by Eve Langlais
“Here where?” she asked.
“Breakfast!” squealed Charlotte, running off.
Before Casey could follow, he grabbed her arm. “If you want to know about my past, then ask me. Don’t trick my daughter.”
She pulled free. “I’ll speak to whomever I please to ensure I get the truth.”
“The truth isn’t always simple.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m intelligent enough to figure that out. If you’ll excuse me, I have a princess to guard.”
Chapter 5
If Casey had expected a dining room for just the three of them, she was mistaken. They entered the busiest, noisiest room yet. Just about everyone in there nodded, waved, or shouted a good morning to the king and his daughter.
Casey did her best to remain unnoticed, which didn’t do much good given she followed the man drawing all the eyes. With so much focus on them, it would be difficult to spot someone paying undue attention. Damn that Titan. There were half as many people in this room than in Haven itself.
Roark moved to a sideboard set up buffet style. The princess went first, picking at the food, grimacing when her father pointed to something, grinning as she took two round pieces of fruit and then a few crispy pieces of something that might be meat. Whatever it was, when it was her turn, Casey put some on her plate, including the eggs she recognized and a few items she didn’t. At least it seemed as if she’d eat well. No slop for her.
The king might encourage a bit of a casual dining experience, but he sat at the head of the table in a chair more ornate than the others. A subtle reminder of his power. Charlotte ditched his company to join some children at a smaller table set by a window.
Casey chose to stand by a drape and eat off her plate, her gaze roving, listening to the many tidbits.
“…harvest will be a week early meaning we need to clean out…”
“…heard there was a golem in the castle last night. Korly says he saw it climbing the wall.”
“What happened?”
“The king killed it.”
The king did not, but they assumed him capable. Perhaps he was. Or perhaps not. He had a lot of scars, suggesting he didn’t know how to get out of the way of sharp objects.
The crispy strip of meat she ate brought an unexpected moan of pleasure to her lips. Her second bite, she closed her eyes and savored the salty crunch. By the time she finished the unexpected treat and opened her eyes, it was to see the king staring right at her. Intently.
Enough that her cheeks heated, and it made no sense. Embarrassment over what? Enjoying a piece of—
“—bacon?”
Casey blinked and turned her gaze down. Charlotte held out a strip of the yummy stuff.
“What did you say?”
“I’m not hungry for my bacon. Want it?”
Snatching it, Casey did her best not to moan, and instead kept her eye on the king. He’d gone back to his conversation with Titan, who’d arrived and sat by his side. Behind the king’s chair, stood a woman with dark skin and dark hair pulled back taut, quite beautiful, wearing the uniform of the guards.
“That’s Anita,” Charlotte said, handing up another piece of bacon.
Casey crunched into it and decided Haven really needed to trade for some of it. “She’s your father’s personal guard?”
“I guess. She’s around a lot.”
Casey surmised the rest. Anita must be the king’s lover. Being a guard would make it easy for them. “Do you like her?”
“She won’t let me play with her sword.”
For some reason, Casey found herself offering. “I’ll let you practice with my knives later. On a real target.”
“Can we give it a face?”
“No.” Casey couldn’t help but laugh at the word.
“Pity.” The princess then began to talk to the girl across from her, while Casey found herself once more watching the king.
Even more annoying, he appeared to be keeping an eye on her. Did he still doubt who she was?
Given the window overlooked a courtyard that was several stories high, she moved from the children’s table and took the seat opposite Titan, on Roark’s right hand. She had a clean line of sight to the princess.
She’d not brought her empty plate, but the king had some bacon on his, though it was damp looking as if he’d poured something on it. It didn’t stop her from grabbing a piece, despite knowing the rudeness of it. She wanted to see how he’d react.
She put the sticky strip of bacon in her mouth. Something sweet hit her tongue along with the salt. She moaned.
Who knew chewing could be pure bliss? Titan appeared annoyed, probably because Roark didn’t pay him any mind. His gaze appeared intent on Casey’s lips.
Titan cleared his throat. “You never answered. Can I borrow her?”
The king might not have replied before, but he’d apparently been listening because he said, “Yes. You may have Charlotte for the morning, as I’ve other plans for Casey.”
“Care to run those plans by me first?” She arched a brow and stole another piece off his plate. What had he drizzled on the bacon to make it sticky and delicious?
“You professed a desire to speak to those I’d captured. Or did you change your mind?” Roark snared the last piece of bacon and ate it.
How wrong was it to have to physically hold herself back from snatching it and eating it herself? Casey flicked her gaze at Titan. “She doesn’t leave your side until I return to take over.”
“If Titan can’t, I’ll mind Charlie.” The soft offer from the guard behind the king drew her gaze.
Up close, the woman was even prettier. Didn’t make her capable. Casey eyed the sword at her side, the gun on the other hip. Could she actually use them? “No one watches Charlotte unless they’ve been vetted by me, meaning I’ll need to see your skills first.”
The guard bristled at the implication. “I can protect her.”
“Then you’ll have no problem proving it. This afternoon. You and anyone else you are thinking of having around the princess.” She directed the last to Roark.
“Does that include me?” the king drawled.
“Yes.”
His eyes damn well sparkled, and his lips curved. “I can’t wait.”
Shortly after, she watched Charlotte skipping off by Titan’s side, Anita trailing behind them but not before sending her a dark look. Other people had spared them curious glances but kept their thoughts to themselves. A good thing. Twitchy didn’t even start to describe her current state with so many eyes on her, and just as many on the king. How annoying to suffer that kind of attention all the time. Then again, perhaps he was the type to bask in it.
As they left the dining area, Roark felt a need to talk. About bacon of all things. “I take it that was your first time eating bacon.”
“What gave it away?”
“The foodgasm you enjoyed. It was hard to miss.”
“A food what?”
A wicked smile emerged as he explained. “A term used for extreme enjoyment when eating.”
“I didn’t know such a thing was possible,” she mumbled.
“Given you obviously have a sensitive palate, we’ll have to see what kind of meals our chef can prepare.”
“You want to do it on purpose?” She arched a brow.
“If you’d only seen your face…” he murmured. As he strode, he grabbed a cloak someone handed him and swung it around his shoulders. It was then she realized they’d been walking toward the castle entrance, which was one little door set within a big one.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To see Liandra as you requested.”
“I just need a location.”
“I’d prefer to show you.”
“Don’t you have to be a king?” Surely, he had better things to do than act as a guide.
“Being a king involves the people seeing me amongst them.”
“Whereas my job requires them to not notice. Having them all throw themselves to the ground
playing to your vanity won’t accomplish that.”
His brows drew together in annoyance. “I don’t make anyone bow.”
“You might not make them, but they do it anyway.” She’d seen it. People couldn’t seem to help offering gestures of obeisance—or was it respect? She began to see what Titan had tried to explain about the loyalty these people had to their king.
“If you’re asking to move about unseen, then it is easy enough to arrange.” He stepped to the side once they exited—onto an actual drawbridge, the kind that could be raised. He pulled the hood of the cloak over his head and turned away. When he faced her again, he’d changed into someone else. Different colored eyes and hair. Even a beard covered his jaw.
It startled her enough that Casey recoiled. Her knife found its way into her hand. “What the fuck!”
“You wanted us to go about unfettered by recognition. You’re welcome.” The voice was the same, but the features all wrong.
“You do not get to be blasé about this. What happened to your face?”
“Mind ravaging, as you so rudely called it, isn’t the only gift I have.”
“This is useful.” She didn’t ask, just reached for him, her fingers brushing flesh. She felt nothing different, except for an odd current. It made her heart race. Probably an aftereffect of his Deviant power.
Although this was beyond head-talking and moving shit around. He’d changed into someone else.
“It might help if you didn’t keep rubbing me as if you can wipe it off. I do have to maintain the guise after all.”
She removed her hand and began to walk. “Is it hard?”
“Yes.” Said through gritted teeth.
“Whose face are you wearing?”
“Not someone living if that’s what you’re asking.”
Which led to her question. “Did you kill him, the man whose face you now wear?”
“Does it matter?”
She remained silent and watched as they left the castle, just two casual strangers out for a stroll in the city. Had it just been her, she would have found a shadow and slipped into it, but she wasn’t entirely ready to let the king know all her secrets. He had revealed more than a few of his own, making her wonder just how many more still hid.
“How long has this city been here?” she asked.
“Depends on who you ask.”
She glanced at him. “Seems straightforward to me. You can tell it’s been around a while.”
“A long time since it was built, yes. But circumstances led to it being abandoned, and it remained defunct until about ten years ago when I chose it as my home.”
“Is that when you began bossing its inhabitants around and calling yourself king?” She kept her voice low, but no one paid them any mind as they walked through streets that were stained by damp patches, but tidy.
“I was alone for the first year. It wasn’t until I’d been here almost two that people began moving in. And then that number started doubling and tripling when they heard I was offering them safety.”
“The Enclave didn’t stop you?”
“If you’re talking of the leaders of the Sapphire territory, it should be noted that it now mostly consists only of the port city. They more or less abandoned the hamlets and all other locations more than a few hours away because they claimed the effort to maintain them wasn’t worth it. The swamps don’t have much that they want.”
She looked around before saying slowly, “I’d say there’s a city full of people that wouldn’t agree.”
“The marshes provide many things, and what they don’t, we trade for. So in a sense, Sapphire was right. They still get the same things as before but without exerting an effort.”
“You mean to tell me you’re a trader?” She shook her head.
“As opposed to what? What exactly do you think leading involves? It’s not just about providing an armed force to protect the citizens.”
“But still, you’re basically a glorified merchant.”
“A much safer occupation than what Haven used to indulge in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You raided shipments meant for the domes.”
“You got a problem with it?”
He shrugged. “Not really. Your thieving from the Emerald crown took attention away from what I was doing here. Without even realizing it, you’ve been an ally in my fight.”
“We did it to survive.”
“Amazing what we can justify when using that word.” He stopped abruptly outside a building painted in numerous bright clashing colors. “We’re here.”
She eyed the strange building. Only one old man guarded the door with a spear that held him upright.
“Business?” the old codger said in a raspy voice.
“You don’t need to know our business,” Roark replied, and despite Casey not seeing the king do anything untoward, the guard stood aside.
The moment they stepped inside she could hear young voices reciting in cadence. “A is for apocalypse, may it never come again. B is for the bounty that the marshes give. C is—”
She tuned out to ask Roark, “What is this place?”
“A school,” he said, leading her farther inside where she could see the doorways, closed and yet she could peek inside via the windows. See the rows of chairs behind long tables with children seated, writing on paper while speaking aloud. Doing their alphabet.
In Haven they did their best to teach, but this was organized, intentional education. It could mean only one thing. “You start the brainwashing young.”
He laughed, a loud boisterous sound that wasn’t his own but echoed of his personality. “You really are suspicious.”
“You didn’t deny it.”
“Because I guess in a sense it’s true. The students do learn about the Marshlands and Eden and their king. They are taught the rules. Just like I’m sure Haven has its own set.”
“What else are they indoctrinated with?”
“Everything we can think of. From math to reading and writing. We even teach geography with the warning that the rules are different if they leave the Marshlands.”
“You’re talking about an actual education?”
“I am.”
“Who pays for it?” Because it seemed well equipped and organized.
“I do.”
The reply surprised her. “Why?”
“Because stupid people do stupid things.” He rolled his shoulders. “Education is the only way.”
“Haven could use something like this.” Especially once they truly settled in. That was when the babies would come and would need a school where they could be raised with knowledge of the world and not be slaves to the Enclave like some used to be in the Emerald Kingdom.
“I’m sure something could be arranged.”
“I wasn’t asking you to set one up.” She frowned at him.
“Haven is a part of the Marshlands, meaning they can request and receive aid from their king.” He said it so casually, but that didn’t curb her disdain.
“Buying their respect?” She snorted. “Don’t expect them to bow.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’ve never asked.”
“But you like to be called ‘Your Highness.’”
His lips quirked. “Sometimes it’s good to remind people of who I am and why they should listen.”
“Because you think you’re smarter than everyone.”
“Not everyone.” He winked, this time showing his normal face, which she preferred.
The fact he could change it proved fascinating. Some might have been disturbed, but Casey wondered if it was something she could ever hope to learn. The uses she’d have for it…
He spoke again. “Let me ask you, since you don’t believe in having a king to rule, what kind of system would work for the Marshlands do you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“You keep scoffing at the fact I want to lead, to ensure a well-running city and kingdom.”
>
“I question your motives.”
“Can’t I just want to help?”
She snorted. “You don’t strike me as the altruistic kind.”
“I’m not.”
“Which is why you tax the people.”
“Not much, but if they’re going to expect the roads to be maintained and for an army to protect them then, yes, a tithe will be made. Let me ask, in a place like Haven, how are big purchases that are for the group funded?”
“We don’t buy things often.”
“Because you don’t want to or can’t afford to?”
She saw where he was going. “We don’t have the means to buy anything.”
“Yet. But it will come, because already I hear Haven is branching out and delving into trade opportunities.”
“Which you’ll tax.”
“Yes. But can you say that Haven gets nothing out of it? Did you know there are patrols keeping the Haven Outpost on their circuits? Have you ignored the supplies we’ve sent for rebuilding? The communication network? By all accounts, your Haven is thriving. And can you tell me the number one reason why that’s happening?”
“Are you trying to get me to say it’s because of you?”
“Let’s see, previously you were living in hiding, scrounging and raiding for a living. Now you’re in a village with enough homes for privacy, a thriving trade starting, and growth. Let’s not forget the quality of food has gone up.”
She couldn’t deny she ate much better since coming to the Marshlands. As for her living conditions, they were more than fair and within the castle, bordered on downright luxurious. “You are looking for a compliment.”
“I’d say I’ve earned a bit of pride in what I’ve done. I’ve given the people stability they need to finally thrive.”
“So long as they obey your rules and pay their taxes.”
“Does it seem to be working?”
The parts she’d seen of this massive, thriving city made her realize that the things that worked in a little place like Haven would become complicated when multiplied.
“I guess you’re doing good.”
“Guess?” He arched a brow.
“Decent. Not too bad.” She managed to say it with a straight face, and for a moment, he sobered. Then that smile of his—the wicked one that pulled his lips and brought a shine to his eyes—appeared.