Page 53 of Ties of Dust

The new guard wasn’t an improvement. They spent an hour standing outside the prince’s study while he met with some influential earl. It wasn’t a busy corridor, and the other guard took every witness-free opportunity toproposition Flora’s attention in a way she found extremely unpleasant.

“Do you think you’re above me?” the man asked eventually, growing angry with her expressionless silence. “Don’t pretend innocence—we’ve all seen the way you’ve led Russell on.”

This extremely unjust accusation regarding the guard whom Flora had beaten in the training yard almost broke her resolve to just ignore the man’s words.

“Or are you hoping to land a bigger prize?” the man taunted. “You may be some kind of favorite with the prince, but it won’t gain you anything. You’re more likely to be thrown off the guard than—”

The faint sound of a chair scraping within the study met Flora’s ears, and the guard broke off. By the time the door opened, he was standing at attention, no trace in his manner that he’d been speaking a moment earlier.

“Well, Your Highness, I trust you will consider the matter further, because I am not satisfied.”

“I will, My Lord.”

Prince Cassius’s manner strongly suggested he’d been the one to cut the conversation short. Flora could only be grateful. She knew a moment of discomfort as the nobleman strode away, and the prince studied her face for several seconds too long. His searching expression had her concerned that he might have overheard through the thick study door. But it was surely impossible—the other guard had spoken quietly. After another moment, the prince turned away, releasing her from his scrutiny.

They crossed an internal courtyard and emerged near the guards’ area.

“You may return to your captain,” Cassius told theother guard. “I have obligations to Her Majesty for the next hour, and your services won’t be required.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The guard bowed to the prince, who’d already turned away. After a dark glance at Flora, he marched toward a clump of guards near the entrance to the training yard.

“Why did he look at you like that?”

Cassius’s voice had Flora looking up in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“The look that guard gave you as he walked away. It was venomous.”

She shuffled uncomfortably. He noticed much more than anyone would guess. “That seems an exaggeration, Your Highness,” she said.

Cassius was studying the departed guard as he spoke animatedly to the group of his fellows. A moment later, they all looked over at Flora. When they realized the prince was watching them, they withdrew their gaze, moving quickly into the training yard and out of sight.

“Exaggerating, am I?” Cassius asked her dryly.

Flora shrugged. “I don’t think he likes me much, Your Highness. I wouldn’t let it bother you.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t?”

She wasn’t fooled by the mild response.

“Did he seem overly interested in you?”

“I…” Flora shifted her weight from one foot to the other, very reluctant to discuss the matter with him. “He showed…some interest.”

Cassius frowned. “I should discover whom he was speaking with. I have some reason to think that Sir Keavling’s been speaking directly to some of my guards, which is well beyond his authority. If I discover that my own guards are spying on me to report to a nobleman,I’ll have them all dishonorably dismissed.” His eyes were narrowed in the direction the guards had disappeared. “I’d best find out the identity of each of those men.”

“It was nothing like that, Your Highness,” Flora said quickly, as the prince took a step in the direction of the training yard. “Truly.”

Cassius paused, eyeing her. “Then why could I feel your discomfort from my study? That’s why I cut the meeting short.”

“What do you mean you could feel my discomfort?” Flora asked, astonished.

“I don’t know,” said Cassius. “I can’t explain it. It’s not the first time I’ve suspected the tether connects us in other ways than we initially realized. I could tell he wasn’t having a friendly chat. I’d better find out more from the source—if he’s been asked to learn information about you, it could be important.”

Cassius’s expression was menacing as he turned toward the training yard again, and Flora reached out to grab his arm. His muscles tightened under her grip, and she released him quickly.

“Don’t ask him about it,” she said. “Please don’t. It will only make things worse for everyone involved.”

He turned to face her, giving her his full attention. “What do you mean? What was he saying?” When she didn’t reply, a warning note entered his voice. “Flora, tell me.”

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