Page 50 of Heir to His Court

“I guess you had better survive then, Nya.” Murungaru laughed. Then he sobered. “We still need to discuss your spirit form. It could prove useful.”

I stood, shoving my herbal in the pocket of my pants. I’d dressed in militia couture this morning. I would need to change. “We will. But I’m going to take her advice.” I had to at least try, even if I did die tomorrow.

He lifted a brow. “Oh?”

“Embriel left me a yellow brick. I think he wants me to build a road.” I owed him that much, and I owed Lavendre. Danon, too. “Take care of Baba? He’s suffering right now. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

ChapterFifteen

Not knowing what I might find at the University, including the welcome I might expect, I reentered the house, stopping by Édouard's office.

“Extend the recess until further notice,” I told him. “I am to visit the University.”

He jerked his head up, black eyes narrowed. Strands of his wheat pale hair escaped the short tail he’d pulled it into. “What? What could you possibly want at the University at this time?”

It was, admittedly, random. “Where are Numair and Juliette?”

“They have undertaken a task.”

I allowed the evasion. Their absence suited me. “That's fine. I might not return until dinner.”

Édouard drew his lips up over his teeth as if he wanted to snarl. “Your timing as usual is suspicious. No.”

“Are you now the Lord of Faronne?”

The commander slammed a closed fist into his desk, shoulders hunching. “I can’t leave right now, Aerinne, and I don't trust anyone else to handle you properly.”

He meant they were the only two among the warriors who had the temerity to use physical force to extract me from a dangerous situation against my will.

Édouard saw my expression—we both knew he couldn't command me if I didn’t want to obey. “Fuck.Fuck,Aerinne. Take Lavendre.”

“Is she ready for duty?”

“Does it matter? We serve. Now get out. I'm trying to keep you alive tomorrow.”

Ah. Politics. I'd bet my best dagger that was the task he'd sent my guards on. Faronne was due to return to the palace in the morning. There was still time—barely—to pursue back channel diplomacy with Montague. They still didn't understand my relationship with Renaud.

Iwas the front channel, the back channel, the side channel, and every other variation thereof.

I'd let them work because I understood the slow torture of watching an oncoming disaster and being forced to sit still waiting upon it, rather than doing something.

Wasn't that exactly what I was doing right now? Restlessly chasing down a five-year-old lead from a murdered princeling in the hours before my execution, as if I hadn't had the last several years to do so. We were all scrambling, grasping at any ephemeral advantage.

“Tell Lavendre to meet me in the courtyard, please,” I said as I left the office.

In my rooms, I changed quickly into Court day robes. Semi formal in practical fabrics lacking ornamentation except for the embroidery at the cuffs and collars that indicated my House rank. I'd approach the University as Lady Aerinne Capulette, rather than a private citizen. Pulling rank often complicated situations, but today it would open doors I might otherwise be obliged to kick down—and I had no time.

If Embriel left something for me—books, weapons, the upper right-hand corner of an inter-realm map leading to hidden treasure or revealing me as the secret Heir of a long-lost dynasty. . .oh, wait—I would take it. What I would do with it was a problem for if I survived.

I met Lavendre in the courtyard. She'd changed into House warrior livery—cobalt molded leathers edged in vermilion, rather than the discreet blacks.

“Are you sure you're ready for—” I started, then closed my mouth when she gave me a narrow-eyed glare. “Right. Let's go.”

Juliette's sister fell in at my side. “I confess I didn't expect you to take my advice, especially so quickly.”

“It echoed Embry’s death request. Better late than never.”

She nodded, expression distant. “Hard to believe a male who planned for the eventuality of his own death could be killed by a halfling.”

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