11 The Three See All
The Three See All
Elijah flinched as the words echoed through the hall. Your Highness. Gods, he hated that title right now.
Vaelira was already off him, backing away like he was a threat. Like he’d burned her.
“What do you want?” he said to the messenger, his eyes still locked on Vaelira’s.
She looked away, but not before he caught the betrayal there. It was worse than he had imagined.
This was not how it was supposed to happen. He had meant to explain everything away from the prying eyes and listening ears. Now she looked at him like she didn’t know him at all, and the truth was, she didn’t.
“Her Royal Highness requests your presence,” the man said behind him.
Elijah groaned inwardly. “I will be there shortly.”
Understanding the dismissal, the messengers left.
He felt the inevitable weight of eyes on him but kept his focus on Vaelira. On the woman who had stirred so much hope in him, but was like the rest of them now, head lowered and unable to meet his gaze, her hands loose at her sides. What a contrast to the fiery woman she had been mere moments ago.
He stepped forward, hesitated, then reached for her anyway, lifting her chin gently. “We will speak soon.” He meant it. He had come here to arrange a time to talk privately. Someone could have been sent in his place, it would have been wiser, but he had wanted to see her.
Vaelira didn’t speak.
An uncomfortable weight settled in his chest, so he turned from it and strode down the hall. She would understand once he explained. She had to.
Elijah approached the gate to the Noble Quarter, and a guard swung it open, bowing low. Fast footsteps echoed behind him and he turned, unable to stop the half smile rising to his lips. Vaelira ran towards him.
“Halt!” the guard barked.
“It’s fine,” Elijah said, irritation rising at the guard’s tone. “She’s with me.” He stepped back through the gate, meeting her halfway.
She was breathless and Elijah remembered the feel of those same breaths, warm and unsteady, when she had been straddling him mere minutes ago. He suspected she did too, from the way her cheeks flushed.
“I hit you.” she said.
“If I recall correctly, I landed the first blow.” He winked at her. She didn’t smile.
“Why?”
His grin faded. “Not here.” He glanced over his shoulder. The guard quickly looked away. Elijah squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then faced her again.
Her jaw was tight, fire returning behind those hazel eyes.
For a moment, he wanted to tell her everything, right there in the open.
Why he had gone to Anhaven, why he had brought her back, why he had been so furious when she had nearly got herself killed before the gates of Allen, but he could not. He would not take that risk.
She said nothing, and the silence reaffirmed what he already knew. She was folding into herself, withdrawing from him. Just as they all did.
“Tonight,” he said. “Meet me here.”
Her gaze flicked to the guard behind him. “I’m not allowed through without Jurah’s approval.”
He cocked his head at her. “I’m pretty sure heir to the throne outranks Lord Commander.”
He had meant it as a joke, but she did not take it that way. Her eyes dropped, and his heart sank with them.
“Tonight,” he said, softer. “After dinner.”
She looked up. The wind caught her braid, wisps of dark hair blowing around her face. She stepped back, bent her knees awkwardly, and nearly tipped sideways.
“What are you doing?” he said, attempting to suppress a laugh.
She straightened quickly, biting her lower lip. The sight of it stirred something primal in him.
“Am I not meant to curtsy?” she asked icily.
“That was a curtsy?” he teased.
She shot him a look. Gods, he had missed that. The unabashed challenge.
“If you were a court lady, then yes. But guards bow.”
She lowered her head again and this time he reached for her without hesitation, his hand closing gently around her arm. She looked up, eyes wide.
“Not when it’s just us,” he said.
Something passed over her face, understanding, maybe. Then it was gone, her features perfectly smooth.
“Tonight,” he said. He turned before he could say more. Before he could ask her to trust him. The gate swung shut and he didn’t look back to see if she watched him. He already knew she was.
By the time Elijah reached the East Wing of the palace and stepped into the Queen’s Tower, his head was spinning with thoughts of what he would say to Vaelira, and how he would convince her to trust him after the lie.
She would understand once he explained, but he had to do it the right way, find the right words to convince her.
Her Royal Majesty Queen Mairese was sitting on a chaise by the tall balcony windows, her dark hair braided and pinned into a thick bun at the nape of her neck. She turned as he entered but made no move to stand. Elijah dipped his head.
“Elijah,” she said. She spoke softly, but her eyes were anything but. “It took you some time to come after my summons. Where have you been?”
“I was seeing to a personal matter. How may I be of service, mother?”
She studied him for a long moment. Elijah remained standing, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Why did your father and I send you to Anhaven?”
He reined in his surprise. “As I recall, you said I was to make myself useful.”
She tilted her head, the heavy, red-jewelled necklace shifting at her throat. “The girl you brought back with you. How is she useful?”
Elijah stiffened. Of course she’d had him watched. He should have expected nothing less.
“She showed great skill during her trials,” he said evenly.
“And yet.” The Queen drew a long, measured breath. “I have heard she is failing to keep up with her training. Only an hour ago she was seen limping from the sparring mat.”
“I imagine training in the minor towns differs greatly from the rigors of Lord Jurah’s and Master Kolborn’s classes. I expect she is still adjusting to her first week.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Which begs the question, why bring her here at all, if she cannot hold her own?”
A spark of anger rose in his gut, the sensation entirely unwelcome. He kept his expression smooth. “If there is any doubt about the girl’s suitability, I will personally escort her back to Anhaven.”
The Queen pursed her lips. “Any misstep on your part reflects poorly on us all. Now more than ever. The Three see all.” Her gaze drifted to her right, where an ornate wooden altar sat against the far wall.
Stone idols of the First Three stood above flickering candles and bunches of heartviolets. Hair prickled on the back of his neck.
“One month, Elijah. If she proves to be unworthy, I will deal with her myself.”