Page 81 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

“I see,” I said, resigned.

“Can we turn to happier matters?” Qildor asked. “Like that gift you brought me? I can smell it from here.”

I handed over the bag of meat sticks and Qildor pulled one out and took a bite.

“Stars, so good.” He closed his eyes momentarily. “They serve the blandest food here. I miss eating in the grand hall with you and my fellow knights.”

“We miss you too,” Sian assured him. “Though, of late, we’ve been taking our meals in private. The king has been in a foul mood.”

“Let’s not dwell on that.” The less we spoke of my father, the better.

“Agreed.” Qildor took another bite of his meat stick. “So, tell me, Vale, how is married life?”

Only then did I realize I was the first of my best friends to wed. I supposed they were all a touch curious.

If only I could confide in them that my marriage was not normal. That it wouldn’t last.

My skin prickled, as it did when I thought of Neve leaving, and that I’d never see her again. I didn’t like the idea but doubted she’d be persuaded, even though I suspected that she had feelings for me too.

“It’s unlike what I imagined,” I admitted. “Better in some ways, worse in others.”

“His wife is a feisty one.” Sian winked. “She’s bossing you around already, Vale?”

I laughed, along with my friends, but shook my head. “Not really. It’s more . . .”

That I don’t know how much time we have.

“That I worry about what’s to come,” I finished.

“The vampires,” Vidar breathed. “They could be here within two days, you know.”

My eyebrows wrinkled. “That seems early.”

“Not all the Red Assassins live in the mountains,” Vidar replied. “I believe they have an island too, due north of Sangrael.”

I straightened. “I didn’t know.”

“I only saw it on my last voyage. It was clear in a place where there’s usually always fog. A keep, a red one decorated with bleeding roses choked by thorns. Like in the tales.”

My fingers tightened around the arms of my chair. Had I been a fool to allow Neve to go shopping with Saga and Sayyida? Even with six Clawsguards at their sides?

“It might not be them,” Vidar admitted, “not like we docked to check. But it’s likely.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I muttered, annoyed that he hadn’t brought it up earlier. Then again, he probably didn’t know Neve was out shopping with his sister. It wasn’t like Sayyida would gush over such an outing.

“Is that why you’re training her?” Qildor asked. “In case an assassin slips through the castle walls?”

“Yes.”

“She’s doing well too,” Sian added. “Princess Neve was not a natural at holding a sword, but to watch her fight—now that’s natural. Like she’s been doing so all her life.”

Because she had been fighting all her life. Just not in the way Sian assumed.

“She’s catching on,” I agreed. “And she’s fast. That helps.”

“Also helps that her instructor is in love with her,” Sian teased. “You must be giving the princess additionallessons. Am I right, my friend?” His tone was suggestive, not unlike the thousands of other times we’d spoken as a friend group, but I barely heard what he said. No, I was stuck on the fact that he thought I was so in love with her.

We’d hoped to play it off like that, but I was never sure how realistic we were being. If one of my best friends was buying the act, we had done a good job.

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