She had so many questions she even found herself fighting not to argue with him.
Cathyrium? What was he thinking?
Yet, she kept her emotions in control, remembering what he asked of her. She backed him up when needed and did the best she could to hide her surprise when each new bit of information was revealed.
He asked only for my trust, but it feels like I’m giving him so much more.
She wasn’t sure why she went along with what he said, but she knew that if she did otherwise, it would have only made matters worse.
Elyse noticed that none of the nobles dared to meet Jonrell’s eyes as they left the room, except for one.
Illyan.
It was only at that moment that Elyse realized his booming voice had remained strangely silent throughout the council meeting.
What is that snake up to?
she wondered as Illyan approached her brother. The man had always made her uneasy, but after their latest confrontation when he brought up Sacrynon’s Scepter, she had grown especially distrustful of him.
He seems to be everywhere and know everything.
The short man pulled a rolled letter from his robe and handed it to Jonrell while he whispered something that Elyse couldn’t make out. Jonrell nodded but otherwise gave little away as the advisor smiled with a devilish grin and left. He made eye contact with Elyse upon leaving and gave her a wink that sent a chill up her back.
I wonder if he is another of the spies that Jonrell mentioned, earlier. I’d be sure of it.
Jonrell turned back to his sister and smiled. “Gauge, would you excuse us? I would like to speak with my sister in private.”
“Certainly, my Prince,” said Gauge rising.
Elyse laid a hand on his arm. “No. I would like for you to stay.” Then turning to Jonrell, she added. “He is my chief advisor.”
“I understand, Your Majesty. However, I would feel more comfortable discussing certain matters with you first. If you wish to share our discussion with him, then that is your choice to do so.”
Elyse eyed her brother. “Very well. Gauge, I apologize.”
“There is no need to apologize, Your Highness. I will be waiting for you outside the chamber door,” he said.
After the door was closed, Jonrell smiled again. “That went well, don’t you think?”
Elyse stood up. “What just happened?” she asked, realizing how angry the show in the council meeting had made her.
“Well, you took the nobles off guard and sent a message that you won’t be pushed around. They won’t know what to expect next and that is a good thing.”
“You keep saying ‘you’ as if I was the one responsible for their change in behavior. You said everything while I just sat here and nodded and chimed in like some puppet. Is that why you don’t want the throne? Because you can just as easily rule through me without any of the blame?”
“Of course not. We talked about this last night. You can be a great ruler but I thought it best if you had help today. I can help you further while traveling to Cathyrium.”
“Yes, why am I to go to Cathyrium? Isn’t my place here?”
“That isn’t what you told Gauge.”
“I had to think of something.”
“You did well thinking on your feet. That was the perfect answer and it’s an attitude you need to have more often.”
“But I embarrassed Gauge. He didn’t deserve such treatment. He has been a huge help to me since Father’s passing.”
“I’m sure he has,” said Jonrell. “I find it odd that a man who was dismissed by Father years ago is all of a sudden your top advisor.”
“You said that Father was an awful ruler.”
“True. However, I don’t like how much power you have given him in such a short time.”
“Is that why you wanted him to leave the room?”
“Yes. I want you to think about how you distribute information. You should share only enough for your aides to do their jobs.”
“What if I choose to share more with certain individuals?”
Jonrell sighed. “Then so be it. You are the queen and I am at your command. Just be careful and remember all those things I used to tell you as a girl about how people manipulate each other.”
Oh, I haven’t forgotten. And after today, I wonder how much you’re manipulating me.
“You still never answered my question about Cathyrium?”
“I’ll give you an answer later. Not now. You have to trust me Elyse.”
So, you keep saying. Yet you don’t trust me enough to let me in on your plans.
“What did Illyan want? I saw him talking to you,” asked Elyse, changing the subject.
“Oh,” said Jonrell. “This,” he added holding up his hand to display the letter, “is a plan he has for bringing in supplies to Cathyrium. He said he would like to discuss some ideas he has on strengthening our lines.”
“I hope you aren’t actually considering his ideas.”
“I don’t see why not. I haven’t reviewed what he gave me yet but I told him I would meet with him. Stockpiling supplies during a siege is crucial to our success.”
“Maybe
you
should remember what you said about people manipulating each other. His plans always give him an edge and fatten his purse.”
“I would hope so. Otherwise, I would really be suspicious. No one does anything for free. Everyone has an ulterior motive. The sooner you discover that motive, the better. Considering the risks Illyan will have to take to accomplish his goal, it only seems fair he is well paid.”
“Well, he also says he has the kingdom’s best interests.”
“I’m sure he does to some degree, but few men and women are that loyal to an ideal.”
“Gauge is.”
“Is he?” asked Jonrell, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Interesting,” said Jonrell.
“Now what does that mean?” asked Elyse, growing agitated.
“Nothing, right now,” said Jonrell. “I’ve stated my opinion.”
Yes, you have. How can you claim to know someone so well when you’ve barely spoken to him and been gone for so long?
The thought reminded her of another question, tugging at her mind. “How did you know Adein and Vicalli were spies?
“They were spies twelve years ago. Only Father failed to do anything about it. To prove they hadn’t changed their ways, I sent a couple of my men into the city a bit earlier and had them feed Adein and Vicalli some false information to see what they would do with it. We intercepted their messengers carrying the information to Bronn and Conroy.”
Elyse’s stomach twisted. “Are they planning to attack as well?”
“I doubt it, but no one can say for sure. Regardless, my move accomplished two goals. It removed the worst of your council and sent a message to the others.”
“You said you know who the other spies were as well? Is that true?”
“Yes and no. As you said, I’ve been away too long to know all the dynamics of the nobility. I’m just giving them something to think about that may sway their loyalty. However, I have ideas on a couple I may be able to feed false information to and add to the confusion.”
“Oh.”
Jonrell paused. “I’d like to leave in two days and that doesn’t give us much time to prepare for the journey and see to the kingdom’s affairs. I hope you weren’t planning to get to bed early.”
Elyse shook her head. “I don’t sleep well anymore.”
“I understand.” He let out a sigh and continued. “Well, then let’s go. I want to look over what you and Grayer have accomplished. Then we can see to…”
Jonrell kept talking as he went over the agenda for the next couple of days. Elyse missed half of what was said as she focused on one thought.
How can he be this organized and have everything down so well after being gone for so long? I never left and I feel like an idiot.
Chapter 20
Tobin strolled through the market, eating steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves. He shared a conversation with Lucia as she looked over the day’s ware. It was the second time in as many days that the two had shared lunch and he felt at ease in her company for the first time in months.
Jober was courteous enough to give them privacy, but never far enough away where Tobin felt that he was truly alone with Lucia.
The disdainful way he looks at me makes it seem like I was the one responsible for Kaz’s disappearance.
Tobin gave the former stable hand a sidelong glance.
Has he forgotten how much better his life is as a result of that night? He never did thank us for what we did for him.
“What do you think of this material?” asked Lucia.
He looked at the roll of light blue fabric mixed with shades of maroon. He imagined he was alone with her, and she stood before him in his bedchamber wearing a fine silk dress made from the thin material. He imagined it hugging the contours of her body.
She would have been mine if Kaz hadn’t stolen her from me.
“Do you hate it that much?” she asked.
“What?” Tobin said blinking away his desires.
“I asked you a question but all you gave me was a blank look.”
“Sorry, I was just thinking of how beautiful you would look in a dress made from the material.”
Lucia put her head down and despite her dark skin, Tobin could see she was blushing. “It is lovely,” she said.
“I think the material would be so lucky to have you wear it. Of course, no other woman would dare wear it afterward since they would never do it the same justice as you.”
She blushed again but this time looked up at Tobin and smiled.
So beautiful.
“I think I will buy the material then. I’ve never cornered the market before,” she said giggling. “You know, I think I forgot just how much you used to cheer me up.”
Tobin moved closer to her so they were only a couple of feet apart. “I only speak the truth, Lucia. You are an amazing woman. Anyone unable to recognize that would be a fool.”
“Kaz used to tell me the same thing,” she said, her voice distant as if remembering some past moment she had shared with Tobin’s brother.
The mention of his name extinguished some of the hope Tobin had felt a moment earlier.
“I miss him so much.”
“I know it is hard to do, but you must let him go.”
“You speak like he’s dead.” she said looking up at Tobin, her face filled with betrayal.
“It has been months and we have heard nothing about his abduction or disappearance. Not even a letter seeking ransom,” said Tobin, feeding his previous lies. “I see no other possibility.”
“How can you believe that? You are his brother. You know the kind of man he is.”
A cold, callous, evil man
, Tobin thought, though he dared not say so. “He was not invincible,” said Tobin, settling on a response.
“He’s not dead. I know him. He will come back to me,” said Lucia. There was a certainty to her tone that said she would not be swayed. “I know others think I am a fool for believing so, but your father thinks the same.”
Tobin winced at the bitter reminder. Even if his attitude toward Tobin had improved, Bazraki still had not shown him the same level of respect he had shown Kaz.
At least more of the Kifzo are accepting my command each day.
Because of these small improvements in his life, Tobin had finally convinced himself to see Lucia again. She was the last piece of the life he had always wished for. He was not foolish enough to think that something would develop immediately between them, but Tobin also hadn’t realized his dreams lay so far outside his reach.
She clings to Kaz’s memory as if he is all she had. What about me?
“My father is a fool in denial,” said Tobin.
“Does that mean that I’m a fool, too?” she asked, hurt from the comment. “Or Jober for that matter?” she said pointing to her bodyguard, leaning against a nearby wall, watching their conversation. “He thinks it’s possible for Kaz to be alive.”
“Of course he would,” Tobin muttered under his breath, shooting Jober a look that caused the man to turn away.
“What was that?” asked Lucia.
“Nothing,” snapped Tobin, turning back to Lucia. “Don’t live your life for a ghost, Lucia.”
Tobin stalked away before Lucia could respond.
It only stands to reason that what I want most out of life is the thing that still alludes me. Kaz, you haunt me even in death.
* * *
The two Kifzo Tobin personally chose to watch over Odala and Soyjid, greeted him as he approached the lone entrance to the captive’s rooms. The guards were less aggressive than most of the other warriors. Such an attribute caused Tobin to select them for their task, wanting to ensure that none would question his visits, especially as their frequency increased.
And why? There is no need for me to be here now.
The warriors stepped aside from the door and Tobin knocked. He was sure that they found it odd for him to announce himself when he had every right to barge into the room. He saw little need to intimidate someone who was already uneasy in their surroundings and posed no threat to him. After some noticeable shuffling from behind the door, a muffled voice called out for him to enter.
Furnished as lavishly as the rest of the palace, the room contained a pair of padded chairs around an ornate table and a stone fireplace. A canopied bed covered in blue silk sat near a doorway that led to an adjoining room. Along the wall, in the middle of the room, a large bay window with curtains drawn up, allowed sunlight to spill into the space. Odala stood by the window.
He was ashamed to admit that she was the reason for his regular visits.
The way she stands, the shine of her skin, the grace in how she carries herself. But like Lucia, she is beyond my reach.
Tobin lowered his gaze, ashamed of the lustful thoughts for one so young. He knew in many ways it wasn’t Odala that he lusted after, but such a revelation did little to ease his mind.
After all, I am here to torture myself once again—to remind myself what I will never have. Why do I do this?
“Does your father wish to speak with me?” she asked.
As always, Tobin was surprised to hear such a mature voice from the young woman. “No,” said Tobin.