by Erin Beaty
“How do you feel?” she asked, sitting on the bed and leaning down for a kiss. “A lot of the swelling in your face is down.”
“Better now that I’ve seen you again, but very sore,” he admitted.
Sage looked over some of his bandages, touching him more than she probably needed to, but he didn’t complain. “Do you want to stay here tonight? Banneth was worried you wouldn’t be up to it.”
“I think another bath will do me good.” He’d been unconscious for most of it, but last night they’d kept him in a medicinal bath for several hours.
She stood and began unbuckling her sword belt. “I’ll call for it, but me first. Even I can smell how bad I stink.”
Alex pushed himself upright as she headed toward the bathing room. “You know that tub is large enough for both of us,” he called.
“Don’t tempt me.”
An hour later, he was soaking as Sage prepared for dinner with the king and Minister Sinda. After Alex assured her he was covered, she walked in the room, wearing a forest-green dress with draped sleeves. The style hugged her slender figure and left much less to the imagination than the full, billowy outfits Demoran women wore. “Please tell me you’re bringing that dress with you when we return to Demora,” he said.
She smiled and sat on a stool next to him. The scent of orange blossoms and jasmine washed over him. Not the lavender and sage he was used to, but it didn’t bother him as much as he might have thought. “What shall I tell Banneth?” she asked. “Are you well enough to help? No one will think less of you if you aren’t recovered.”
Did she really expect him to hide in her room while assassins were in the palace? “I’m fine,” he assured her. She nodded and twisted her hands in her lap, biting her lip. “Trust me, Sage.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “It’s … well, it’s…” Sage took a deep breath. “Banneth wasn’t quite honest when he said I’d turned down his proposal.”
“I see.”
“But I hadn’t said yes, either,” she rushed to say. “I promised him an answer in a few days.”
“Sage—”
“He only wanted to assure our safety and force the council to talk to the Demorans when they arrived, rather than fight.”
“Love—”
“He doesn’t love me. It was purely political, for peace. He told me we didn’t have to have children.”
“Sage—”
“I only considered it because I didn’t want to go back to Demora if you weren’t there.”
Alex had already made peace with the idea, given that she’d thought he was dead. He sat up and brought his face close to hers. “I wouldn’t have blamed you for saying yes, Sage.”
She blinked, tears collecting in her lashes. “Is that truth?”
“Truth,” he whispered before kissing her long and hard. She looked like she needed it. Alex sat back, trying not to wince, and added, “If you’d still said yes after you’d found me, then I’d be worried.”
Sage wiped her eyes and laughed. Sweet Spirit, he’d missed that sound. He’d never do anything to make it go away again. “All right. I have to leave. The healers will bandage you this time.” She stood, and he was free to admire her again.
“You’re only wearing one knife,” Alex said, hissing in pain as his torn and bloody wrists slipped back into the water.
“Lani says two look ridiculous when wearing a dress.” She fingered the letters on the hilt. “It’s yours. No matter how much I hang on Banneth tonight, I’ve got your initials at my waist.”
Alex frowned a little. “But you normally carry two.”
“Yes, so?” She cocked her head to the side.
Realization dawned on her, and Alex nodded. “Maybe we should consider changing our plan slightly.”
97
SAGE WAS IMPRESSED by Lani’s composure throughout dinner. When Minister Sinda took her hand to kiss it in greeting, the princess traced her fingers over the distinctive stones he wore in his rings with a flicker of anger in her eyes, all traces of doubt swept away. After that she smiled and giggled through the first two courses, casting her eyes on him every few minutes and playing the giddy bride-to-be. The wine may have helped.
As for Sage, her anxiety wasn’t difficult to disguise as nervousness over Banneth’s coming announcement. Twice he reached for her hand, and she flushed and tried to look back doe-eyed. Sinda frowned slightly each time.
Banneth had suggested leaving Nicholas out of the evening, saying it only increased the chances something would be given away, but Sage was unwilling to let the prince out of her sight. If Alex was right, there might be an opportunity while they were at dinner to catch one or both of the assassins. She didn’t want to risk something happening to Nicholas while Alex and Darit were busy. Banneth needn’t have worried, though. Nicholas played his role well.
When Sinda asked Banneth if he could marry Lani, she blushed and then cried when the king granted his permission. The princess’s limit, however, was reached when Sinda went to kiss her. Lani turned her cheek to him.
“Don’t think you can take liberties now,” she said teasingly as she met Sage’s eyes with a different look entirely. Sinda kissed Lani chastely and returned to his seat.
Banneth cleared his throat and took Sage’s hand again. “I had not thought to say anything yet, but now seems opportune.” He raised Sage’s fingers to his lips and looked at her in a way that made her wonder if he’d been truthful when he said he didn’t love her. “This afternoon I asked Mistress Saizsch to marry me.”
Nicholas cheered and jumped up to kiss Sage on the cheek, then went to shake the king’s hand while Banneth looked genuinely puzzled at the gesture. In the corner of Sage’s vision, Sinda tensed, then recovered and smiled. Lani beamed at him. “Isn’t it wonderful, Dev?”
“Most wonderful,” he replied, raising his glass. “I wish Palandret all the happiness I expect to have.” He took a sip without waiting for anyone else to join his toast. “When does My King intend to tell the council?”
“Tomorrow,” said Banneth. “With the Demorans coming, I wish to proceed as soon as possible.” He glanced at Sage meaningfully. “The sooner this union is cemented, the better for both nations.”
Sage flushed and looked away. Sinda’s smile widened.
For the rest of the meal, they discussed when the weddings should be held and who should be involved. Minister Sinda insisted no money for his and Lani’s should come from the treasury, that he would bear the cost himself.
The hard gleam in Lani’s eyes told Sage she was tallying every minute of his betrayal for repayment.
98
ALEX NESTLED BEHIND an ornate tapestry in the dark corner of Sage’s dressing room, thinking how funny it was to have such a decorated closet, when he heard the door to the servants’ passage open in the next room. He flexed his hands a few times before going perfectly still and waited for the shadows to go through her room, searching. Not finding what they wanted, the dolofan came into the dressing room and began touching and pressing fabrics and items lying around.
“Here,” one whispered in Kimisar. He slid Sage’s second dagger from under a pile of silk.
Alex recognized Kamron’s profile as he made a face. “You win. I’ll go secure our escape route.”
Stesh tucked the knife in his belt. “I’ll wait in the garden where I can see when he puts the lamp out.”
“Don’t get caught, little brother.” Kamron flicked his ear. “I won’t save your pretty little nose this time.”
The Kimisar made an obscene gesture and slipped out the door. Kamron stayed behind, poking through Sage’s things and tucking a few pieces of jewelry in his vest. Alex had been worried about losing the man while following him, but Kamron’s greedy delay meant Alex was able to take him down right there.
After using several of the silk scarves lying around to bind the Kimisar, Alex poured a triple dose of medicinal tea on the man’s gag. Then he dragged the limp body out of the room and back int
o the servants’ corridor. About halfway there Alex realized he’d overestimated how much his body could take. Though brief, his struggle with Kamron had exhausted him and undoubtedly set some of his healing back a few days. He had to rest every few feet, and it took much longer than expected to reach Banneth’s room.
Originally Alex had planned to be there, waiting with Darit, but when he’d seen Sage dressed for dinner and wearing only one knife at her waist, it occurred to him how she could be blamed, and he decided to wait in her room. Darit’s relief was plain on his face when Alex finally appeared.
“I had to admit, there was a part of me that did not trust your honesty,” the Casmuni told Alex as he took the Kimisar’s legs and helped carry him into the bathing room.
Alex wasn’t insulted. “I have much to atone for with you, Darit,” he said. “Especially as you saved Sage and my prince.” Darit only nodded. Once the Kimisar was set against a wall and his restraints rechecked, Alex collapsed in a corner. The next thing he knew, the king had returned from dinner.
“Saizsch is in her room,” Banneth said, gently shaking Alex’s shoulder. “She will wait for you to return before coming here.”
Alex rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Where is Darit?”
“He left after the guards saw me speak with him. That way he has an excuse to be close when my body is found.” The king pulled a familiar black-handled dagger from his jacket. “Saizsch sends you this.”
“Thanks.” Alex used the wall to help him stand and accepted the weapon. On the opposite side of the room, Kamron was still unconscious, his half-open eyes glazed with the effects of the sedatives.
Banneth watched Alex walk around to loosen his muscles. “I know you are risking your life now for Saizsch and Nikkolaz,” he said after a few silent minutes. “But this is also for me, and I am grateful.”
“I, too, have much to be grateful for,” said Alex simply.
The king hesitated. “I would have treated her well, but I knew that she would never care for me like she cares for you.”
“I know this.” Alex paused to offer Banneth a smile. “That is why I am not angry. Besides”—he looked away because there was a small part of the situation that was painful, even if he didn’t want to admit it—“I cannot blame you for seeing her worth.”
Darit returned then, and Banneth went about preparing for bed as though nothing was wrong. A manservant helped him undress while Alex and Darit stayed out of sight. Once his man was dismissed for the evening, Banneth settled cushions under the bedclothes to make it look like he was there, extinguished the lantern, and slipped back into the bathing room. He’d wanted to stay in the bed as bait, but both Alex and Darit considered that too dangerous. They took places in the corners of Banneth’s silent bedchamber and waited.
Alex almost missed the man’s entry. The assassin came in with a breeze that rippled the sheer curtains leading to the patio. Dark as it was outside, the king’s chambers were darker, giving Alex and Darit a slight advantage. The moon wasn’t up, and Stesh cast no shadow as he glided, wraithlike, into the room. Despite the Kimisar’s intentions, Alex couldn’t help admiring the man’s stealth.
Stesh had his back to Darit’s corner, and as he approached the king’s bed, the Casmuni eased away from the wall. Alex was in his line of sight and didn’t dare move. There was a low hiss as the assassin slid Sage’s knife free of the sheath. One hand reached for the lump on the bed.
The hand froze and the man stepped back.
Darit was still halfway across the room. Before Stesh could turn around, Alex leapt from his corner, resisting the urge to throw his knife—they wanted him alive. The assassin reacted instantly, hurling the dagger in his hand at Alex, but Alex was already diving down to the carpet. His intention had been only to give Darit a chance to get closer. A burning stripe across his left shoulder told him he’d been grazed by the blade. The impact on the floor was far worse, and Alex nearly blacked out from the pain as he rolled into the side of the bed, clutching his bleeding arm.
By the time Alex had recovered enough to stand, Darit was struggling with Stesh on the other side of the bed. For a moment he hesitated, unsure which man was which in the darkness, then the pair separated. Darit’s sword swung out and Stesh deflected it with a curved dagger. Alex flung his knife at the Kimisar’s hand, knocking it away, and Darit sliced around. Stesh dropped to his knees, clutching his middle. Darit kicked him over and stepped on his neck to hold him down as Alex slumped on the bed, gasping.
“Palandret,” Darit called softly. “It is finished.”
99
SAGE SAT IN her room, trying not to vomit from the coppery smell of blood all over her nightdress. It reminded her of waking up drenched in the blood of the first man she’d killed. The man who formerly owned this blood wasn’t dead, though. At least not yet.
She looked down at her hands. The blood on them was actually Alex’s. Everything had gone as planned except Alex had been hurt again. He claimed it was just a scratch, but to him, “just a scratch” meant a half-dozen sutures. Currently he and the dolofan were hidden in Lani’s dressing room, the least likely place anyone would look for the king’s assassins, especially since everyone believed they were already caught. Some of the guards who’d been present when Alex was discovered were with him to watch over the Kimisar. She hoped he was getting some sleep.
Once everything was in place, Sage had run screaming from Banneth’s rooms and across to Lani’s apartment, and Lani, in turn, raised the alarm. Darit had been the first on the scene, after the guards in the outer passage. Because Darit was the king’s close friend and lead rider, all the guards had obeyed him when he ordered the palace locked down. Only council members were permitted to enter the gates, and they were escorted straight to the meeting chamber. Some got a detour to look into the king’s room, but no one was allowed to get close to the body, lest they discover it was still breathing.
Minister Sinda arrived in the middle of it all, neither too early nor too late. Lani had thrown herself at him, sobbing, and Sage suspected she enjoyed smearing as much blood on him as possible. Upon learning it was Sage who discovered the body, he’d ordered her and Nicholas confined to her quarters and the garden searched. She wasn’t surprised when the bloody knife was found buried in the flowers near her patio. After all, she’d chosen the spot.
The four guards in the room imposed silence every time she’d tried to speak to Nicholas, who looked terrified. Though he’d known since dinner there was some sort of ruse going on, Sage hadn’t explained everything, only assured him in their own language that Banneth wasn’t dead, for all he was lying in his bed covered in blood. The council meeting was in full swing by now, and she expected to be called and accused at any minute. She hoped it would be soon. Much as she disliked wearing all this blood, the king had to lie in it.
As the sun rose, Sage began to feel agitated. They’d wanted this resolved by dawn, before the people in the city had a chance to hear the rumors of Banneth’s death. Sinda was likely dragging this out to create maximum panic. Finally, she and Nicholas were called before the council and prodded by guards with spears all the way. They stood before the long table, still wearing their nightclothes, with over a dozen hostile faces staring at them. From the far end of the room, Lani flashed an icy smile.
Minister Sinda stood and addressed everyone, making a long speech about how their nation had nursed two vipers to their chests, that he himself had been deceived by their innocent appearance and swayed by their beloved king’s good but naive intentions. Sage remained calm throughout, taking Nicholas’s hand when he began to tremble. She let Sinda say everything he wanted. His elaborate knowledge and story would only work against him once they were proved false when Banneth simply showed up alive.
Sinda finished his speech and turned to the Demorans. “What have you to say for yourselves?”
“You have no proof,” answered Sage.
“Where were you last night?” Sinda demanded.
&nbs
p; “After dinner with you and the royal family, I stayed up late with Princess Alaniah. As you may recall, you asked the king for his permission to marry her. We had much to talk on.”
The faces around the table looked to one another in surprise. Apparently that hadn’t been mentioned this morning. The minister had probably wanted to wait until he was the hero, when the news would’ve gone over well.
Sinda was unfazed. “I recall another event from that dinner, do you?”
“Dessert was orange custard.”
“Do you find this amusing?” Sinda bellowed. She’d rattled him by not behaving as he’d expected. “The king is dead!”
She blinked innocently. “We hadn’t gotten to that part yet.”
Lani put her face in her hands and sobbed, but Sage suspected she was actually laughing.
“Our beloved king told me that he had proposed marriage to you.”
Sage nodded. “Yes, he did.” Heads reeled again in shock. “But why would I accept, only to kill him?”
“I don’t know,” said Sinda. “Perhaps that was your entire purpose in coming to Casmun, to seduce our king and get close enough to assassinate him. It was you who ‘discovered’ his body in the middle of the night.”
“And yet, I did not kill him,” she said. Alex believed the dolofan would have no reason not to identify the minister as their conspirator, but it couldn’t be depended on, or that the council would accept their testimony. Sinda had to admit what he’d learned about Nicholas—and how, if possible—in front of everyone so Alex’s later testimony would ring true. The question was whether he wanted to hold that back for other purposes.
Sinda gestured to a guard who came forward and set a bloody dagger on the table. The golden SF glittered in the sunlight streaming through the window. “Is this your weapon?” Sinda asked.
Sage barely glanced at the knife. “You know it is.”
“It was found buried in the royal family’s garden, between your quarters and the king’s.”