Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

TAMAS

"Are the letters where they need to be?" With the trials commencing in four days' time, we needed to move quickly. The better it was for us if more of the king's supporters died by his own hand.

"Why are you asking me?" Osmud grumbled.

"I hear the taverns in Burnside have excellent ale."

"They do, and Weselton's wife was very accommodating. I managed both without failing in my duty. Which is a lot more than I can say for you."

I sipped from my goblet and eyed the room, which was abuzz with excitement. "My plan's unfolding nicely."

Henricus sat within his seat at the center of the table, and for the first time since I'd arrived in Tolum, his wife sat at his side. She looked a sickly sight. A pale reminder of her beauty remained, her cheeks now gaunt, her hair losing its luster. I'd seen much sickness in my day, which made me suspicious of this one. The faint tinge of blue on her lips was telling, so too the ashen paste of her complexion, but no one seemed to notice. The king was a bastard for insisting she attend the festivities in celebration of Princess Cirro's arrival, though seeing her now, I wondered if he wanted to hasten her end. It was none of my business, but it spurred my interest in hastening his end.

"Your plan is to dance around the princess?—"

"I've no interest in Princess Cirro."

"Dammit—Bloodwyn," Osmud hissed, anger peeling his mask aside such that he almost said my real name. "You know who I mean. Fuck the woman, then finish it."

I glanced at Osmud, standing to my right. "You're very eloquent tonight."

"I can get more eloquent if you like." He half turned to me, lowering his voice for just the two of us. "I didn't just stop in Burnside."

"That would explain your delay." I moved away from the pillar, leading Osmud to the back of the ballroom where the entire room was visible and no one could lurk behind pillars to hear conversations they shouldn't.

"I went north."

I suspected he would say such. "And?"

"The clans are making their way to the south. Kaldor has granted them leave to camp in Wilhelm. Aric has opened his lands to the south near the Lanrial River."

"And what of their passage through the Ashenlands?"

"Garrat believes it will work."

"How sure is he? He needs to be certain."

"Romelda has not been idle. Since leaving the augur, she's traveled the north, gathering the Nazeen?—"

"Interesting—" I pushed off the wall and strolled, dipping my head to the couple coming our way. The lady smelt as though she'd tumbled into a patch of lilies and rolled around for hours.

Once they'd passed, Osmud came alongside me. We continued our stroll behind the crowds of onlookers, forming a curtain around the dancers in the center of the ballroom. My eyes were forever searching for one person, but I'd yet to find her.

At the far corner, where the chandelier of candlelight failed to reach, I settled against the wall once more.

"It seems she at least understood what that buffoon was saying, and now seems desperate to call the blood-eyed Nazeen to our cause. Unfortunately, she says the last thousand years have not been kind. There are fewer and fewer blooded."

"Any Nazeen by our side is a help. Henricus has agreed to death by trials for the traitors.

"Their focus will be on Andriet."

"And not the passage, or the king. Already a decree has gone out, enforcing his will. All Lords must take part in the trials. By the end, he'll have killed his own council and many of their sons. That shall distract the Creed of Salmun, who'll be busy ensuring their maligned creatures carry out his orders. It's the perfect opportunity for an invading force."

"And Andriet."

"Andriet is no soldier."

"He's a Tannard."

He was a significant friend of Tressya's in this House of Serpents. How would she feel if I killed him?

"I'll focus on the king first."

"What's that over there?" Osmud bit and jerked his head toward Princess Cirro.

She was shockingly young, a dark-haired beauty with a thick spiral of midnight black curls balanced on top of her head. Small and petite, two of my hands would span her waist; one hand would easily snap her neck. For one so young, she was full of grace and poise, her lush red lips pulling into a delicate smile at every introduction. A faint blush flared on her cheeks every time she glanced up at Andriet, who'd dutifully stayed by her side. It seemed the child bride was happy with her match, but Andriet looked stiff and awkward beside her.

At last, I finally caught sight of Tressya, moving toward us along the opposite side of the ballroom, though she'd yet to see us. I took her in with one look, overlooking the opulent gown and elaborate hair accessories to focus solely on her face.

As the king's blade, she remained in disguise.

"The young princess is one more innocent who should never have made it to shore… Are you listening to me?"

He jerked around to follow the line of my gaze. "Stars above, Tamas, you haven't listened to a word I've said. Have you?"

"Your voice is like insects buzzing in my ear."

He spun back to me, moving so he blocked my view of Tressya. "She was better when she was Juel's bride. Now we have trouble."

"Trouble I'm handling."

"Trouble you want to handle. Let me take care of the disciple. You focus on Andriet and the king."

I grabbed Osmud's elbow. "The princess is my responsibility," I said sharply, my tone brooking no argument.

The shock in his eyes almost made me release his arm and excuse my tone.

I had never spoken to Osmud this way. What was I doing? He was my brother, my best and truest alongside Garrat, and I treated him like this?

"I'm sorry, brother."

Osmud yanked his arm from my hold and leaned in, jabbing a finger at my face. "This is the problem." He bared his teeth as he spoke. "She is the problem."

"I don't disagree." Perhaps not in the way you believe . "But let me handle this my way."

I kept a watch on Tressya as she drifted closer, wishing she would confess why she kept me a secret from the king? It had to be because she felt something for me.

Osmud blew out a long breath and turned away from me to stare at the new princess. "She's a child. I can't touch a child."

"Forget Princess Cairo. The king grows impatient. The trials come before her marriage. By then, the bride will have no groom."

"Neither will there be a king," Osmud replied.

I searched out Tressya again to find a nobleman had cut off her path.

"You've done all you can do for now, Osmud. Go find yourself a pretty lady and a tankard of ale. Enjoy yourself while you can."

I left Osmud cursing under his breath and headed straight toward Tressya. Her back was to me, but I wondered if she felt my approach through our link, the bite, and already knew I was here. Biting her removed my element of surprise. But the link between us would be more beneficial to me in the end.

"Princess." I came alongside her and bowed with a flourish as the musicians began another song. "I hope you haven't forgotten our dance." I held out my hand.

To my surprise, she placed her hand in mine. I led her to the center of the room before she could refuse or offer a snide remark. I had expected tension in her body as I brought her in close and resistance to my lead. I even thought she would insist on maintaining a certain distance between us and slap my hand away from her back. However, she did none of those things. Instead, she folded into me as if we were once molded into a single entity. She wasn't a great dancer. Within the first few minutes, she stepped on my feet twice, which made me want to enfold her close and lift her onto my toes, saving her from the hassle of the dance steps and keeping her attention solely on me.

At one point, I caught Osmud's glare, but I spun her away so my back faced him, concentrating on keeping our rhythm and guiding Tressya as best as I could. The room and everyone in it seemed to disappear when she leaned close, almost resting her chin on my chest. That simple gesture made me hold my breath, feeling like I balanced on a precipice, eager to fall. The way her eyes held me prisoner should have concerned me, as well as how staring at her lips obliterated every thought beyond us—her closeness in my arms, her lilac fragrance, warm against her skin, became the most intoxicating poison.

Tressya's head reached my shoulders. She wasn't broad and muscular like Bryra, yet she was already a serious headache for me, one I wanted to endure again and again. Never had a rival been so perilous and yet so enticing.

"I hope I haven't taken your attention from your task as King's blade by drawing you in to dance."

"I know who the real enemy is, Bloodwyn, and it's not the pathetic noblemen of the king's court. That was brilliant of you, by the way."

"I'm glad you think so." My gaze hadn't left her lips. She knew where my eyes lingered and made no effort to draw them away. Did she appreciate my gaze? "What is it that makes me clever?"

I was surprised by my sudden reaction as she pulled away from my suffocating hold. My arm stayed firm around her waist, muscles tensing at the thought of releasing her. The first threat of my claws tingled behind my nail beds. Don't try it, my little princess. I wasn't ready to let her go.

"The demesne of Lord Weselton and Lord Leto are in the north. They abut the Ashenlands."

"Is that so?"

"And your demesne, Lord Bloodwyn, is also far north. Tell me, how many more lords in this new plot we've discovered have lands bordering the Ashenlands?"

I glanced over her head, surveying the room, not focusing on anyone in particular while pretending to ponder her question.

"Quite a few, I would say."

"And how many are also on the council?"

"Not all. I didn't want to be too obvious."

The dance called for a change in partner, so I pulled Tressya away from the circle, forcing the couples on either side of us to scramble in finding their new partners. It was a bold move that drew every eye to us, but by now I no longer cared. If he had them on hand, Osmud would throw rocks at my head, but not even the thought of his fury bothered me.

Tressya went with me, stumbling over my newly devised dance steps, but my strong hold prevented her from falling. Compared to any woman in the room, she was graceless, but in my arms, she became a queen, at least to me.

"I'll protect Andriet with my life," she declared solemnly and with force, a determination I admired, sending a fiery arrow into my loins. With seductive words like that, how could Osmud expect me to ignore this woman? Her mother was blind to think Tressya a compliant disciple. No one could tame this princess. I knew that the first moment I met her. Behind her plain face yet expressive eyes lay fire and a warrior's heart, making her the most beautiful woman in the room.

Yet, her adoration—dare I say love—of Andriet was evident. A man I had to kill.

"I know."

And I'd foolishly allowed myself to be lost in the feel of her in my arms, letting the familiar smell of her become a cherished memory. She felt otherwise. Her deep blue eyes penetrated mine like a lance. There were barbs and arrows in her heart, but I knew there were also flowers. In a spasm of hatred, I loathed Andriet for picking them all before I had the chance.

"What do you know of the Sistern?"

"I know enough to understand you'll fulfill the Mother Divine's command. If it suits you."

She took in what I said, keeping her intense blue eyes on me. Finally, she replied, "Then we have a problem." She leaned close. "Because Andriet will live." There was so much conviction in her words.

Like a fast-flowing river, a hopelessness swept through me. What if I couldn't make her trust me? What if I couldn't win her heart. The idea nearly crippled my restraint. The overwhelming urge to force my kiss upon her humbled me. I wouldn't be gentle. Rather, I'd punish her for the impossible emotions she sparked in me. It would be no kiss of desire. Instead, I would vent the anger boiling in my heart, along with the confusion in my head. I also tasted dread, burning the back of my mouth. It rose like an anvil, lodging heavily in my throat.

"A problem with no way out?" I tried to smile, but it only deepened her frown.

"It appears so. What do we do?"

"We improvise?" I was desperate to reverse the terrible turn this conversation had taken.

"What happens when we meet face to face during the fight?"

"I don't know, princess. You tell me."

My heart seethed with anger over the cruel twist of fate that led me to a woman who captivated my soul, only to be fated to destroy those she cherished. If we were loyal to our fates, we should be mortal enemies, yet here we were, entwined in each other's arms. That had to mean something significant for our future.

When she dragged her eyes from mine, I finally took a breath. She had ceased to cooperate, turning to wood in my arms, so I spun her around, making her gasp. Not letting her catch her breath, and despite her punishing my feet and shins, I spun her again and again, until we were caught in a dizzy spiral. Her laughter washed the gloom from my heart.

It was Tressya who noticed the music had stopped. "Bloodwyn," she whispered, gasping for breath.

I slowed the spin and glanced around the room. "We've made a spectacle of ourselves." But I didn't stop dancing with her, fearing if I did, it would end our time together. Keeping the sway, we shuffled around on the spot.

The whole ballroom watched us, but she seemed immune to their stares, and I loved that about her.

I would spin her again the moment I saw her eyes lose their laughter. She had returned to the real world far quicker than I, which left me scrambling to think of another way to keep us locked in the fantastical dream I'd already created in my head.

"This is what we do," she said. "We each keep going. We do what's required of us. And then, when the time comes, and we find ourselves facing each other on the battlefield... Well, then I guess we decide."

"Are you making a deal with me?"

The twitch of her lips, the promise of a smile, and the sudden heaviness inside of me, threatening to pull me down into a pit, released. A bright light pierced my darkness when her smile won through.

"Yes. It's the only deal I can make."

"Excuse me," came a male voice from our right.

"Lord Bothridge." As fast as a blink, his name came into my mind, so too the aged smell of dust and cluttered rooms.

"Lord Bloodwyn." He dabbed the tears from his rheumy eyes, then flittered a gaze to Tressya, his gray eyes dipping down her body. After a further wipe of his teary eyes, and a twitch of his nose, he turned his attention back to me. "This is rather indelicate of me?—"

"No need to embarrass yourself, Bothridge." I patted him on the arm as I led Tressya from the floor.

Couples parted to form a path for our escape. Many of the ladies hid their mouths behind their fans, but not before I saw their smirks. Damn that I'd kept her out there on the dance floor in front of everyone, giving them the opportunity to mock her in their minds. I glanced at her, hoping to gain a glimpse of how she felt. She walked tall and proud, staring ahead as if there was a better horizon to look at.

We moved to the back of the room, further from the chandeliers and into the shadows. Everyone soon lost interest in us when the music started up again.

I turned her to face me. "I won't put you in that position again."

She huffed a laugh. "You really think something like that wounds me, Bloodwyn?"

I exhaled and, for a moment, closed my eyes, wishing it was my name she spoke and not some pompous moron who favored gambling and whoring more than honor and courage.

I opened my eyes to find her staring at me, her lips slightly parted, and damn if I forgot where my thoughts were going.

"What's your name?" she whispered.

My eyes flared. I almost staggered back with the uncanniness of her question. I shook my head.

"Will I ever see you? The real you?" Said with a hint of longing, I almost dropped my restraint and used my connection with her to peek inside her heart.

My eyes trailed up her body, understanding the gown she wore was her disguise. Beneath was the real Tressya—the woman who held me spellbound, the woman whose loyalty and courage had no equal within this room. Except against me. Which led to our greatest problem. Neither of us could relent on the path of our duty; I had to destroy the House of Tannard, and she had to save them.