Page 39 of Jeweler to the Blessed
We stopped before the large wooden door Vaddon had dragged me through previously. Two guards stood on eitherside of it.
Hart nodded to them. “The jeweler to meet with the prince.”
The guard on the right stepped forward. “We’ll take it from here.” The adamas glowed green before the guard’s following words. “Do you intend to harm the prince?”
The tingle of magic danced across my neck, but the guard’s power was faint. I hadn’t found a persuasion, calm, or now nightmare I couldn’t avoid. This was no different. What little I could see of Hart beneath the visor showed his lips pressed into a thin line in the other guard’s direction.
I answered the guard. “No.”
The green glow of his ring deepened as he urged a response. “It’s alright, you can tell us.”
The magic at least pressed against my skin this time. It didn’t make a difference. Not that it mattered, but harming the prince wasn’t on my priority list. He was maybe the only person I knew who didn’t want me dead and claimed interest in finding Alaric.
In the end, the truth was irrelevant. I could speak the answer they needed with a straight face. “I don’t mean him any harm.”
My gaze met the shadow of Hart’s beneath his helmet as the guard ushered me forward. He looked at me with a curiosity I wasn’t sure I wanted.
“I’ll be here when you’re done,” he said.
I swallowed and stepped into the room.
“Ah, Emberline.” The prince closed a book on his desk and stood from his seat. “Please come in. I’m so glad you’re here.”
His mood was more chipper than I expected. I reminded myself that Prince Elias was the mouthpiece of the royal family. He finessed messages many would dislike every day. Nothing would get done if he silently stewed about yesterday’s events. I shouldn’t expect to see his emotions written plainlyacross his face. Similarly to how I masked my feelings before the Blessed, I’m sure he masked his before … everyone.
“I’m sorry I didn’t meet at the appointed time yesterday.” There was no way he expected me, but something about him made me want to explain myself.
He waved me off. “Your guard reported in. I’m glad you made it out of that mess.”
I guessed that served as notice that Hart wasn’t lying about his guard duties.
“Did you find the one responsible?” I asked.
The Glanmore’s position on the Cursed King was unclear. On the one hand, he was a champion of their goddess, which made him the rightful ruler of Kavios, according to Themis. On the other, he appeared to reject that fate and, given his actions yesterday, aligned himself with those who sought to overthrow the Blessed.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about, Emberline.” He spoke gently, and I heard the exhaustion in his voice.
“I think the Feared already identified me.” Hart and I hadn’t discussed how much of yesterday he’d reported. I had to believe this was relevant information.
“I’m aware. It’s sooner than expected, but it’s why we agreed you’d have a guard.” Elias gestured toward the door. “Was he to your liking?”
I didn’t know how to respond to that. Hart defended me from the Feared. Alaric trusted him, though I still didn’t know why. In all likelihood, he was the seller of the youngleaf I needed for Mother’s tonic. But I couldn’t be blamed for not loving his familiarity with the group that tried to kill me yesterday. Hart had saved me from them, but the connection was … concerning.
I had no idea if he was to my liking. His piercing glare and stupid smirk crossed my mind, and I stretched andflexed my fingers at my side as if to exorcise the image. I cleared my throat. “Yes, thank you.”
“He will be with you at all times during the day. You’ll move into your uncle’s rooms in the castle. And we’ll have other guards stationed outside the door at night.”
I swallowed. This was a logical step for my protection, but it did hamper my ability to search for Alaric and sort out Mother’s tonics. Neither could be done if I died, though. It was a grim thought, but it grounded me. I’d deal with the inconvenience later.
Expecting no objection, the prince continued. “I wanted to give you the list of orders we have for the Selection.”
“Of course. I went to Alaric’s shop this morning to look for it without disturbing you, Highness, but I’m afraid I couldn’t find it.”
He toyed with the gold chain around his neck, holding his adamas pendant, before pulling another paper from his desk. “We need four new pieces and one enhancement.” Handing it to me, he continued. “These are the designs for the new pieces. I think Alaric had the design for the enhancement in his book.”
I’d have to check it more thoroughly that afternoon. “And … has there been any sign of Alaric?”
The prince looked at me with pity. “I’m afraid not. The guards have been a little occupied since our last conversation.”
