Page 82 of The Twisted Throne

“Which is twelve years your senior.”

“Which makes him finally of an age worth noticing,” she said. “It’s a well-known fact that boys don’t become men until the age of thirty.”

William shot her a frown.

“Almost there, Will,” James said. “On your birthday, I’ll teach you how to shave.”

Will lifted his glass. “To the last six months of my boyhood. Huzzah!”

“Huzzah!” the other two declared, lifting their glasses, and Ahnna politely sipped at hers, remembering when she and Aren used to bicker like this. Before it had all gone to shit, and jests hadturned into jabs intended to hurt rather than amuse. She missed that. Missed him.

Ahnna abruptly realized that all three of them were looking at her expectantly and that a question had been posed. “Pardon?”

“How are unions determined in Ithicana?” Virginia asked. “Your kingdom is such a mystery to us.”

“Oh. Well, typically, people wed whomever they wish to spend their lives with. Someone they have fallen in love with.”

“Love matches?” Virginia’s eyes widened, then narrowed, the wheels in her mind clearly turning as she digested the revelation. “Even the nobility?”

“Yes.” Ahnna took another small sip of her wine. “The Fifteen-Year Treaty was the first time in memory that a betrothal was made political. To end the war with Maridrina, of course, but also because my mother wished for Ithicana to cease holding itself apart from the rest of the world. She believed marriages would aid in that.”

“It never occurred to her that Silas would take advantage?” William asked. “Because I assure you, no one was surprised that he made a move, only by his methods.”

“I think she was so focused on the dream that she lost sight of reality.” Ahnna didn’t add that Aren had been the same way. Idealistic. “Though perhaps she had the right of it, because thanks to that treaty, Ithicana’s bond with Maridrina, and now with Valcotta, is stronger than ever. The southern alliance is held together by blood and”—she nudged Virginia’s shoe with her own—“love matches.”

Virginia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“A dream, indeed,” William said, his smile bemused. “It is your bad luck to have been sent north where love matches are the domain of novels and plays, reality ruled by the games and power plays of those who rule. Or those who aim to rule.”

Apprehension turned her stomach, but Ahnna forced herself to say, “That could change.”

Green eyes bored into hers, and for a moment, Ahnna thought he’d lash out at her for daring to suggest their marriage might be more than an alliance of kingdoms, but then William smiled and said, “You’re right. It could change. Itshould.”

His burst of furor ought to have pleased her, but the apprehension in her stomach only grew, instincts screaming a warning though she did not see the threat.You fight only the opponent right before you and don’t lift your head to see the one shooting the poisoned arrow from afar.

“Huzzah,” Virginia declared. “To love matches. Let Georgie and I be the first, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Now eat faster—I want to play cards.”

Cards, as it turned out, were played blindfolded, the cards themselves marked with raised bumps declaring their number and suit.

“When it became clear that my vision would soon be a thing of the past, I had to learn to read another way,” Virginia said. “My brothers declared their intention to learn along with me, and one of the first things we did was start playing cards blindfolded to make it fair. Jamie can tell if you’re bluffing from the way you breathe, so be mindful.”

“Jamie is adept at everything,” Will added, and Ahnna sorely wished she wasn’t wearing a blindfold because she could not read James’s silence.

“It’s true,” Virginia said. “He masters all of Father’s inane hobbies, even taxidermy. Our projects all grace Fairfield House, which is our hunting lodge. While James’s wolf appears so alive it might bite your arm off, my deer is lumpy, and Will’s bobcat is cross-eyed.”

“If I am better, it is only because I make an effort, whereas you two cannot be bothered.” A chair scraped back, and Ahnna removed her blindfold to discover James was standing. “Unfortunately, I have some matters requiring my attention tonight, so you will have to find another target for your teasing.”

“But it’s late,” Virginia protested. “And we are having fun.”

“Yes, but unlike the three of you, I have duties.”

“What duties that you couldn’t delegate to someone else?” Virginia demanded. “What is the point of being amajor generalif you do everything yourself?”

“With rank come obligations that can’t be delegated.”

“Don’t neglect your duty to Ahnna,” William said. “Riding lessons tomorrow, correct, my lady?”

“I can manage on my own.”

---