Chapter 23 Ryder
RYDER
The rest of the evening was anticlimactic. With Maris at my side, we worked the room in tandem. She tackled the conversation with the ladies while I spoke with the lords. Levi also remained nearby and consistently showed his support with every topic, even the difficult ones.
The bans on magic and travel seemed to be the biggest points of contention.
It came as no surprise that the travel ban had unintended consequences.
As the years passed, the prices of imports had increased so high that most commoners could not purchase them.
Most lords had plenty in their coffers to continue as usual, but the high prices were draining their surplus quicker than they liked.
As for the ban on magic, they were agreeable to continue if the sentries protecting their property could use their abilities like the Rivale Guardsmen.
The argument made was a sensible one, yet my father had always refused it.
I told them I would take it under advisement and we’d revisit the matter as soon as I took the throne.
At the end of the evening, I said goodbye and wished them all safe travels.
Leanna had lingered, but left half of an hour before the gathering concluded, leaving me to apologize for her absence.
She’d been quiet after her little stunt.
And though I wished to speak with her, I wouldn’t waste another moment entertaining whatever game she was playing.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” Maris asked. “I understand if you’re busy—you have so much going on.”
“How about tonight?” I looked down at her mouth. “I have some business to tend to, but I will come by and wish you a goodnight afterwards.”
“Please do.” She smirked and turned to leave.
My gaze lingered on her swaying hips as she proceeded down the hall. The gown she’d chosen was perfect for the evening, but would look even better on the floor.
“Your Highness.” Vexley’s voice was loud. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we must speak.”
“Say what you must—my eyes are busy, but my ears work well enough.” I chuckled.
He blew out a breath and waited.
I turned. “Get on with it.”
His face was pale, and his red eyes reminded me it was later than what he was used to. I scanned his uniform and realized he’d even missed a button.
“We’ve caught a member of the resistance red-handed, and they’ve been brought to a holding cell at the prison.”
I threw out my hands. “What was he caught doing?”
“She, sir. She was caught throwing a brick through a window at the Faldor’s estate,” he said, hesitating. “The word 'traitor' was painted in red on the brick.”
It was no surprise the resistance would target the Faldor family, especially since Maris was now associated with the Sutton name. Plenty of people saw her in the market with me, and Levi attending an official gathering only confirmed the ties.
“Send a few guards to stand watch,” I huffed. “I’m sure Levi has been targeted before.”
“It’s not only that. They ravaged the capital—the resistance.” His face was solemn. “Damaged buildings and targeted attacks on guards. Several are dead.”
“How many?” I asked with a heavy weight on my chest.
“A dozen so far, but we have not done a complete roll call. It’s too early to know.”
I’d prepared to protect our coast from outside threats, but I’d never put a great deal of thought into the resistance. They were always a vague menace, people that crept in the shadows, but rarely struck so openly until recently. I had underestimated not only their size but their capabilities.
“Enact a curfew. Indefinitely. From sunset to sunrise, all shall remain in their homes.” I thrummed a finger on the hilt of my sword. “Perhaps an hour before the sun falls and an hour after it rises.”
“Sir, I don’t mean to speak out of turn.” Vexley paused. “But many of the fae work in darkness. Taverns, offloading ships, and other industries that profit only during the night. Punishing your entire people for the actions of one rogue group will not strengthen public opinion.”
I nodded and silently considered.
“Perhaps you would like to speak with your father before deciding?” Vexley asked. “I’ll remain here until I hear from you.”
“Yes. I’ll meet you in the royal common room,” I said over my shoulder as I hurried down the hall.
Tapestries danced against the wall as I briskly moved down the corridors. I didn’t want to speak with my father, but if I acted on my own, my actions might get back to him. Plus, I’d worked hard to gain the public’s favor, and I didn’t want to risk losing it.
I rounded the corner and stumbled backward, smacking into the thin woman. Elowen stood with a wry grin, not seeming to have stumbled even an inch. She was tougher than her small frame let on.
“Leaving my father’s?” I eyed her.
“Should you not be more worried with your own relationships, Prince?” The woman adjusted the sleeve of her shirt. “Or must you meddle in my business as well?”
I stepped forward and looked down. “Everything that happens in Rivale is my business.” My anger had risen to the top and was threatening to overflow.
She simply shrugged and lifted a brow. “How’s the bond? Can two hearts which once walked the same path survive the split in the road?”
Never would I understand why she couldn’t come out and say what she wanted to. I was sick of fucking riddles.
Sidestepping, she moved to my right and stepped forward, our shoulders parallel. “I told you to keep her close,” she whispered. “For if you are not near, there is nothing for the bond to grasp, my dear.”
I turned to watch her, but she was gone and lost among the shadows of the corridors.
Distance had diminished the bond, and yet I had sent Audryn across the continent with a witch.
Frustration rivaled my anger as I stomped toward my father’s room.
It was late, and I’d probably need to wake him, but it would be necessary.
And then I’d deal with the issue of the bond.
I reached for the knob but stopped short the moment I heard a woman’s voice.
“He means well,” Leanna said and sighed, “but things continue to fall apart. The resistance is getting closer to breaching the castle gates, guards have gone missing, and our name is being defiled across the capital—probably the entire land, really.”
My father grumbled.
“I want him to succeed, I do. I love my brother. I’m just not sure he’s ready for the responsibility of running a kingdom.” Her voice was sweet. “And with Audryn away,” she continued.
But a moment later I was opening the door to prevent her from spilling my secret. “Good evening.” I smiled and looked around the room.
Leanna sat in our mother’s chair, still in the gown she’d worn earlier. My father somehow looked exponentially worse than I’d last seen him. His cheeks were hollow, and his once-large presence had vanished. He was a feeble man waiting for the land to lead him to his death.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it.” Leanna rose and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head. She batted her lashes at me as she crossed the room and then patted me on the shoulder. “Sorry about earlier, I was in a terrible mood because you left me in a room filled with wretched nobles.”
“You said it started at six,” I said.
“No, I confirmed with you that the gathering was to start at five. Maybe you had too much on your mind and misheard.” Her lips formed a pout, and she glanced in our father’s direction before returning her sights to me.
“Had I not been wrangled into conversation, I would’ve come and gotten you myself. ”
Had she said five, and I missed it? Or was she playing a game to undermine my rule?
“Apologies, Brother—you truly deserve so much. In the future, I will make sure you are well aware of every timeline.” She squeezed my shoulder and left the room, closing the door behind her.
I took up my seat, noticing the springs were poking through once more. The chair was cozier weeks before, and I hadn’t been to my father’s room enough to have worn the cushion down again.
“Where is your betrothed?” my father asked the moment I sat.
“She’s out,” I said, not totally a lie.
His brow raised. “Out where, Son?”
Fuck.
“Tell me now.” His demand was merely a mutter, though we both knew it would’ve been a scream if he could.
“In order for King Grave and me to agree to the increase in crude.” I inhaled and wished I’d left with my sister. “Audryn’s with Grave, he required her for a month. She’ll be back in a week or so.”
The lines at the corners of his eyes dug in as he looked at me with complete disdain. “You’ve let another man take your betrothed? You’ve whored her out for resources?”
“No, it’s not like that—”
“Your betrothed is in the hands of another royal, is she not?” he interrupted. “And with Grave at that? What were you thinking? What will the other royals think of such a foolish deal? What will be next? Will you trade her for a sheep? A bolt of cotton perhaps?”
My breath quickened with each of his words. Blood roared through my veins, boiling me from the inside out. My hands formed into fists and I was teetering on the edge of a dangerous cliff.
“I will not have my son and his whore wife sitting on the throne, regardless of her Divine magic.” He cleared his throat.
I gasped. “I have done all that you’ve asked of me. How dare you still threaten the throne!”
“Your sister will be the next heir since you are inept at making rational decisions.” He started coughing and reached for the cup on the table. “Call her back so I can tell her myself!”
Several moments passed as his shaking hand fumbled for the cup. It remained just out of his grasp as his coughing fit continued. Unfortunately, it subsided on its own.
“Guard.” My father’s voice rasped just above a whisper. He strained to find footing in a higher octave. “Guard.”
Jumping to my feet, I walked over to the bed, rage roaring through me. He was nearly dead, yet still held the power to make a life-altering decision. He would destroy the life that I'd worked so hard for.