Page 61 of Stars May Burn

I frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous. I like the light in there at midday. In fact, I think I should repurpose it as my standard breakfast and lunch room.”

Callum shook his head with an exasperated expression. “I’ll tell the servants to bring our food there and catch you up. Go carefully, won’t you?”

I scowled. “I’ve been doing nothing for almost ten days, and you people drugged me so I was unconscious for six of them. I’ve never been more ‘careful’ in my life. I’m fine. Hurts a lot less than the last arrow did.”

Callum merely raised an eyebrow before leaving again to find the servants. I walked through the corridor and gingerly down the stairs, then with growing speed and confidence. I grunted in satisfaction at how little the wounds in my abdomen and side hurt as my movements tugged on them. Sophie said the stitches were due to come out tomorrow, and I couldn’t wait to be freed of their itch. I could probably even jog without much discomfort now, but Sophie would be upset if I did. I wasn’t meant to use my shoulder yet, but I’d left the sling in my room. I hated the frustration of only being able to use one arm.

I raised both arms in stretches as I walked, pleased to feel the tension easing. Maybe I could practice with my sword in my room later—using my good arm, of course. She would never know.

The servants arrived just as I drew back the curtains, laying out the table for two and covering it with food: porcelain serving dishes laden with fruit and sausages and eggs and bacon. By the teapot was the usual small stack of letters and reports weighed down by my silver letter opener. Unfortunately, I already had a backlog despite how well everything had been managed during my absence and early recovery.

I flicked past a finance request and building update to handwriting I recognized from one of my men in Adenburg. I frowned and opened it.

‘Three sightings last night. Shall we proceed to capture or merely observe? T.’

I sighed. The world didn’t stop just because I was injured. Part of me couldn’t suppress the trickle of excitement at the prospect of finally doing something again. Instead of just sitting around thinking of those I’d failed, I wanted to do something that made my heart beat faster, something that saved lives instead of throwing them away.

I noticed the next letter was from the same person and opened this too.

‘One sighting removed by unknown assailant with crossbow bolt. Other two at large but weaker. Shall we attempt capture? T.’

I frowned. An unknown assailant? Nobody else had ever seemed to be involved before. The city guard was never present in the areas where the creatures were about since Lord Lyrason had so much influence over Duke James. Maybe an innocent passerby had acted in self-defense.

Callum entered the room without comment and settled opposite me, heaping things on his plate as I flicked through the remaining letters. The largest was the medical list describing the non-lethal casualties from Whitehill and the estimated recovery time for each soldier. I would digest that properly later. The other note to capture my attention was Meena’s. Anything that involved Sophie was something I wanted to know straightaway.

‘After the previously reported visit from George Halfield and our increased surveillance for possible spying and sabotage that followed, we found a stranger visiting the central kryalcomy workshop along with the armory. He has an Adenburg accent. He is currently being held for questioning, but I believe he is connected to the Halfield family. I have not mentioned the issue to her ladyship. Dame Meena.’

I pursed my lips as I read the letter again. Meena had good instincts on these things. I knew it was likely Lord Halfield would be after my lands when I asked to marry Sophie and possibly my secrets as well, so he could rise in favor with the king. But trying to gain a foothold through his son the moment I was away? His boldness was shocking. I was proud that Sophie had sent him packing. It must have been hard for her. She was stronger than she seemed.

I drank my tea and ate a slice of watermelon as I looked down through the window at the new garden patch where Sophie was kneeling down in the soil. She lifted her face up to laugh with Lucy and Beatrice, her pale gold hair blowing around her like a rallying banner. She was simply…beautiful. Filled with joy and goodness. Everything I was not. Everything I was countless miles away from.

Was there any point in us having dinner together?

“My lord?”

I blinked, realizing my young servant, Finley, had been talking to me while I’d been staring at Sophie. I suppressed my irritation.

“Yes?”

If he was annoyed at my lack of attention, he hid it well. “Callum gave me the letters for the families of the fallen. Any replies to your morning’s correspondence that you wish me to send, my lord?”

I took a sip of tea. “Tell Dame Meena to proceed with the questioning when her ladyship is engaged elsewhere. Then ask Sir Egbert to find out everything he can about how Whitehill initially fell—specifically why the garrison was emptied.”

Callum leaned forward with his hands on his knees. “Are you sure this is a good idea? If these questions get traced back to you by members of the court, you could be in even more trouble.”

I pinched my forehead. “I need to know.” Louder, I added for the servant’s ears, “Also, when the skeleton force we left behind is relieved by the reinforcements, tell them to write a full report on the new garrison.”

I nodded to dismiss the servant. He gave a quick bow before leaving.

Callum flung his hands in annoyance. “Do you? And what if the king really did empty the garrison and get all those men killed just to kill you? What if you do get undeniable proof? What are you going to do about it? You can’t publicly challenge him. You would be executed for treason, and there would be riots. More deaths. You’ve already told me a million times you won’t kill him.” Callum stood and walked around the table in three quick strides before putting his hand on my shoulder. He gentled his tone. “All you would do is torture yourself by sitting on the information and doing nothing with it. You’ll make your life harder.”

I met his eyes. “I still need to know. I need to know what kind of man my father is.”

Callum grimaced and looked away, his gold curls falling forward to hide his face. “You already know,” he said, speaking almost too softly to be heard.

The room chilled with a cold edged silence. I let it linger for a moment before changing the subject. I turned around as if Callum and I were having a normal conversation over lunch. “Do sit down instead of lurking. You’re going to the garden workshop after breakfast, right? Could you give a message to my wife?”

He raised an eyebrow as he sat back in his seat, but thankfully, kept his mouth shut.

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