Nods circle the table. First Kresimir, whose lands border Moonlight Hollow most closely. Then Edvard, with the distant look of someone still struggling to catch up. Last, reluctantly, Juraj’s aging head wags in agreement.I meet Father’s eyes down the length of the table. When he first put me on the
Xander“Apologies.” Lord Edvard bows, dark hair braided back away from his face, and hurries to his seat at the council table. “There was word of a skirmish at the edge of my lands, and it required my attention.”Father gestures dismissively. “There are rumors of skirmishes on all our lands, Edvard.
“What?”“I’m dying.” He shoves up on one elbow, proving himself immediately wrong. “If I have to sleep on the ground one more night, I’m going to die.”“You’re just pissed Howell stayed in Dun’s Crossing.” I tug a sack of fire supplies I’ve been collecting out of a small cart and start setting up a
FinnI could’ve asked Kerr, my personal steward, to pack my bag. He probably would’ve done a better job of it than I am. A mountain of half-folded clothes looms at me, asking if that’s really how I’m going to show up to a foreign kingdom.Putting my back to it is easier than answering. I need a few
“I reminded her she had selected the day I asked for her hand in marriage as our meeting,” he snarls at me. “Foolishly, I thought that would mean something. Just as you foolishly believe she was not leaving us for a long, long time before she strode out the doors. Who saw her?”“You.” I struggle to
“Cousin!” Corwyn smiles at me. “I’ve prepared everything for Uncle Alden’s arrival. I thought he might like some privacy.”As I would have, I think to myself. My first scraps of information about Mother in three months will come with an audience.I shake the thought away as soon as I have it. Tansy