Page 17 of A Broken Throne of Bronze

I bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Tarrantree.”

“Lord Tarrantree is my father,” he says, waving me off. “Please, call me Myrdin.”

Lymseia looks at him expectantly. “Miss Thurdred is interested in exploring High Keep. Why don’t you give her a tour?”

My brows stitch together. If I didn’t know better, I would think Lymseia was trying to distract me. To pull me away from the East Tower.

And that only makes me more curious about what secrets lie there.

“A tour,” Myrdin repeats, looking between Lymseia and me. “Of course, a tour.”

Warily, I eye Lymseia. She’s smiling, clearly satisfied with herself. If she thinks I’ll give up this easily, then she’s in for quite the rude awakening.

“Just a moment, then.” Myrdin crouches to pick up his papers, organizing them on his knee. “Excellent.” Then he stands, facing me. “What would you like to see first?”

“Whatever you think is best,” I tell him. “I’m in your capable hands.”

Myrdin blushes, running a hand through his hair. “Very well, then. Come with me, Miss Thurdred.”

“Cryssa.”

“Cryssa,” he echoes, as if he were trying not to forget.

He holds out a hand, gesturing to the staircase. “This way.”

Meeting my pace, Myrdin falls in line beside me as we descend the staircase.

“What are those?” I ask, my eyes falling to his stack of papers.

“Oh, just some council documents. Nothing exciting, I assure you.”

“Council?”

“The High King’s Council. My father and I serve as members, alongside the other Heads of Houses and heir-apparents.”

That gets my attention. “The Crown Prince sits on this council, too, then?”

“Yes,” Myrdin says.

“Interesting,” I muse. This gives me an opportunity. Perhaps, Loren and I can make our escape while a council meeting is in session. If we play our cards right, we just might be able to slip out while all the important people are preoccupied.

I clench my teeth. Still, none of this will be of any use until I know where to find him.

We step off the last stair and enter the main hallway—the one with all the arches. I can’t help but crane my neck to look at them as we pass through.

The suits of armor visible through the archways catch my eye. I point. “Let’s go in there.”

“Of course,” Myrdin says. He leads me through the nearest doorway and into the room.

Aside from the suits of armor, there are sizable, long banners—each bearing one of the five Noble House’s emblems and colors—with lists of names at the bottom. The closest banner to me is that of House Pelleveron, from the Gold Court.

I step closer to it, mouth parted in awe at the craftsmanship. Like many of the woven pieces here, the banner has gold metal intertwined. Gently, I run my hand underneath the names. I don’t recognize the given names, but they all have the same family name—Pelleveron.

The question already on my tongue, I glance over my shoulder to ask Myrdin.

“This is the hall of kings,” Myrdin answers before I can form the words. “Each banner bears the names of the High Kings and Queens who reigned while each of the Noble Houses was in power.”

Scanning the room, I realize the list of names underneath the Gold Court’s banner is the longest.

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