Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

_________

T HE CHEERS INCREASE WITH EVERY STEP WE TAKE INTO the banquet hall. Several tables with intricate floral centerpieces are spread throughout the room, and an aisle in the center leads to one on a dais. Cayden gracefully helps me up the steps and escorts me toward King Eagor and Queen Valia, who stand at the front of the raised platform. They have coordinated their outfits to match Vareveth's signature green and gold. Eagor wears an emerald tunic with gold buttons, and Valia wears a modest gold gown with puffy sleeves and an equally full skirt. Her gray eyes flash toward my dagger, and her smile twitches disapprovingly before she recovers.

"King Eagor, Queen Valia, may I present Queen Elowen Atarah," Cayden says, introducing me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Eagor smiles.

I stretch my hand out, expecting him to shake it, but he brings it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles while keeping his green eyes on mine.

"You as well." I flash my practiced smile. "Your castle is lovely."

"It must be nice to be in a castle again. I assume Aestilian doesn't have one?" Valia asks with a broad smile on her face. My hand tightens on Cayden's arm at the subtle jab. Even if her tone is sweet, I can decipher an insult in disguise. Cayden cocks his head, but I open my mouth before he can say anything.

"Any home is a castle with a queen inside." I shrug, seeming unbothered.

"Very true," Valia replies. "I hope you enjoy the feast we've prepared."

"I'm sure you both worked very hard in the palace kitchens," Cayden dryly states before brushing past the pair as if they're no more than strangers and escorting us to our seats. He pulls my chair out and slides it in behind me. "Now, I have someone better for you to meet."

"That's not much competition," whispers a feminine voice beside me. The first thing I notice when I turn my head is a warm smile. She extends a hand in my direction, and I shake it. "Saskia Neredras. I'm the head of intelligence."

"Elowen." I know they just announced me, but it feels better to introduce myself to someone I'll be working with so closely. I note the similarities between her and Ryder—their eyes are the same obsidian color, but Saskia has something warm about her. Maybe it's her round cheeks that lift when she smiles. "Are you Ryder's sister?"

"I am. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She leans forward to address Cayden, her long, midnight box braids falling over her shoulders. "And it's nice to see you home in one piece."

"It's nice to see you haven't died of boredom while Ryder and I were gone."

"The peace was a welcome change." She leans back in her chair, facing me again. "Even if it was short-lived."

"I can still hear you," Cayden mutters into his chalice.

Saskia ignores him. "I hope Valia wasn't too petty."

I glance in Valia's direction, but my eyes catch Finnian's in the chair beside hers. She chatters into his ear while he looks at me with pleading eyes. Ryder subtly rubs his temples like a headache is already forming. "Perhaps she'll warm over time," I say.

"Don't take it personally. She has a knack for jealousy," Saskia replies.

I visibly cringe but cover it up by taking a sip from my chalice. The wine is the perfect blend of sweet and tart.

"Do you like the wine, my lady?" Eagor inquires across the table.

I nod. "Is it made in your kingdom?"

"Indeed. We import it from the north," Valia cuts in. "Do you have wine in Aestilian?"

I place my chalice back on the table and meet the stare of a woman who seems to think we have nothing more than dirt and sticks. "We do."

She places her chin in her hand. "How interesting."

"Do you have a tavern there?" Eagor asks, seeming earnest. I flash my eyes to Ailliard, who gives me a subtle nod to proceed. I've never navigated a court before, and it's good to get a second opinion from someone who has.

"The tavern is one of our biggest buildings along the main road. The bartenders who own it make everything themselves. Their hard cider in the autumn is my favorite." It's a hot cinnamon–apple cider that warms you from the inside out. I go to the tavern almost every other day in the autumn to get a taste of it. Honestly, alcohol is the one thing we have in abundance, but alcohol and empty stomachs never mix well.

"It sounds established." Eagor runs a hand over his blond stubble. He even seems impressed. A tiny sliver of hope wraps around my heart; maybe getting the treaty settled won't be so hard.

Valia giggles loudly as servants carrying gold trays enter the room. "It's hard to imagine an established kingdom I've never seen."

Arguing on the first night isn't exactly the first impression I want to make. Everyone at the table can note the backhanded meaning of her statement.

"I've found that reading has expanded my imagination. Perhaps you should try it some time. I'm happy to supply you with a list of recommendations when I have a free moment," I say.

Her shoulders stiffen slightly. "How kind of you."

I return her fake smile before taking another sip of wine and leaning back in my chair.When wielded properly, words have the power to cut someone down with more pain and precision than any sword.

"Well played, princess," Cayden says.

Servers begin piling our plates with food: gravy-covered chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, and bread with a glorious amount of butter. It's the type of meal I would dream about when all I had to eat that day was an apple. The last month of winter is always the hardest, especially when the frost stays longer than usual. By then, the snow is piled so high that patrols can't get out for raids or hunts, so we must make whatever food we have stretch for as long as we can.

I dip my chicken into the potatoes before bringing the fork to my mouth and fight to hold back a moan when the gravy dances along my taste buds. This is how food is supposed to taste. "I would kiss your chef if I saw them."

"You have a soft spot for chefs? Shall I don an apron over my armor?" Cayden asks.

"I'll only accept the pinkest and frilliest of aprons."

"You have my word."

"How long before we can start working?" I direct my question to them both, keeping my tone low. I glance over the table and am relieved to see Finnian and Ryder lost in their own conversation without Valia.

"What do you mean?" Saskia asks before taking a bite of bread.

"The alliance papers haven't been signed, so I wasn't sure if we must wait." Cayden told me that Saskia and Ryder believe I'm here to work closely with him in war preparations despite Eagor's plan to keep me close to the castle. But I'm not sure if they know about the heist yet.

Saskia waves a dismissive hand through the air. "They'll get signed when they get signed. I'm not a fan of waiting for someone to do their job, so I just do mine. They can catch up."

Oh, I really like her.

"Advisors take forever," Cayden mutters.

"Not a fan of authority?" I poke.

"I'm a fan of getting around authority."

"You're giving a great representation of Vareveth, Cayden," Saskia grumbles.

"I'm providing an accurate one."

"You're a commander. You're the symbol of authority here," I remind him.

"I never said I don't like having authority. I said I don't like people having authority over me." He takes a sip of wine. "While you're here you'll have the option of training with the army. I'd like to work on your footwork."

I narrow my eyes at him. "My footwork?"

"Someone's in trouble," Saskia sings into her chalice.

I pause my retort as servers clear the table and place a strawberry-and-cream-filled cake in front of us. I'm convinced this place is a food utopia. A piece of cake seems like such a trivial thing. It's accessible to so many people that they usually don't think anything of it, but I see my emotions reflected on Finnian's face. To us, it feels like a sunny day after months of rain. I eventually descend from my strawberry-scented cloud and remember I'm annoyed with Cayden.

"Do you not remember when I held a knife to your neck?"

"I actually think about it quite often, but if you want to remind me, you're free to do so." He licks some cream off his index finger, and I force my eyes away.

"I'll work on my footwork when you work on your personality." My tone is sweet despite the venom in my words. "Why are you grinning at me?"

"Everyone in the kingdom fears me, and yet you never miss an opportunity to insult me. I find it enthralling." His eyes scan my face. "I become more intrigued every second I spend in your presence."

"Your thought process is disturbing." His dimples deepen in his cheeks. I angle my body toward Saskia. "I'm electing to ignore you."

"That's mature," Cayden remarks.

"I respect her decision," Saskia says, unable to contain her laughter any longer. It's a light sound filled with mirth and merriment, and I find myself laughing along with her.

"Do you know any good dressmakers in town?" I ask while taking in the details of her dress. Dark purple skirts flow around her hips, and a metallic golden halter bodice covers her chest. It looks lovely on her. I won't be able to get by with the clothes I brought in my trunk for long.

"Plenty." She grins before biting into a strawberry. "I can take you tomorrow."

"You're sure you don't mind?"

She gives me an exaggerated eye roll, and a corner of her mouth lifts. "I've had nobody other than Cayden and Ryder to deal with the last few years. I'd be happy to go shopping with you."