Page 7 of Ties of Dust

“Peace, Lord Armand,” Cassius attempted, but he doubted anyone even heard him over the curt words of Prince Theodore.

“Affront? To Carrack? It is Siqual’s princess—my sister—who was just attacked.”

“The attack could have killed any and all of us,” said Lord Armand, not mollified. “For you to invite Prince Cassius onto your lands, only to subject him to such danger without—”

“We did not subject him to anything,” Prince Theodoreshot back. “If your bluster is intended to allay suspicion from yourselves, it will not save you.”

He clearly wasn’t finished, but Lord Armand’s theatrical gasp drowned out even the rain. “Allay suspicion? You mean to imply that Carrack orchestrated the barbaric attack on the princess?”

“Well, Siqual certainly didn’t orchestrate an attack on its own princess,” Prince Theodore snapped.

“Prince Theodore,” said Cassius, curbing his instinctive anger at the insinuation. He had to think clearly. “Princess Miriam. I swear to you, we have no knowledge of those men or their intentions.”

To his intense annoyance, Lord Armand jumped in before the other royals could reply.

“Perhaps you did not orchestrate it, but neither did you prevent it.”

“Then your own guards are no less culpable,” Princess Miriam pointed out angrily.

“With respect, Princess,” Lord Armand’s tone wasn’t in the least respectful, “we are not culpable. We are on your land. We were assured our party would have safe passage across Siqual. Instead, we were very nearly caught up in a fatal attack.” He pointed imperiously at the bodyguard. “In fact, that boy’s quick thinking and—to say fairly—exceptional grasp of magic craft is the only reason we didn’t just witness an assassination.”

The bodyguard showed no sign of being gratified. In fact, he showed no sign he was even listening to the argument. He remained on high alert, hovering by the princess as he continued to monitor their surroundings.

“I’m very well aware that I owe my life to my bodyguard,” Princess Miriam said, the slightest quaver in hervoice. “But why that occasions criticism from you, I can’t imagine.”

“My criticism is of the rest of your guards, Your Highness,” said Lord Armand crisply. “And indeed, of the state of your country.”

“Peace, Lord Armand,” said Cassius sharply, for the second time. He was no more impressed with the events than the nobleman, but he was sensible enough to recognize that, given Princess Miriam had been the clear target, it was unlikely the Siqualian crown was behind the attacks. He could even acknowledge that it wasn’t unreasonable for the Siqualians to suspect foul play from Carrack. “Accusations will get us nowhere.”

“Your Highness.” One of the Siqualian guards had approached across the grass. His brows were drawn together as he addressed Prince Theodore. “The trees are clear. Both attackers are dead, and there is no sign of others.”

“Anything on them to indicate who they were or what their purpose was?” Prince Theodore asked, raising a hand in a futile attempt to shield his face from the rain.

“Nothing is immediately obvious, Your Highness,” the guard said. “Their bodies will be transported to the castle for examination. There does not appear to be any imminent danger.”

“So you claim,” Lord Armand scoffed. “It is very clear to me that lawlessness prevails in Siqual, and that not even the royal guards are capable of managing the risk of travel on your roads.”

“I beg your pardon, My Lord,” the head guard said in stiff tones, “but my men are perfectly capable of protecting—”

“They are not,” Lord Armand cut him off rudely,flicking moisture from his cloak. Pointlessly, since rain was still hammering down on it. “If it were left toyour men, the princess would be dead right now, and quite possibly others of us may have followed.”

“The danger is past for the moment,” Cassius told Lord Armand firmly, not appreciating how the nobleman was speaking for their party. “Since it seems our meeting place was known, we will not continue toward it. I intend to set out back to Carrack immediately.”

“An excellent plan, Your Highness,” Lord Armand said. “And with additional protection.” He pointed at the young bodyguard. “I want that boy to join your guard detail.”

Instant protests arose from the two Siqualian royals. The bodyguard said nothing, but his head swiveled toward them, dispelling the illusion that he wasn’t listening to their conversation.

“Lord Armand,” Cassius said warningly. He didn’t voice the rest of his thought, which was that he didn’t need or want a stripling bodyguard to protect him, no matter how skilled the boy was with magic.

“It will be worth our while, Your Highness,” Lord Armand insisted. “He used the movement of an incoming weapon to fuel that weapon’s destruction. That is advanced defensive magic.”

“I stay with the princess.”

The bodyguard spoke for the first time. He sounded like he was trying to speak gruffly, but his voice came out strange, almost warbling.

“And the princess is not going anywhere with your party,” Prince Theodore said curtly. “Not after the insults you’ve seen fit to level against our kingdom, and certainly not after an attack on her life by an unknown enemy. We will return to Sindon immediately, and if yousee fit to return to Carrack rather than accompanying us, we certainly won’t hinder you.”

“Then we will take the bodyguard,” Lord Armand insisted, the words muffled by the steady roar of the rain. “We will not tolerate being deserted to the anarchy of your roads while you return to your own castle with full protection.”

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