Page 26 of Stars May Burn

I raised my eyebrows. “Appeared? People of interest? Is this the best excuse you have for holding my man prisoner?” I let some of my anger creep into my voice. “Without any word to me? The discipline of my household and my men falls to me first and foremost.”

I hadn’t won yet. Duke James fidgeted but still had some fire in his eyes. “I am the overseer of Adenburg’s guard. I may hold and question whomever I wish if I am concerned about the security of the nobility here.”

I reached over and took a pink macaroon, eating it slowly to show how little his words bothered me. “You realize that if I lose Sir Cley, I will have to fill his position for the coming campaign. I hear there are lots of young men clamoring for fame in the war. Your son for one. Wasn’t he recently advocating for glory on the front at the colloquium? A few words of praise here and there, a letter of recommendation to the king, and you may find him taking control of Sir Cley’s battalion fighting on the third wing. With me. And somehow, for reasons I cannot fathom, the fighting always seems thickest around me. There are more stray arrows, more ‘accidents.’”

The duke’s fingers tightened on his teacup.

I smiled at him. “Though it always brings honor and glory to have one’s son so willing to give up his life for his country, does it not? Especially when he has no brothers to take his place.” I shook my head with a sad expression. “Your parents moved to Fenland from Cerith, didn’t they? Must be hard for them to leave their family behind. Weren’t you one of three siblings? Yet only your son remains to carry on their line. What a noble gesture for him to volunteer to fight when the future of your family is so fragile.”

He only took a moment to consider, then his lips twisted in disgust. “You may take your man back with you. But my suspicions are not alleviated, General. Watch where you tread.”

I placed my teacup down and stood. “I’ll take my leave then. But whatever suspicions you may have, don’t you dare take one of my lead men again.”

Duke James snorted, hatred in his eyes. “Next time, I might come closer to the heart of the problem.”

I gestured my arm wide. “Lead me to Sir Cley. I don’t have all day.”

The willowy man made a show of adjusting his pure white cuffs before slowly walking me to the door to hand me over to a footman. He was aiming at calm, but I could see him failing. The anger and frustration boiled closer and closer to the surface as his footsteps became clipped and his breaths quicker. I rested my hand on a concealed dagger. At the last minute, he pushed against my back to mutter in my ear. “One day, I will destroy everything that you treasure, Kasten.”

I snorted. “I treasure nothing.” Threats didn’t work on me when the king would probably manage to kill me before anyone else did.

He kept his voice to a whisper. “Everything you’ve touched, everyone you’re connected to…gone.”

I kept my face neutral, but it was harder this time because Sophie’s face flickered before my eyes.

It took every ounce of will for me to keep my voice steady. I couldn’t let him infer anything. I needed his threats to wash off like they always had. “Goodbye, Your Grace.”

He smiled, though his eyes were violent as he stepped back. “Tick tock, tick tock. Your time is running out. Go and get yourself killed like the loyal dog you are. Lick the hand that strikes you, for whether you snap and bite or wag your tail and go, the outcome will be the same. There’s no future for you, Kasten, and I will make sure that nothing of your legacy survives.”

SOPHIE

Beatrice was frowning in concentration as she selected a range of dresses, laying them over the bed or on chairs. “Which dress would you like to wear, my lady?”

The early morning light spilled through the window and across the bright silk bedclothes. The day was already hot, and my bath had only made me warmer. I longed for cool cashmere but wasn’t sure how that would be perceived by the people of Kasomere I was to meet today. Based on their reaction when I’d arrived in the carriage, there would probably be a large crowd with high expectations. “They’re all excellent choices. The cut of this one is very fashionable. And this one so cleverly uses the house’s colors.”

“Yes, but what do you like? We maids are currently at a loss as to what to make for you.”

I hid my confusion. They’d grown up here. They would be a far better judge of Kasomere fashion and expectations than me. “Whatever is most appropriate, I suppose. What do you think the people will like? There are many more cultures represented here than in Adenburg. I want something that will please everyone.”

Beatrice frowned. “My lady, surely you have personal favorites. Adenburg doesn’t affect the fashion much here and nor will people have strong opinions on what style you should wear. The people of Kasomere will follow whatever trends you set.”

I tapped my lips, running fingers over the smooth materials. Which one would Miss Claris have chosen? She normally had a good eye for these things. I really needed to write to her soon. I realized with a stab of guilt that I’d barely given her a thought this past fortnight. She would be so angry. Probably Irabel and Claribel too. They’d been buzzing with questions about Kasomere in the run up to my wedding.

Since that first day when I’d overslept, I had been working hard to understand Kasomere and had even started overseeing the castle’s daily operations. I hoped Miss Claris would be pleased with that. However, the castle had run smoothly before my involvement, and I often felt like I merely approved what people would have done anyway, an extra logistical step in the mechanisms. Maybe me being here made things less efficient. But the servants and people of Kasomere clearly expected something more now that I was here. I just wasn’t sure how to do that. I hoped I wouldn’t be a disappointment to everyone today.

“Let’s go with this one. The weather is very hot.” I chose one with sleeves that draped from the shoulders and then back up to the wrists, leaving most of the arm bare. It was loose around the waist. Miss Claris would have had a fit at the lack of large skirts and lace. I felt a strange tinge of guilt at choosing something she would have disliked.

Lucy brought in creams from the bathroom, and the maids moisturized my arms and face before dressing me quickly. They buzzed with excitement for the day. Their expectation only made my nerves heighten, and I practiced long exhales as they fussed around my sash and hair.

“Is the general still in the capital?” I’d asked the same question twice already at breakfast this morning, but I couldn’t help myself.

Beatrice nodded. “Yes, my lady. We’ll let you know if we hear that he has returned, though he often likes to arrive quietly in the night.”

I sighed. “He must never sleep. I hope this missing servant business hasn’t been too taxing for him.”

Beatrice gave me a comforting smile. “It takes a lot to shake the general, my lady. Please don’t concern yourself—he’s very competent.”

I let them sweep me down the corridor, Meena leading the way. She wore two extra daggers at her belt; they were curved, unlike those carried by the guards in Adenburg. I wondered if they were from Tyrazastan. Meena had features I associated with that country, including her impressive height.

---