Page 20 of Ties of Dust

Lord Armand threw an uneasy glance at Flora. “I wish I could, Your Highness. But I spoke the truth when I told you that the enchantment is now independent of me and will run its course regardless of my will.”

“It would endure even if the architect of the enchantment were executed?” Cassius wasn’t actually angry enough to seek Lord Armand’s execution, as he suspected the nobleman knew.

Judging by the way his face blanched, Lord Armand had a kernel of doubt.

Cassius didn’t mind.

“It would make no difference, Your Highness,” Lord Armand said quickly. “The enchantment is a force of its own now.”

“Flora?” Cassius turned to her. “Does this align with what you know of tethering enchantments?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Her face was expressionless, like a true guard. It felt strange to Cassius, now that they’d shared such casual conversation…not to mention shared the same floor for a very uncomfortable bed.

With a sigh, he turned back to Lord Armand. “And its course will be run when the alliance is sealed?”

“That’s correct, Your Highness,” Lord Armand said. “I will devote myself to furthering that alliance. If we can seal your marriage to Princess Miriam swiftly, the enchantment will lift, and the matter will be resolved.”

Cassius pretended to think about it. “Perhaps it would not be necessary for my father to know of the tethering enchantment if it was only to be of a short duration.” He spoke slowly, as if the idea was occurring to him for the first time. “Unless the guards report it.”

“None of them witnessed the enchantment, Your Highness,” said Lord Armand quickly.

“I have not mentioned its details to anyone,” Cassius mused.

“Nor have I.” The nobleman was looking optimistic. “It is not my habit to gossip with guards.”

“Perhaps it is possible.” Cassius frowned as if unconvinced.

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.” Lord Armand was delightfully ready to take charge. “I will make discreet inquiries and ensure that any hint of what occurred is dismissed as wild rumor.”

“Very well,” said Cassius austerely. “You are dismissed.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” On his way out, the nobleman cast a surreptitious look around the space, his eyes passing from the still-made solitary bed to linger on Flora with more speculation than Cassius would like. But in his chastened state—new territory for the overconfident lord—he asked no questions.

Cassius felt some of his tension leave with the nobleman, and he turned to Flora. She was letting out a long breath, her eyes closed. They flickered open to find Cassius looking at her.

“May I speakfreely, Your Highness?”

“Of course,” he said. “In fact, you can consider yourself to have permanent permission to do so when we’re alone.”

She nodded in acknowledgment before saying, “You were right. He is insufferable.”

A laugh escaped Cassius. “He always is,” he assured her.

“And not nearly as smart as he thinks he is,” Flora went on. “I can’t deny that he’s incredibly skilled in magic craft.” She gestured between them. “He must be to have created this accursed tether. But like so many men of high position, his pride blinds him to how easily he can be manipulated. That’s hardly a sign of intelligence.”

Cassius was silent, considering her with lowered brows. Her observation was uncomfortably astute. For months past, Cassius had wrestled with the realization that his father’s pride was a weakness that made the king easily manipulated by any who discovered it. Somehow it bothered him much more to hear it from Flora’s mouth than from his own mind.

“I’m sorry if I offended with the implication that you were manipulating him,” she said, her tone becoming more formal as she took in his expression.

“Of course I’m not offended,” Cassius assured her. “I was absolutely manipulating him. Very intentionally.”

“And very skillfully,” Flora said, relaxing. “He’s no doubt congratulating himself on convincing you to keep his actions quiet.”

“Yes.” Cassius frowned. “It does gall to have him think he’s the one who conceived the idea. But being heavy-handed would have achieved less.”

Flora shrugged. “What does it matter what he thinks? You know your own role in what happened. If the opinions of others can damage your pride in yourself, then there was something amiss with your pride in thefirst place.”

Cassius could think of no reply to these words. This young woman certainly kept surprising him. He was curious about her story—she spoke as if her conclusions were based on her own experiences.

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