Chapter 24 – Vale
Chapter 24
VALE
I strode into the council room, consumed by Neve, our kiss, and what had almost happened, only to find my father in a blind rage.
Immediately, I pushed the thoughts of Neve’s legs wrapped around my torso and of the wetness of her lacy undergarments when I’d picked them up—those same undergarments that were burning a hole in my pocket—to the back of my mind.
I needed to be present. Resigning myself to my fate, I took my seat next to Rhistel.
“My king, Prince Vale is here now,” said Lord Balik, the high lord of the southlands and Filip’s father. He sat close to the king, as stoic and confident as ever. Like his children, High Lord Balik had warm brown skin, honey-colored eyes, and golden hair that was only slightly lighter than Sian’s. Shockingly, he wore even more gold than I’d ever seen Sian wear, which was quite a lot. The precious metal dripped from Lord Balik’s ears, his wrists, and around his neck. “Might we start?”
“Vale.” Father turned to me. “It’s about bleeding time. Shut the doors.”
The soldiers moved to do so and the sound of the large doors shutting echoed through the room large enough for twenty, as everyone within sat in silence.
Tonight, each head of house in the Sacred Eight, save for Lord Roar, was present. As were ten influential jarls from around the kingdom and five Clawsguards, all covered in blood and standing, rather than sitting at the large circular table that dominated the room.
Though her father, Airen Vagle, Lord of Coin, and brother, Eirwen Vagle, sat on the other side of Father, Mother was not present, a notable observation. It hinted that Father didn’t suspect anyone in this room of treason. If he did, he would have sent for his mind-reading wife.
“Tell us all what happened after the stars-damned rebels arrived.” Father gestured to the Clawsguard. “How many casualties? How many rebels were caught?”
One Clawsguard stepped forward. Not Lars, Father’s most trusted guard, but another that took the opposite shifts to Lars. Though I was not close to the old guard, I hoped Lars survived the arrow he’d taken for my father.
“My king, ten jarls, three ladies, and many common fae were injured.” The soldier paused.
“Continue,” Father growled in a way that told me he already knew what the soldier would say.
“And we caught no rebels. Though our forces killed many at the theater. ”
I thought of those I’d ended and of the one Neve killed. How many more had met their doom tonight?
“That is all,” the guard said and stepped back.
“Actually, it isn’t,” I corrected. “Vidar Virtoris received a bad injury. He is being cared for.” I looked at Lady Virtoris, noted her red eyes. It was probably killing her to be here, at the command of her king, when her son and heir was in the healers’ sanctuary.
“Apologies,” the Clawsguard said.
“This is happening far too often.” Father waved the guard back. “Two attacks in less than two weeks! We must get a hand on these rebels. Put them in their place.”
I gaped. Was he not going to even acknowledge Vidar’s injuries? Lady Virtoris sat at the table too, and she would not forget such a slight.
“They spoke about an heir returning,” Father continued, his cold, glacial features turning red. “So they’ve sussed out a bastard to use as a figurehead for their rebellion. We will find him and squash this nonsense. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Nalaea Qiren, High Lady of Silks, leaned forward and her long inky hair spread onto the table as her piercing green eyes found my father. “Then who will go, Majesty?”
Not her . The words hung in the air, unsaid but plain in the line of her full lips.
I’d always suspected that, at one point, Nalaea Qiren and my father had had an affair. If that was the case, none of the affection they’d shared then was on display now.
“I lost two of my personal guards.” Lady Nalaea held up two fingers. “They are among those you haven’t allowed into the palace but accompanied me to the theater upon request. You will not allow them to be with us, but you are fine with them dying tonight? And now I assume you wish for us to send more of our household guards, although you do not permit us to use them?”
Father glared at her. “As you said, we do not permit your servants and guards inside my palace during the Courting Festival, so I see no problem with sending them out tonight. What else are they doing?”
“Dying. Or cleaning the blood off their brothers and sisters in arms and wondering what in the stars is going on in this filthy city!” Lady Qiren slammed her hand against the table. “It isn’t enough that we all had to bring soldiers to swell the royal army when we journeyed here? Now you wish to use those guards who wait in taverns at our own expense for us to return home?”
She wasn’t the only high lord and lady to take offense. Even calm, Tadgh Balik appeared irritated, though only the slightest furrow of his brow gave that away.
“I can spare much of my guard.” Lord Riis leaned forward. “As I live in the city most of the time and have businesses here, many live here anyhow, and they all know Avaldenn well. They can help lead those whose soldiers are not as familiar. I can also send out spiders. See if they can find a rebel hideout. The city gates are now closed, so if they have a hideout, they will flee there.”
Unless the rebels had a secret way out of Avaldenn, they were still here, possibly even residents. Father wouldn’t allow the city gates to reopen until he’d had his fill of rebel blood .
“At least Lord Riis is willing to do good for the kingdom.” Father scowled at Lady Nalaea.
The conversation turned to exactly how many guards could be spared per noble house and who in the royal army would lead the extra units. Through it all, Rhistel and I remained silent. This was no normal operation. I was betting that Father would want to use me for something specific. Something of shock value.
Rhistel’s silence was out of character, though. Even if this was not his realm of expertise, he was the heir. Any chance to show his leadership and strength should have been taken advantage of.
One possible reason for his silence struck me. Had the rebels gotten to him? Had they cornered him like they had Saga? I snuck a glance at my brother and noted his wan complexion.
“Now that that’s settled”—Father leaned back, looking marginally appeased after the first moments of dissent—“the soldiers will search through the night. We’ll find where they’re hiding.” My father turned his cold eyes on me. “At the ninth morning bell, Vale will lead the final forces out into the city to find rebels.”
Immediately, I understood his reasoning for not sending me out tonight. Under the cover of night, few would see the rebels pulled from their hiding places. Or who had discovered them.
In the light of day, however, everyone would see the rebels being dragged out of their holes like mice, and they’d see the king’s own blood had found them. Even if the night search teams found each and every rebel, the king would make sure to set a scene. And that I would star in the charade. Father was obsessed with bringing glory to his name, and by extension, his noble house.
“Very well, Father.” I inclined my head.
“Good. Now, let’s begin. Soldiers to the castle yard within the half hour.” Father stood, pushing his heavy chair back in the process, and stomped away. Slowly, the high lords and ladies and jarls followed until only Rhistel and I remained in the room.
“Did they injure you?” I asked.
His eyes, the same shade of brown as my own, flickered in my direction. “Do you really care?”
“Of course I do.” Tired of this question, I loosed a long exhale. “We’re brothers.”
“Days ago, you had me by the throat over some female.”
I cringed, hating that he was right, that for many turns Rhistel and I had not been like brothers. That Sian, Vidar, Luccan, and Caelo were much more like brothers to me.
Rhistel had taken liberties with his powers, and I could never forgive that, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care. Deep in my heart, there would always be a place, a weakness, for my twin.
“You’re pale. Did the rebels hurt you?” I asked again.
Rhistel didn’t answer right away but finally, he shook his head. “They killed a Clawsguard. He was the closest thing I had to a friend.”
The resulting pause stretched on, awkward and miserable. I had to be the one to break it. “I’m sorry. I hope he received a quick death. ”
Rhistel snorted. “A warrior through and through.” He rose and, without another word, left the council chambers.
A gold-cloaked Clawsguard stood outside of my suite when I arrived.
“Where’s the soldier I left with my wife?” I asked.
“The queen sent for three of us to be pulled from the search for rebels and stationed at her children’s doors. I dismissed the other soldier.”
“I see.” I grasped the door handle. Mother had always been protective, so I wasn’t surprised. More like I was shocked that I hadn’t seen her personally yet. “Do you know where the queen is?”
“I believe with the princess.” The Clawsguard’s face softened. Everyone loved Saga and after what had happened, Mother would be particularly fierce over her baby.
“Good.” I let myself into my suite. The fresh scent of soap, perfumed with something floral, made my spine straighten. “Neve?”
“In here!”
Her voice came from the bathroom.
“Get in here, Vale,” Neve added, her tone dipping, becoming more sultry.
I opened the door to the bathroom, peeked in, and my knees weakened. My wife was in the bathtub, beneath a mound of bubbles and red petals strewn into the steaming water. The top of her voluptuous breasts bobbed in the water, beneath a grouping of silken red petals. When she lifted one leg out of the water, petals stuck to her smooth skin as she pointed her toes.
“How did the meeting go?”
A chuckle escaped me. “You expect me to remember anything that happened when you’re like that?”
She shrugged and lowered her leg, a devilish glint in her violet eyes. “The healer said we needed to clean off. The tub is big enough for two.”
My heart rate amped up as I entered the room. “How convenient.”
“As if you don’t know firsthand.”
“I don’t. You’re the only female who has ever bathed in my chambers.”
Her eyes went round and for a moment, she appeared not to believe me, but it was the truth.
“Please don’t tell me you’re untouched,” Neve said saucily, apparently having recovered from the shock of being the first female in my tub.
“Do I look like I know nothing of a female’s body?” I stood over her now, my hands so close to her, itching to touch, to caress her silken skin.
Neve smirked. “Not at all, thank the stars. Now, are you going to just stand there, husband? Or are you going to put this tub to the test and join me?”