Page 14 of A Touch of Royalty

BREAKFAST

Cas was hovering out in the hallway like he was awaiting punishment. Like he was a child, waiting for his betters to discuss his wrongdoing.

But all he was truly waiting for was for Emryn to bathe and dress and be ready to receive them for breakfast.

She’d finally woken up. It had been a solid week since he’d come upon her on the floor of the hallway being stood over by Asan. The First Wizard of Rodilla was still in residence in the palace, and while he’d reassured Cas that what had been done was fixable, Cas still had no idea what it was.

And he couldn’t ask either. Asan had made it quite clear that he would only explain it when the both of them could be present. That way, he didn’t have to explain it twice.

Or at least that was what Asan had said while Emryn was still unconscious.

And for the entire time that she had been, Cas had been enduring that weird flutter in his head and in the base of his soul. He hadn’t been able to get Asan to answer that series of questions, either.

Finally, the door to Emryn’s rooms opened, revealing Shana, who curtsied to him. “Healer Emryn will see you now.”

“Thank you, Shana,” Asan said, setting a hand in the center of Cas’ back and propelling him forward into the room where Emryn was standing next to the little round table.

It had been set for three, but all Cas could see was the way her knuckles were white as she gripped the table.

“Sit, Emryn,” Asan said before Cas could cross the room. “Let’s not stand on ceremony and let the food get cold.”

Emryn looked at Cas, who just nodded, smiling as gently as he could. “Asan is right. We should eat before it gets cold.”

He stepped to Emryn’s side, unclenching her hands from the table and helping her sit. “You look lovely, Emryn.”

And she did. Shana had dressed her in a lovely gown of a deep rose that set off her green eyes and the paleness of her hair beautifully. If the gown was slightly too big and hung a little strangely, well, no one could tell when she was seated.

Cas took his seat, followed shortly by Asan, and he rang the bell to call for service.

“What-”

Asan shook his head. “Food first, Emryn. As it seems that all healers are, I doubt you are very good at taking care of yourself.”

Emryn bristled slightly. “I shepherd myself.”

“Not the same thing,” Asan shot back. “Healers work at a near constant magical deficit and, as such, are poor at realizing when they’ve done too much.”

“You’ve done too much when you hit the floor.” Emryn said, as though she was reciting a lesson.

“You’ve been a resident of the floor for rather too long at this point, yes?”

“I’m not certain why.” Emryn picked up her fork and turned it, the silver tines glittering in the light. “I should have recovered long since. I know I’m out of place and unwelcome here.”

“Who has made you feel unwelcome?” Cas leaned forward in his chair.

Emryn shook her head. “I know how the palace healers feel about me being here.”

“They will have to become accustomed,” Asan said, shaking his head. “Because if my theory is correct, you and Cas are about to become rather inseparable.”

Cas opened his mouth, but the door opened and the servants came in with breakfast, serving the food and leaving the dishes on the table before they withdrew.

“What does that mean?” Emryn asked pointedly as she picked up her spoon and looked down at the oatmeal. “Why would His Highness tolerate my presence for longer than needed?”

“How familiar are you with the story of how healing was gifted to humans?” Asan asked, digging into his own breakfast. Asan preferred a simple meal and the oatmeal, fruit, and eggs were a nod to that.

“I’ve read the myth.” Cas said, fiddling with his own fork before spearing a chunk of apple and popping it into his mouth. “Something about the Moon Mother’s guardian birds?”

“Correct.” Asan nodded, before looking over at Emryn. “Are you familiar with the myth?”

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