“You’re forgetting that I’d been tortured for a fortnight, and laboring for weeks before that on limited food and water,” Jaren said, causing his mother to pale even more. “I’d also already expended a lot of my magic and had no energy for it to replenish properly. I was down to sparks and embers, nothing more.”
He’d been down to sparks and embers because he’d used his magic protecting Kiva from the Ordeals. The little power he’d had left must have been what he’d used to light their path out of the tunnels — and then escape from Zalindov afterward.
“You truly expect us to believe that you’re only alive today because of Kiva Meridan?” Horeth asked, scoffing.
“I don’t care what you believe,” Jaren stated. “But I do expect you to treat both her and Tipp with respect. They’re here as my guests, and I won’t hear another word against them.”
He stared down each member of the council, daring them to argue further.
Only one of them did — but not in the same vein as before.
“Is that all they’re here for?” the auburn-haired woman asked, a sly smile quirking her lips. “I’ve only seen Kiva from a distance, but I couldn’t help noticing she’s not difficult to look at, if you catch my meaning.”
Jaren stilled. “Careful, Zerra.”
The woman’s smile deepened as she raised her hands in supplication. “Forgive an old crone her curiosity, but perhaps you might share with us your intentions for her. Do you plan to wed?”
Kiva experienced a full-body reaction to the suggestion. Her torso jolted, her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed, and a quiet gasp slipped perilously through her lips before she could clamp down on it.
“Wed?” Horeth spluttered. “Surely you jest, Zerra. The girl’s a commoner. No, she’s less than a commoner; she’s a crim —”
“Do not finish that sentence,” Jaren commanded, his voice like steel.
But he wasn’t the only one at the table who was suddenly furious.
“My husband, your king, was once a commoner,” Queen Ariana said, her tone enough to make Kiva shiver. “You’re toeing a dangerous line, Grand Master. Have a care.”
Horeth quickly backpedaled. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I merely wished to express concern for your son — and for the future of our kingdom. If he intends to —”
“My intentions are none of this council’s business,” Jaren said in his firmest voice yet. “If the time comes when they become the council’s business, then — and only then — will I make them known. Is that understood?” He waited until all four red-robed councillors nodded before he went on, “Kiva has spent over half her life locked in a nightmare. The last thing I want is to make her feel like she’s trapped in another kind of cage, gilded though it might be. I have no idea what the future will bring for us, but right now she deserves the chance to live her life and follow her dreams. I can only hope she’ll grant me the honor of being by her side on that journey, and if she does, you’ll have to find a way to deal with it. I don’t think I can be any clearer than that.”
Kiva’s chest constricted all over again at Jaren’s heartfelt words. She couldn’t allow herself to feel them so deeply, but despite her best efforts to resist, they burrowed in and held tight, warming her all over.
“The people will never accept her once they learn where she’s come from.”
Horeth’s snide words made all the warmth within Kiva dissolve. But Jaren held the Grand Master’s gaze, purposefully tracing the Z scar on the back of his hand as he said, “If they can accept me, they’ll accept her. You do our people a disservice by assuming they judge as harshly as you.”
The Grand Master frowned and opened his mouth to reply, but Ariana cut him off.
“I think we’ve spoken enough about my son’s personal life today,” she said, making it clear the subject was closed. “What other matters are on the agenda?”
Jaren took advantage of the council members’ hesitation by jumping in and saying, “I’d like an update on the investigation into Warden Rooke’s abuse of power. I’ve heard nothing since leaving the winter palace — has he been charged yet?”
Kiva jerked, her contorted joints barking in protest, but she couldn’t help her reaction. Rooke was being investigated? Was he — Was he actually going to pay for what he’d done?
Feldor scratched his smooth scalp before answering, “We lodged your inquiry as requested, Highness, but Rooke isn’t technically under our jurisdiction. He’s not a citizen of Evalon — he answers to all eight kingdoms, and only Nerine and Valorn are backing your demand for justice. In this case, the majority rules, I’m afraid. Our hands are tied.”