Serin
Keris stared at the letter. Why hadn’t Serin revealed Zarrah’s identity?
Understanding flowed over him, along with renewed appreciation for the Magpie’s cleverness.
Lestara wouldn’t have trusted anything that came from Serin’s lips, but the letter would have been enough to spur her to investigate herself. And the conclusions she’d come to had clearly been damning.
Setting down the book, Keris shifted to look at Sara, who was staring at him with wide eyes. “You ruined my book.”
His only regret was that Zarrah hadn’t thrown this book into the waters of the Nerastis spillway along with his coat. “When I came in, you said something about someone being a liar. Who were you speaking of?”
“Lestara.”
“What did she lie about?”
Panic filled her gaze, and Sara looked away, shaking her head. “Not long after you left for Ithicana, Lestara told me you weren’t coming back. That you’d told her you were tired of taking care of all of us, especially …” She swallowed hard. “Me.”
His hands fisted, mind readily supplying a vision of Lestara manipulating Sara’s greatest fear.
“I told her she was wrong. That you’d gone to Ithicana to see Aren and Lara to negotiate, but that you’d be back once that was completed. She said, if that were the case, why hadn’t you brought me with you?” Sara chewed on her bottom lip.
“You know why,” he said. “Because we were going to sail south to rescue Zarrah, which would be very dangerous.”
Silence stretched, and Keris fought the urge to drag the details out of her. Except this was his fault.
He’d burdened his little sister with the truth and then left her in the clutches of Lestara, a grown woman raised on deception and intrigue.
“She told me that you were angry that I’d returned to the palace. That you’d deliberately left me at Greenbriar because I was too much of a burden, and that you regretted not allowing Royce to take me.” Her chin quivered. “She was dreadfully upset, because you’d apparently said you loved her and wanted to marry her, but you’d run away because of me. She said that it was my fault she wouldn’t be queen. That’s when I knew she was lying, because Zarrah is the one you love.”
“Did you tell her that?” he asked, already certain of the answer.
Sara wiped her nose on her sleeve, then nodded. “She called me a liar. Said that you’d never tell which was bulkier than he remembered. Pulling a knife from his boot, Keris cut open the stitching and me your plans because I’m only a child. That I was making up stories to feel important. She made me so mad, so I told her that Lara and Aren were going to help you rescue Zarrah, and that you were going to marry her. That Zarrah would be queen and that you’d send Lestara back to Cardiff.”
Keris squeezed his eyes shut, imagining how well Lestara would have taken that statement.
“She left me alone after that, and has been kind ever since.”
Because the Princess of Cardiff had gotten what she wanted. “You’re right, Sara. Lestara is a liar, and it’s time she and I had a little chat.”
Rising to his feet, Keris left the tent, finding Sarhina still waiting. Their half sister Athena was with them. “Do you have the supposed order I wrote sending the city guard south? And the Cardiffian spy report Lestara supplied?”
Sarhina’s brow furrowed. “Locked in my tent. Why?”
“I’d like to see them.”
At Sarhina’s nod, Athena departed into the camp.
“While we wait, where might I find Royce’s tent?”
“What are you planning?” Sarhina said as she led him through the camp. “What did Sara say?”
Keris didn’t answer, his eyes locking on a tent with a purple flag above it. A guard stood before the entrance, and beyond, the squeals and grunts of enthusiastic sexual pursuits emanated. “You might want to wait a few minutes, Your Highness,” the guard said to Sarhina. “They’re—”
“I think not,” Keris said, pushing back his hood. The guard’s eyes bulged. “Your Grace. I … They
…”
Keris walked around him, pushing aside the tent flap and stepping inside.
To be greeted with the sight of Lestara on her hands and knees, Royce fucking her from behind.
Lestara was gasping Royce’s name as though it were the best sex of her life, but the bored expression on her face spoke volumes. As did the shock that grew in her eyes as they latched on Keris.
“Your Grace!” she squeaked, scrambling away from Royce and pulling a blanket around her body, leaving his brother naked and gaping at him.
Panic filled her gaze, and Sara looked away, shaking her head. “Not long after you left for Ithicana,
“Keris.”
“In the flesh.” Keris crossed his arms, giving Royce’s rapidly deflating cock a pointed look.
“Speaking of which, you may wish to cover yours up.”
His younger brother hastily pulled on a pair of trousers. Lestara had taken the opportunity to put on her dress, her long blond hair covering her face as she fastened her sandals. “We didn’t know you were back,” she said, and Keris could tell it was taking all her effort to meet his gaze. “Or we would have prepared. I …” She glanced at Royce. “We … You said you were not interested in me, so I hope
“You know why,” he said. “Because we were going to sail south to rescue Zarrah, which would be you won’t take offense to me—”
“Fucking the next in line to the throne?” He gave her a smile that was all teeth. “Come with me. We have a great deal to catch up on. You as well, brother.”
Offering Lestara his arm, he escorted her out of the tent, Royce following at their heels. There were perhaps two dozen civilians in proximity, mostly women. Their heads turned, a commotion rising as
he was recognized, and Keris called out, “You’ll all be wanting an explanation for why Vencia was left undefended, why Petra was able to raze it so easily. I have answers, if you care to listen.”
me.” Her chin quivered. “She was dreadfully upset, because you’d apparently said you loved her and
“Are you mad?” Lestara demanded, eyes wide. “They blame you, Keris. You’re going to get
wanted to marry her, but you’d run away because of me. She said that it was my fault she wouldn’t be yourself killed.”
A wild laugh tore from his lips, and he looked back over his shoulder at the women who followed, fury in their eyes. “You have every right to be angry. Every right to demand answers for why this was allowed to happen. But if you stab me in the back, the truth of who betrayed us all dies with me.”
Eyes narrowed, but behind the rage, he saw curiosity bloom. A few women splintered away from the rest, racing into the camp, and he heard shouts. “The King is here! He says there is a traitor! He’s going to give a speech!”
The crowd behind them grew.
“Keris, this is insanity.” Lestara kept glancing over her shoulder to the mob of women, some holding the hands of their children, others carrying babies, all with anger in their eyes. All wanting answers for why their homes had been allowed to burn. “Let us take a carriage, at least.”