Page 66 of Ties of Dust

Flora did her best to ignore them, her stomach protesting as she stood along the wall behind the table while the prince ate. It was a tiresome business, being obliged to act like a normal guard. If she happened to be on duty with Miriam over a meal, the princess would often choose to have food brought to her room so that they could eat together. Here, Flora wasn’t even free to come off duty and go the guards’ mess for food.

She hadn’t been listening much to the conversation, but when it veered toward the investigation into the attack, her attention was caught. The nobleman had nothing of use to say—he just agreed with whichever royal had spoken most recently. Flora thought it was a victory for Cassius when the nobleman affirmedhis suggestion that an alliance with Siqual would help protect Carrack from any Torrenese aggression, but the king didn’t seem impressed. Flora could see—and share—Cassius’s outrage when the king instructed a servant to summon Sir Keavling to support his point.

“Father.” Cassius’s protest chased the servant from the room. “You have no need of his counsel here.”

“It’s not for my own sake, Cassius,” said the king. “You need to hear the latest theory we have discussed.”

Sir Keavling materialized quickly, his benign manner making Flora bristle.

“Sir Keavling,” the king said. “Tell Prince Cassius what you told me yesterday.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” The nobleman bowed to Cassius. “I have been thinking on your wise words, Your Highness, when you’ve pointed out that the evidence against Torrens is inconclusive. I still feel wary of our neighbors, but I followed your example and turned my mind to the possibility that Torrens is innocent.”

“Did you?” Cassius didn’t sound impressed by the seeming support.

“And naturally that led me to consider who else might be behind the attacks. It is possible we have suspected the wrong country.’

“We were too quick to dismiss Siqual from suspicion,” the king agreed.

“You imply that Siqual staged the attack on their own princess so as to avoid suspicion for the attack on me?” Cassius said, incredulous.

“It is a possibility we must consider,” King Aelius said. “What better way for Siqual to allay suspicion? Princess Miriam suffered no harm, did she? No one in the Siqualian delegation was injured at all.”

Indignation burned within Flora. Miriam had almost died—it was infuriating that King Aelius used her near miss to paint her as suspicious. And had the king forgotten her own presence in the room? Flora would have needed to be heavily involved in any such scheme.

She was scanning the table stonily, and she sucked in a breath as she found Sir Keavling’s eyes fixed on her. He at least hadn’t missed either her presence or the implications of the king’s words.

But she didn’t think he believed the tale he was spinning. He had an ulterior motive.

“They weren’t injured thanks to quick action and skilled defense,” Cassius said. “This is nothing more than a tall tale.”

“Perhaps,” said King Aelius. “Or perhaps there is a scheme of which we are unaware. It’s enough reason to hesitate on the proposed alliance. I have lost trust in both Siqual and Torrens.”

Flora, standing right behind Cassius, saw his hand clench into a fist where it rested on his knee under the table.

“And what have you gained in place of that loss?” the prince growled. His eyes passed to Sir Keavling. “These tall tales haven’t come from your own mind, Father. They’ve been spun for you.”

“There is no spinning involved,” the king said crisply. “I am considering all aspects of the situation.” He stood abruptly, and everyone else at the table hastened to copy, abandoning their partially eaten meals.

“You’ve taken up my morning, Cassius,” the king said to his son. “But I’m afraid I cannot give you my afternoon. There are matters of urgency requiring my attention.”

With a gesture of the head, he summoned the othernobleman, and the man hurried out of the room in the king’s wake.

Leaving Cassius directing a hard stare at Sir Keavling.

“Your Highness.” The nobleman bowed before turning toward the door.

“A moment, Sir Keavling.”

Cassius’s voice carried a note of unmistakable command, and Sir Keavling stopped mid-stride, seeming to resent his own instinctive obedience. As he turned to face the prince, Flora tensed, her hand slipping into her pocket to close around her sling. It was foolish, in a well-protected room within the castle, with numerous other guards around. But she didn’t trust this man. It would not have surprised her to learn that he meant Cassius harm.

“Understand one thing, Sir Keavling.” Cassius’s voice still carried that authority that made Flora’s skin prickle. “I see you. Whatever you’ve been whispering in my father’s ears, I will stand against any alliance with the continent to my last breath. I am the future of Carrack, and our future is the Peninsula.”

Sir Keavling studied the prince in silence, his dark eyes calculating and cautious.

“I do not seek to be your enemy, Your Highness.”

“I’m not interested in what you seek,” Cassius said, his own eyes narrowed. “Don’t be fooled into thinking my trust as easily won as others’ might be. I’ve never been one to be charmed by snakes.”

---