is there trouble, King Erik?” Narza’s voice was calm, steady. Always stern. “Harald Songtaker thought this would be prudent for coming trials should this…battle go forward.”
It was the most Narza had spoken to me in turns. I wanted to shout in her face until she broke, until she finally admitted she blamed me for her suffering.
Instead, my voice came out low and laced in venom. “Clear. Out. Of my. Damn. Palace. Both of you.”
Narza’s eyes held a touch of disappointment, but she dipped her chin in a slight bow. She returned a soft smile at Tait, and I wanted to claw it off her face.
“Keep watch on that, Heartwalker. As we discussed.”
Tait nodded. “Aye.”
When Narza was gone, I turned back to my cousin. “Pleasant chat?”
“It was nothing, Erik.”
“Nothing. Ah, what goes on in my palace is nothing?”
“Here.” Tait held out the pocket watch. “Do you want it?”
“I want nothing from you.”
Tait curled his fingers around the watch. “It’s supposed to show when danger is near. For you. The House of Mists doesn’t trust the dark fae and wanted me to keep watch. Harald agreed. As do I. Is there anything else you wish to know or am I free to go, cousin?”
There was nothing deceptive in the way Tait spoke. In truth, he sounded more annoyed that he'd had to explain himself. Or maybe he was agitated he was tasked with keeping watch on my back.
I didn’t understand why Narza would deliver such a trinket. Why did she even care if her murderous grandson was slaughtered by a dark earth fae?
As I’d grown skilled at doing, I did not offer apologies for my own outburst, I made it worse.
“Not sure why they think you can keep watch on my back. You can’t even keep watch on your own.
” I gestured at the new bruise around Tait’s throat.
No mistake, Harald had pinned him against a wall again, or used his fist.
The tips of Tait’s ears went red. He studied the ground for a time, then did the worst thing he could do—nothing. Merely bowed and said softly, “I’ll leave you to your business.”
I was glad my cousin turned his back on me, glad he couldn’t see the flush of shame slithering along the back of my neck.
A slow, building applause interrupted my solitude. “Well done, My King. The way you handled Mattlaus was nothing short of inspiring, but I think that interaction could do with some work.”
I frowned and looked over my shoulder. “What do you want, Seeker?”
Gavyn often appeared without warning to the Royal City since he turned fifteen a few months before.
“Other than watching another brilliant show of your tyranny, very little.” Gavyn followed me back into the great hall. Once inside, he plucked a handful of seeds off a silver tray near the dais. “Although, you may want to know something from me.”
“I doubt it.”
He flashed his white grin. “Fine, I won’t say a word about Harald’s ship returning from the isles, nor the way the House of Blades is mobilizing.” He popped another nut onto his tongue. “I certainly won’t tell you that—”
“Where is my uncle?” I nearly leapt off the throne, swift enough a bite of pain shot down my leg.
The smugness of his smirk was aggravating, but Gavyn didn’t hold it long. He lowered his voice. “Harald and his earth fae sod are speaking privately in the main study. Cel said she’d help keep their backs turned away from the passage if we want to slip inside.”
My pulse quickened. For the last few months Harald’s open scheming about taking our turns-long battle plan to the earth realms had drifted behind closed doors. Plans were made without my approval.
Ten turns were nearly spent and it was time to restore the mantle of the Ever. But Harald shut me out and I could not help wondering if he had plans with his little dark fae to see to it I never returned from a battle with an earth bender.
I shoved Gavyn’s shoulder. “Hurry. I want to hear every damn word they’re saying.”