Page 23 of Mistress of Hours

“Solon and I are here to find what answers we can about the disappearance of the Tuanadair’s magic. I shared with you that it has now fully gone. We can trace its slow draining to the first royal union between Ichorna’s King Bastille and his consort, a Beitaran noblewoman named Alina, two hundred years ago. We do not know how the siphoning continues to take place, or for what purpose, but we believe it has been Ichorna’s doing. The timing cannot be only coincidence. I am here to research and make some sense of our plight if I can.”

He held her gaze, hoping she could see the truth of his soul—that his intentions were noble, that he sought to help his own people just as she served hers each day.Evienne’s mouth opened slightly in shock; she was unable to keep her surprise from her features. She blinked slowly, clearly processing all he had just told her.Orion second-guessed himself for a moment, but mostly he felt relieved. He wanted desperately to find her an ally, to be closer with her.

“If what you say is true, Ichorna has committed, and continues to commit, a grave injustice against your people, Orion. As difficult as this is to hear, and as impossible as I hope it to be, I cannot dismiss what you’ve told me. I just hope it is some kind of misunderstanding.” She raised her hands to press against her temples, her sadness, shock, and worry clouding the air between them.

“I understand this is a heavy accusation to level, and I hope it is not true; but you understand I must search for answers. My people deserve the truth of what’s been done to them,” he said, his tone soft. Orion knew this was a difficult thing to ask her to hear out.

Evienne turned her delicate round face to meet his gaze with her honey-colored eyes. “I will think on it.”

Orion nodded. He wished her answer had been an immediate yes, but he respected what a significant decision it would be for her. Her thoughtfulness gave him hope, but his anxiety at having to trust her was rising. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he had nothing to fear from her; that did not, however, make the rest of his racing thoughts any calmer. He supposed he would have to wait and see if she chose her duty or the truth.

Chapter Seventeen

Léhiona awoke tothe scent of cloves—she was in her own bed, with a warm hand wrapped around her own. She opened her eyes to see Aldith’s worried features hovering over her. She took a deep breath.

“What happened?” She rasped.

“You fainted, dearest,” Aldith answered gently, stroking Léhiona’s hand with her thumb.

“Oh, I’m so sorry; I think I’m feeling better though, we really should get to the party.”

“No, no, you’re going to rest. Besides, the garden party ended an hour ago. It was lovely, and you were missed, but everything went well. I’ll call for some tea,” Aldith said, patting her hand as she shifted off the side of the bed where she’d been sitting.

“I’m so glad Sylvain was with me, Aldith. I don’t know what would have happened without him,” she said, moving slowly to a sitting position.

“Yes, it was very lucky he was there with you.”

“He wants me to go see the healers about my exhaustion. I suppose this proves his point,” Léhiona said begrudgingly.

“If it will make you feel better, you should speak with them—though I’m sure you’re just tired from all the celebration preparations. You’ve been running yourself ragged to get everything planned,” Aldith said from the other side of the room.

“That’s what I told Sylvain! I’m sure you’re right,” she answered.

Aldith returned with a tray that one of the palace staff had brought; a pot of tea and a bowl of clear broth. Both waftedsteamy tendrils into the air. She sat the tray on the nightstand, and Léhiona found herself feeling grateful that her wife was her one comfort in this impossible situation that was her life. She had been so frightened when her father had told her of the arranged marriage when she was a girl, but being married to Aldith had been better than she ever could have hoped.

Back in Beitar, her family had been of noble blood, but her marriage elevated their status with the king. She knew bearing this burden had meant a better life for her family. It was difficult, but Aldith’s love, and the family she made for herself here, made it bearable.

Léhiona sipped the broth while Aldith sat with her and had a cup of tea. When she finished and set the bowl aside, Aldith leaned over her and kissed her, cupping her cheek gently with one hand.

“You should get some sleep, dearest. We have a long few weeks ahead of us,” Aldith said with a small smile.

“Promise you’ll come to bed soon, too?”

“I promise,” Aldith said and kissed Léhiona’s hand before departing, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Chapter Eighteen

Evienne spent thenext day drifting through the motions of her life, the seconds flitting by while her mind was a tempest of worry and questions.

Aldith had suspected an ulterior motive for the Beitarans’ visit, but she was certain she never could have guessed this would be it. Surely there was some other reason the magic had disappeared; the connection to Ichorna must be purely coincidence, right?

But Aldith’s suspicion of the Beitaran’s motives left an uneasy feeling in Evienne’s stomach. If Ichorna had nothing to hide, why be so suspicious of a people who had been their peaceful neighbors for a thousand years?She had thought it odd that Aldith was so harsh about the possibility of the Beitarans seeking aid.

Evienne’s intuition rarely led her astray, and for some reason it was now urging her to hold her tongue to the queens about Orion’s confession. Surely nothing would come of it, and she could report it to them in a few days when his suspicions proved to be unfounded.More than that, the thought of betraying Orion’s confidence made her feel physically ill.

Orion and Solon were tied up for the afternoon at some sort of diplomatic luncheon, so Evienne took the opportunity to head out into the city for a walk. She rarely had time to just stroll these days, so it was a welcome reprieve.

She left the palace through the side entrance, an unassuming door for deliveries that was located on the lower level near thekitchens. Evienne crossed a small courtyard and nodded to the guards stationed at the gate as she moved into the city.

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