Page 74 of A Kingdom Restored

“But that wasn’t true, was it? Maybe daring to be loyal to our own kingdom could have been overlooked if I’d had overt magic like the rest of you. But combine the two, and I was no longer allowed inside, was I?”

Brody shifted uncomfortably, and Bianca looked close to tears. Merletta’s hand was still in Heath’s, and the steady warmth of the pressure helped ground him. He was still feeling too bruised to want his cousins’ conditional acceptance, but that didn’t mean he was alone.

“As for what I can do,” he told Leonora, “I can watch people from afar, like the dragons do, within certain limits. I can also see other things that no one else can see.” He cast his eyes around the group. “For example, I can tell that Bianca feels guilty, and that Brody is deeply convicted because he knows I’m right, but will probably wrestle for days before he acknowledges it.” His eyes traveled along the group, smiling slightly. “Max is a clear brook—constantly in motion, nothing hidden far beneath the surface.” He cocked his head to the side. “Leonora, you’re keeping some secret from Jasmine. Nothing serious, I think,” he mused, reading her chagrin with his magic. “Some petty affair between sisters. But it’s weighing on you, always on your mind. Maybe that’s why I can see it so painfully clearly.”

“Heath!” Leonora protested, her face flushed and horrified.

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like the feeling that someone is using magic on you, when you have no way to predict or control it, or even to know it’s happening? Does it make you feel powerless, maybe even afraid? Does it maybe even make your reactions less rational than normal?”

The room was so silent, it seemed no one was breathing.

Heath turned to Max. “I know you mean well, Max, but I hope I don’t need to explain to you why Iwon’tbe using my magic to spy on King Matlock and report back to you every order he gives so that you can all outwit him and try to make him look a fool.”

Max looked ashamed, and still no one spoke.

“I only watch him in a very limited way,” Heath continued. “Only when he mentions Percival.” A shudder went over him. “Which he just did. The execution is to be set for a week away.”

There was a collective gasp. “Tonight is going ahead, then,” said Brody determinedly.

Heath shook his head wildly. “No. If he runs now, he’ll look more guilty than ever.” He glanced at Merletta. “And so will others, if it comes to it. I know for a fact now that someone is working against us from outside. I just have to convince the king of that.”

“We’re not waiting on your diplomacy, Heath,” Brody burst out. “You said yourself that if the king set a date—”

“A lot has changed since then,” said Heath. “But I know it’s not just up to me. Why don’t you go ask Percival? Let him decide. I have to go to Arinton immediately. If you’ll take my advice, you’ll all come. It’s time to have this out once and for all.” He shrugged. “But I don’t pretend to have any authority. Suit yourselves.”

And without another word, he pulled Merletta from the room. She hurried behind him down two corridors, before he dragged her into an alcove behind a suit of armor.

“What is it?” she demanded. “What did you see?”

“I saw the man who’s been in the king’s ear,” said Heath grimly. “Or merman, I should say, because I have no doubt he’s from your world. He’s setting a trap specifically for you.” He quickly recounted the lies that had been told about Merletta.

She snorted. “If only I did have some kind of fabulous magic,” she muttered.

“There’s more,” said Heath urgently. “I saw his face, and I recognize him.”

She looked up sharply. “How is that possible? Surely it wasn’t August or one of the other guards? They’re the only mermen you’ve met, aren’t they?”

“I didn’t meet him recently,” said Heath. “I saw him when I was a small child, in the markets in Bryford. It’s one of my earliest memories. I sensed power on him, and I asked about it loudly. It made a bit of a scene, and my mother was very embarrassed. My father hoped it might be the first sign of my magic coming out, but when he realized the man wasn’t one of the power-wielders, he figured it was just a misunderstanding.”

Merletta stared at him. “You mean this merman has been coming to Valoria for almost two decades?”

Heath nodded. “At least. And he’s come more recently than that. I saw him at the Winter Solstice Festival the year before last. He was there with two others, although I didn’t recognize them. I sensed the same power I’ve been feeling at the attacks, so I know I wasn’t wrong about his face.”

Merletta’s expression had hardened, and her face was set in familiar lines of determination.

“It’s him,” she murmured. “Him and his guards. I have no idea how they got here so quickly, but it must be them.” She clenched her jaw. “But that means he’s been behind all of it, from the beginning of our relationship…from well before that.” She gave her head a little shake. “I have to see this correspondent to be sure—he probably didn’t come in person, but I know what the guards look like. We need to get to this town.”

Heath seized her hand, tugging her back out into the corridor. “We’ll leave within the hour.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Merletta clasped her hands together around Heath’s waist, clinging on tightly and trying not to let her nerves show.

Of course, Heath had that irritating ability to see things others couldn’t, so…

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go in a carriage?” Heath swiveled slightly from his position in front of her on the horse. “It’s going to be a long ride, and I’m going to be pushing us as fast as I can.”

“Exactly,” said Merletta firmly. “You said horseback is faster, so this is what we’re doing. I’ll manage.” She sent him a cheeky grin. “I’ll just have to trust you not to let me fall off.”

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