Page 41 of Ties of Dust

“You’ll be able to find a free seat near the end of that table,” he told her, casting his glance subtly toward one of the long tables that were rapidly filling with courtiers. “It should be close enough.”

“No, Your Highness,” she said quickly. “I will take my place with the other guards, of course.”

He made an impatient noise in his throat. “Don’t be ridiculous. You must be starving.”

“I’ll eat later with the guards and servants,” she said.

He gave her a look. “And how will you do that, exactly? Shall I come along and stand in the doorway of the guards’ dining area? That will make for a jolly mood for all of the men trying to enjoy a meal during their time off duty.”

She bit her lip, clearly not having thought it through.

“Perhaps I can take some leftovers to my room.”

“Or perhaps you can eat now with the rest of us.”

It was entertaining to see the battle on her face as she struggled to maintain her guard-like air through the frustration that wanted to seep out.

“I’m a guard, Your Highness. Look at how I’m dressed. I cannot sit down to share a meal with the nobles of your father’s court.”

She had a point there. In fact, their conversation was starting to attract attention. When Flora moved smoothly toward the line of guards standing at the wall behind the king’s table, Cassius gave up trying to stop her.

He took his seat beside his father, unable to banish his awareness of Flora standing five feet behind him. It was unfortunate that she would be on her feet the entire meal when she was injured and exhausted. He would need to retire early for her sake.

He soon decided that leaving the dinner would be no great trial. He was outraged when his father waved Sir Keavling into the seat beside Cassius. Sitting beside the royal family? How had the man risen so much in influence during Cassius’s brief absence?

“What do you think, Sir Keavling?” the king asked as a platter of roasted pheasant was cleared from in front of him. “Will the Siqualians attempt to withdraw from the alliance? Or use it to their advantage?”

“Only time will tell, Your Majesty,” the advisor said. “For my part, I find it inconceivable that any kingdom on the Peninsula would hesitate to form an alliance with Carrack. Siqual’s king would certainly be foolish to turn down the opportunity to ally himself with our kingdom before one of the kingdoms of the continent seeks to do so. Such a situation would make an alliance with Siqual unnecessary.”

“No kingdom of the continent has ever offered us an alliance,” Cassius said flatly. “On the contrary, their borders are closed to us. It is mere fancy to speak as if there is a competition for our favor between the continent and the Peninsula.”

“You are ill informed, Cassius,” King Aelius said. “You forget that Sir Keavling has spent considerable time on the continent. He has information of great interest.”

The advisor inclined his head. “I know all too well how those on the continent look down on the region of the Peninsula. And regrettably the kingdom of Carrack is oftenclassed with the less developed kingdoms to its south. But I can assure you that when those on the continent learn the true state of Carrack, they will hold my own view that it should always have been considered part of the continent, not the Peninsula.”

“That’s nonsense,” Cassius said impatiently.

“My son.” The king spoke lightly, but Cassius recognized the rebuke in his father’s tone. “Even your short time in the southern kingdoms appears to have had an effect if you speak so rudely to a guest at our table.”

He chuckled to mark the comment as a joke, and everyone in the immediate vicinity laughed politely. But the mood was tense. The constant talk of potential conflict with the neighboring kingdoms was bound to create uncertainty. Suspicion toward the other kingdoms was nothing new. The suggestion of impending conflict was.

“Are we to speak of nothing but matters of state?” the queen scolded from the king’s other side. “Surely there are more pleasant topics.”

“My apologies, Mother.” Cassius pushed his chair back. “I am poor company tonight. Whatever other effect my time in the southern kingdoms may have had, the travel has succeeded in wearying me. I will retire.”

His mother didn’t look pleased, but Cassius was past caring. His head was throbbing, his whole body ached, and if he stayed much longer, he’d say something to Sir Keavling that he’d regret.

He took his leave and moved toward the door, Flora walking discreetly behind him. With a gesture, he sent back the guards who were following. Those on the night shift would be in position outside his rooms by now. He didn’t need a pair flanking him through the corridors.

As he neared the door, he heard Sir Keavling’s voice.

“His Highness desires to see the best in others, even the southern kingdoms. It is an admirable quality.”

Cassius scowled, but didn’t turn around. In a few more strides, he was out of the dining hall and drawing in a long, steadying breath.

“I don’t like him. At all.”

Flora’s frank declaration caught him by surprise, and the ghost of a laugh rose to his lips as he turned to look at her.

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