Page 96 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

I thought of those I’d ended and of the one Neve killed. How many more had met their doom tonight?

“That is all,” the guard said and stepped back.

“Actually, it isn’t,” I corrected. “Vidar Virtoris received a bad injury. He is being cared for.” I looked at Lady Virtoris, noted her red eyes. It was probably killing her to be here, at the command of her king, when her son and heir was in the healers’ sanctuary.

“Apologies,” the Clawsguard said.

“This is happening far too often.” Father waved the guard back. “Two attacks in less than two weeks! We must get a hand on these rebels. Put them in their place.”

I gaped. Was he not going to even acknowledge Vidar’s injuries? Lady Virtoris sat at the table too, and she would not forget such a slight.

“They spoke about an heir returning,” Father continued, his cold, glacial features turning red. “So they’ve sussed out a bastard to use as a figurehead for their rebellion. We will find him and squash this nonsense. Tonight.”

“Tonight?” Nalaea Qiren, High Lady of Silks, leaned forward and her long inky hair spread onto the table as her piercing green eyes found my father. “Then who will go, Majesty?”

Not her. The words hung in the air, unsaid but plain in the line of her full lips.

I’d always suspected that, at one point, Nalaea Qiren and my father had had an affair. If that was the case, none of the affection they’d shared then was on display now.

“I lost two of my personal guards.” Lady Nalaea held up two fingers. “They are among those you haven’tallowed into the palace but accompanied me to the theater upon request. You will not allow them to be with us, but you are fine with them dying tonight? And now I assume you wish for us to send more of our household guards, although you do not permit us to use them?”

Father glared at her. “As you said, we do not permit your servants and guards inside my palace during the Courting Festival, so I see no problem with sending them out tonight. What else are they doing?”

“Dying. Or cleaning the blood off their brothers and sisters in arms and wondering what in the stars is going on in this filthy city!” Lady Qiren slammed her hand against the table. “It isn’t enough that we all had to bring soldiers to swell the royal army when we journeyed here? Now you wish to use those guards who wait in taverns at our own expense for us to return home?”

She wasn’t the only high lord and lady to take offense. Even calm, Tadgh Balik appeared irritated, though only the slightest furrow of his brow gave that away.

“I can spare much of my guard.” Lord Riis leaned forward. “As I live in the city most of the time and have businesses here, many live here anyhow, and they all know Avaldenn well. They can help lead those whose soldiers are not as familiar. I can also send out spiders. See if they can find a rebel hideout. The city gates are now closed, so if they have a hideout, they will flee there.”

Unless the rebels had a secret way out of Avaldenn, they were still here, possibly even residents. Father wouldn’t allow the city gates to reopen until he’d had his fill of rebel blood.

“At least Lord Riis is willing to do good for the kingdom.” Father scowled at Lady Nalaea.

The conversation turned to exactly how many guards could be spared per noble house and who in the royal army would lead the extra units. Through it all, Rhistel and I remained silent. This was no normal operation. I was betting that Father would want to use me for something specific. Something of shock value.

Rhistel’s silence was out of character, though. Even if this was not his realm of expertise, he was the heir. Any chance to show his leadership and strength should have been taken advantage of.

One possible reason for his silence struck me. Had the rebels gotten to him? Had they cornered him like they had Saga? I snuck a glance at my brother and noted his wan complexion.

“Now that that’s settled”—Father leaned back, looking marginally appeased after the first moments of dissent—“the soldiers will search through the night. We’ll find where they’re hiding.” My father turned his cold eyes on me. “At the ninth morning bell, Vale will lead the final forces out into the city to find rebels.”

Immediately, I understood his reasoning for not sending me out tonight. Under the cover of night, few would see the rebels pulled from their hiding places. Or who had discovered them.

In the light of day, however,everyonewould see the rebels being dragged out of their holes like mice, and they’d see the king’s own blood had found them. Even if the night search teams found each and every rebel, theking would make sure to set a scene. And that I would star in the charade. Father was obsessed with bringing glory to his name, and by extension, his noble house.

“Very well, Father.” I inclined my head.

“Good. Now, let’s begin. Soldiers to the castle yard within the half hour.” Father stood, pushing his heavy chair back in the process, and stomped away. Slowly, the high lords and ladies and jarls followed until only Rhistel and I remained in the room.

“Did they injure you?” I asked.

His eyes, the same shade of brown as my own, flickered in my direction. “Do you really care?”

“Of course I do.” Tired of this question, I loosed a long exhale. “We’re brothers.”

“Days ago, you had me by the throat over some female.”

I cringed, hating that he was right, that for many turns Rhistel and I had not been like brothers. That Sian, Vidar, Luccan, and Caelo were much more like brothers to me.

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