Page 43 of A Kingdom Restored

“No, no.” Heath waved his hand in protest. “I’m way past that point. King Matlock’s had as much of a hand in making this mess as anyone. If he looks foolish because of his own regulations, that’s on him.”

“Good,” said Brody, although the tone of disapproval lingered.

However irritated Heath might feel with his sovereign, King Matlock continued to treat Heath with considerably more respect than the rest of the power-wielders. As a result, most of Heath’s cousins—Brody included—still seemed to view him as something of a traitor to the power-wielders.

Heath tried to tell himself it didn’t sting.

“It was a clever type of protest by Max,” Heath mused. “Much better than Leonora’s constant attempts to get herself thrown into the dungeons with Percival.”

Brody sighed. “She definitely doesn’t understand what she’d be getting herself into. But at least she’s trying to dosomething.” He glanced at Heath. “You know the king required her father to pay compensation after she froze out the royal wing?”

“Something tells me that tame punishment didn’t satisfy her determination to martyr herself,” Heath said dryly.

“Not quite,” Brody agreed. “But it had the desired effect of causing her parents to keep a tighter hold. Apparently they intervened in a planned stunt by Jasmine and Lucas.” He named Leonora’s siblings.

Heath ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t need Brody to remind him of the escalating situation with his cousins. Leonora’s harmless attack against the royals’ suites wasn’t the first incident to provoke punishment from the king in recent weeks. At least he hadn’t flogged anyone since Heath’s own experience. If nothing else, that humiliation seemed to have achieved the restoration of some measure of King Matlock’s moderation.

“I don’t know what you want me to do about Max’s situation,” he said wearily. “But I have nothing to suggest.”

“Never mind about Max,” said Brody. “He’s fine. But what about Percival? I think it’s time to put our plan into action.”

Heath shook his head. “King Matlock’s official investigation is still being finalized, which means he hasn’t set an execution date. We still have time.”

“What cloud is your head in, Heath?” Brody said impatiently. “Every day we delay is another day your brother spends in the dungeons.”

The thought of having this argument with his cousin yet again made Heath’s head hurt. He hadn’t even framed a response when his awareness was suddenly pulled toward Merletta. He’d been watching her on and off since the moment he woke, knowing she intended to meet with the Record Master that day. And it looked now as though she was on her way. At least her friends seemed to be with her.

“I have to go,” Heath told Brody curtly, making no attempt at politeness. He turned on his heel, but before he could take a step, Brody’s hand shot out, gripping his arm.

“No, you don’t. Tell me what’s going on. It’s something to do with Merletta, isn’t it?”

“That’s none of your business,” Heath told him simply.

Brody was unimpressed. “You can’t just shrug me off on this, Heath. You told Bianca we’d talk later, but you’ve been avoiding us ever since. Two days ago you said that whoever’s been attacking your family,” he lowered his voice as he glanced around, “not to mention possibly trying to kill the king, is someone from Merletta’s home. Wherever that is.”

“I didn’t say that,” Heath protested. “I still don’t know it for sure.”

Brody gave him a look, and Heath scowled.

“Look, I really don’t know, all right? What do you want me to say? It’s not like I’ve forgotten about it. I’ve spent two days trying to figure out what to do, and everywhere I turn, it’s disaster for someone.”

Brody’s brow was creased, but he didn’t look angry for a change. “I know Merletta’s important to you, Heath. But can protecting her secrets really be worth your brother’s life?”

“Percival isn’t going to be executed,” said Heath. “I’m not going to let that happen, whether or not I can convince the king of his innocence.”

“But it’s not just about Percival, is it?” Brody asked, his grave words making a much greater impression than any angry outburst. “If Merletta’s people are targeting us…even willing to make an attempt on the life of our king…”

Heath squirmed uncomfortably under his cousin’s serious gaze.

“Bianca and I have been talking since the other day,” Brody continued. “We’re not King Matlock’s greatest admirers right now, but we’re not sure we can keep this from him in good conscience.”

“Neither am I,” Heath admitted miserably. “That’s the unsolvable problem I’ve been trying to solve for the last two days.” He ran a weary hand over his eyes, checking in on Merletta. She was still swimming.

“And it’s my problem to solve, not yours, Brody. What would you tell the king? That Merletta and I once met on an island—which incidentally, is not where she comes from—but if he tried to sail there, he would be prevented from reaching it by the impassable East Seas? And that you don’t know where to find the rest of her kind, or what exactly is the nature of the threat? You’d achieve nothing but making the king as suspicious of me as he is of the rest of you. Which might be a worthwhile aim in your mind,” he added bitterly, remembering the grief Brody had given him over King Matlock’s subtle approval of Heath since he foiled the assassination attempt.

“No, I don’t want that,” Brody said quietly. “I know I’m usually too stubborn to admit it, but I do actually know that you’re our best hope of resolving this mess.”

No pressure,Heath thought. The words sounded petulant in his mind, but he was so sick of everyone doing their utmost to inflame tensions, then looking to him to fix an already impossible situation.

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