Page 47 of The Faceless Mage

Which was when Kip decided to put his entire foot in his mouth, boot and all.

“Your Highness,” he said, bowing low, and then instantly dropped to one knee in front of her. His gaze captured Leisa’s with burning intensity as he spoke in quiet but urgent tones. “Princess, you must hear me. We all know this is a trap. They won’t stop trying to separate us from you, and no one has any idea what they’ll do once they succeed.”

In a tremendous breach of etiquette, he reached out and took her cold, unresisting hand in his. “I can tell you’re afraid. I’m afraidforyou. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, and I don’t believe you want to stay and marry that idiot Vaniell, so please, just say you’ll let me take you away from here. It wouldn’t be that hard to escape, and if it was just the two of us, we could travel fast. Travel light. I could have you home before you know it.”

Oh, the poor lovesick fool. There was no way he’d cleared this with Zander, because if he’d tried, Zander would have tied him up and sat on him before letting the younger man anywhere near her. Instead, Kip had taken matters into his own hands and blundered badly. He probably had no idea howbadly. What he’d suggested was treason, not to mention incredibly stupid.

But Leisa couldn’t bring herself to deny that the idea was incredibly attractive.

She could leave with Kip. Count on him to help her get out of the palace. Afterward, she could change her face, take on a new identity, and disappear. No one would ever know what had happened to her, and she would be safe, no longer at the mercy of manipulative kings or prejudiced princes. King Soren had lied—or at least hidden the truth about her magic—and this wasn’t her fight. Why should she sacrifice herself for his ambitions?

Except none of this was really for him, Leisa reminded herself. She was doing this for Evaraine. And for Farhall. Because whatever her king had done, Farhall was still her home, and Leisa loved every craggy cliff, every hidden waterfall, every deep forest glade and mysterious echo. And if she did what Kip suggested—if she disappeared—Farhall and Garimore would have no choice but to go for one another’s throats.

There was only one possible winner in that scenario, and Leisa couldn’t let it happen. Not to her kingdom, and not to the innocent people living there, who had no part in any of this scheming.

“Kip,” she said gently, pulling him to his feet before removing her hand from his grasp. “I thank you for your concern. I confess that I share many of your misgivings, but as for tonight, I am merely tired. There is still much for us to learn before we return home. I can only counsel patience and request that you remain ready to escort me home whenever my business here is concluded.”

An incredulous expression crossed his face, and he reached for her again, but she was too fast. She stepped back just as the door swung open to reveal the Raven looming in the doorway.

“It’s time for you to go,” Leisa said, begging him silently to listen. To remember his duty and obey his princess. She might be frustrated with him, but she didn’t want him dead, and if he challenged the Raven, she could imagine no other ending.

“Fine,” he said harshly, then added, “Your Highness. I pray you rest well. We will attend you tomorrow, as King Melger permits, to reassure ourselves of your continued well-being.”

He turned on his heel and went out. Leisa listened as his footfalls died away into silence before jerking her head at her remaining companion.

“Shut the door, would you?”

He complied, but remained in her antechamber, almost as if he’d read her mind and knew she’d wanted him to stay.

How much of her mindcouldhe read? Did the gem around her neck give him access to her emotions as clearly as it allowed her to read his?

As she thought of it, Leisa reached for the gem, grasped it between her fingers, and found that she was tired of wondering. Sick from worrying. She wanted answers tosomethingand couldn’t seem to stop herself from asking for them.

“You heard it all, didn’t you?” She didn’t bother with lies or justifications. There wasn’t much point.

He neither confirmed nor denied, but she could sense his agreement. Or maybe she was simply losing her mind.

“He’s young,” she said, “and impulsive, and…” Leisa hesitated, but it seemed important to at least try to explain why Kip had done it. “He’s been in love with me for years. He knows it’s hopeless, but I think he simply can’t help being worried.”

The Raven regarded her coolly.

“I’m begging you not to report him to anyone,” she went on, hoping she was making the right decision. “He’s an excellent bodyguard and will continue to do his job. Whatever rules he’s broken, he’s broken out of concern for me, and I’m requesting leniency on his behalf.”

And do you love him back, she imagined that looming shadow asking her.

Imagined? Or heard?

“I don’t love him,” she answered, not really caring whether the question was real. For whatever foolish reason, she wanted him to know the truth. “I know better than to love anyone. Even if it would be nice…”

She broke off. Did she really want him knowing so much about her heart? But it wasn’t like he was going to tell anyone. “I can’t deny that there is something attractive about being loved so completely, so fully, that there is no thought of kingdoms or politics. That someone cares about me for my own sake, rather than what they can use me for.”

That puppy only worships you from afar, the Raven scoffed silently.His love could not exist without the reality of your status. Would he love you as well if you weren’t so unreachable? So mysterious and unknowable?

“Me?” Leisa protested. “Mysterious and unknowable? I’m nothing of the sort.” But Evaraine was, much as she hated to admit it.

You have too many secrets, he whispered in her head.You’re afraid of everyone but me. What is it that you fear? Why do you feel as though you’re walking to your own death?

“Because I am!” The strength of her outburst startled her into realizing what she’d been about to say, and she glared at the man across the room. The man who hadn’t said a word, and yet somehow, she’d been arguing with him.

---