Chapter Twenty-Four
KADE AND TAIGA had been listening to Porthos moan and groan all day. The golden haired apprentice was irritated that he still had to show up for work even when his brother was visiting.
The poor, poor prince actually had to do work? Appalling.
Kade rolled his eyes.
Porthos had asked for the days leading up to the welcome feast off, so he could spend a few extra days with Lyra.
Hokda had told the apprentice that he could have the time—of course, he could have the time.
Who was Hokda to come in-between brothers?
In fact, he could have all the time in the world, because if he took those days, Porthos would never step foot in the infirmary again so long as Hokda lived.
So there they were, working on brewing the ridiculous amounts of vitality elixir that Hokda thought was necessary to have on hand. A pick-me-up for the lords and ladies for rejuvenation and energy after long days and nights of partying.
Taiga, the lucky bastard, had the easier job of brewing pain relief, for hangovers, which they wouldn’t need nearly as much of.
Truthfully, Kade was with Porthos on this. He had better things to be doing than slaving away over making barrels of elixir. Things like plotting on how to corral Killi, corner him, and force him to acknowledge this thing between them.
Killi had been avoiding him, still spooked after shutting Kade down at the lake.
The only times he’d seen Killi was from a distance.
Across courtyards as Killi patrolled or escorted Fyar across the estate.
They were always laughing when Kade saw them together.
It was the most genuine and expressive he’d ever seen the king, and he hated it.
It made his blood boil that Fyar was so close to Killi when Kade hadn’t even been in the same room in days. Hadn’t heard his voice in days.
Kade knew that Killi was scared, he always had been, but his willful blindness was really starting to piss Kade off.
Did Killi really not see what Kade felt for him? He hadn’t exactly been subtle. He had followed Killi to Ingara with this as the endgame for fucks sake.
Kade was scared, too. Though more of losing what they could be rather than how their relationship would change. He’d always known this was where they were heading. Even when they were still trapped in Turell.
But more than being scared, Kade was tired. He was tired of being so close to what he wanted and never truly having it.
The weight of the love charm Kade had bought in the city was heavy in his pocket. It felt a bit stupid, but he would take all the help he could get.
Knowing Killi, and how stubborn he was, Kade thought he’d have to set a trap, line up all the pieces and have Killi walk into it. It was the only way. Killi would never make the move himself, so it was up to Kade.
Because of course it was.
The day at the lake had been perfect, one of the happiest days he’d ever had.
He’d had everything he’d ever wanted: Killi’s undivided attention.
Nothing to come between them. No work. No responsibilities.
No kings. So he’d thought it was the right time, quiet and romantic and nice and Killi had ruined it.
It had stung, the way Killi shut Kade down without even listening.
But Kade was patient. He’d already waited over a century.
What was a few more days in comparison?
“This is cruel and unusual punishment,” Porthos lamented, banging his head down on his forearms. The herbs and snake venom tossed to the side. “Hokda can’t do this to us.”
They were halfway through their batch for the day. It was no time for Porthos to start slacking.
“He can and he is,” Taiga said flatly. At least he was still focused on his task.
“I can’t believe I ever wanted this job,” Porthos wailed dramatically.
“Hear, hear,” agreed Kade. “Now, shut up and keep working.”
Taiga laughed and tapped Porthos on the back of the head with a scroll as he walked by to collect a box of empty vials. “Hokda may push us hard, but he’s the best teacher we could’ve asked for.”
“He’s the best teacher we could’ve asked for,” Porthos mocked. “You’re such a kiss ass, Taiga.”
“It’s called having respect. You should try it sometime,” Taiga shot back. He began ladling the purple liquid into individual doses. “It’s why he likes me more than you.”
“Sure. That’s the reason.” Porthos clicked his tongue. “He doesn’t like anyone.” Then, “But at least he’ll never hate me as much as he hates Kade.”
Taiga snorted.
Kade sighed. “It’s hard being me.”
“He’s gotten better though,” said Taiga. “Laid off a lot.”
“It’s because we’ve been helping with your studies, eh?” Porthos smiled.
Kade blinked at him. “Su-re.”
Porthos pursed his lips and Taiga laughed.
Conversation lulled as they got a new wave of focus that lasted all of two seconds.
Taiga trilled happily and flounced towards the door as he announced he was done done done and would be going to bed.
“Aren’t you going to help us finish?” asked Porthos.
“No fucking chance.” And then, Taiga was gone.
The two left over despaired at the departure of their third. Porthos pouted his way through grinding more herbs, and stayed pouting until they added the last ingredient and had to settle in to let it stew.
Kade’s moment of rest was quickly interrupted by the tap, tap, tapping of Porthos’ fingers against his station. Kade’s eye twitched. He braced himself for the crazy that was about to come out of Porthos’ mouth. The elf could never just be.
“Do you think Fyar has a favorite flower?”
Oh, lord. “What?”
“He has to have one. He curated a gigantic garden, he has to have a favorite. Or do you think it’s more one of each category, type of situation? A favorite flower. A favorite tree.”
Kade took a deep breath. “It has to be one of each category. Who has just one favorite?”
Porthos hummed. “That’s what Taiga thinks, too.” So Kade wasn’t the only one Porthos had asked this nonsense. “I think his favorite flowers are Fire Lillies.”
“Oh.” It was too late for this. “He has good taste.”
“Yeah. They’re around the lake, right? Next to the pavilion and the statues.”
“No.” Kade shook his head, trying to conjure an image in his mind of where the Fire Lillies were. “They’re in the back corner, next to fruit trees.”
Silence.
Too late, Kade realized his mistake. Heart pumping, all traces of drowsiness were gone in an instant. He was dead. He was so dead.
Porthos was grinning. Smug. “I knew it. I knew it! You have been inside.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kade pushed away from his station, straight-backed and tense. He wrung his hands. “I didn’t—I don’t—I’ve never—”
“No need to freak out. It’s alright.”
“You tricked me!”
“Of course I did,” Porthos huffed. “If I came right out and asked you, you never would have told me the truth.”
Kade scowled.
“It’s your brother, right? The one who got you access. Killian del Torau, Captain of the King’s Guard.” Porthos shook his head, amazed. “I’d heard rumors, but I never thought my cousin would give him solo access. Killian’s way more connected than I ever expected.”
Killi was going to kill Kade for this. They already weren’t speaking and this on top of everything? Killi would lose all the trust he ever had in Kade.
It was the top rule: no one can ever know they were there. And he just came out and exposed them.
Kade raked his hands through his hair. He had to fix this.
“You can’t tell,” said Kade, his voice shaking. “Killi—he…You can’t tell!”
“As if your brother would arrest you,” Porthos said in disbelief. “Relax, Kade. I’m not going to turn you in. I wouldn’t do that to you. I know how anal my cousin gets about his garden. He’d lose his mind knowing your brother took you inside.”
Kade groaned and dropped his head onto the table. “I’m so screwed.”
“You are not. I’ve already said I’d keep your secret.
Aren’t I such a good friend? So stop being so dramatic.
” Porthos took Kade by the shoulders and shook him.
“Seriously, calm down. Just breathe. Listen. No one’s being arrested.
No one’s getting kicked out. We’re friends. You kept my secret, I’ll keep yours.”
“Right.”
“You don’t look convinced. Why?”
“… The king is your cousin!”
“Exactly! Which is why I know better than most that it’s best he never finds out about this. For yours and your brother’s sake.”
Kade let his head fall back and groaned.
Porthos bit his lip. Hesitant.“If you want a guarantee, I’ll make you a deal.”
Kade perked up. “What kind of deal?”
“Fyar’s garden was originally his mother’s, she was the one who started the collection, but after her death, my uncle let Fyar have free rein.
” Porthos pinched Kade’s lips together. “Shhh. Just listen. It’ll make sense.
Anyway, back when Lyra and I used to live in the palace, Fyar let us come and go from the garden as we pleased.
That changed when my family moved west, but there was this flower that we used to make tea from.
It’s delicious, a delicacy, but it’s not native to Netyere.
This plant is nowhere to be found…except Fyar’s garden. Are you seeing the issue?”
“I think I’m beginning to.”
“My proposition to you is: I will take a vow of silence, not one soul will ever hear from me that you were ever in that garden, in exchange for a few cuttings of that flower. Just enough to steep a few cups of tea.”
Kade took a moment to think. A vow was a surefire way to keep Killi safe. “You have a deal.”
Porthos smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Excellent.”
“What’s this flower and where do I find it?”