Page 56 of Lady of Ashes

Queen Meredith pushed up on to her toes to wrap Callan in a hug. “Thank the gods you are ?nally home,” she said, smoothing her hand down the arms of his tunic as she pulled back. “Although you look dreadful. Where have you been sleeping? Shacks along the road?” She laughed at her own joke, and Callan forced a chuckle. If she only knew he’d been sleeping in a rundown warehouse for the last few weeks.

“The downfall of traveling on horseback for days on end, I am afraid,” he answered, glancing around the room at the rest of those present. His father was sitting at the head of the table. He hadn’tbothered to rise to greet him. He had a gold chalice in his hand, his eyes narrowed slightly at Callan. Lord Tyndell was here, along with Drake. Lord Lairwood stood next to his father, watching everything with interest.

“Your Highness, how lovely to have you home once more.”

Her voice made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and he turned to ?nd Lady Veda a few feet away. She wore a deep blue gown cinched so tightly around her waist he truly wondered how she could breathe. Her brown hair was woven into an intricate coronet atop her head.

“Lady Veda, it is nice to see you,” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. He glanced over his shoulder to ?nd Tava murmuring something to Drake, whose eyes kept bouncing to him, then back to his sister.

“Come and sit, Callan,” his father called from the table, his deep tone commanding. “We have much to discuss.”

“Of course, Father,” Callan said, turning and extending a hand to Tava. She somehow made her cheeks ?ush slightly as she stepped to his side, and he placed a hand on her lower back to guide her towards the seats. He rounded the table, stopping at his chair directly to his father’s right. Lord Lairwood usually sat on the other side of Callan, but he was already a seat farther down the table, leaving a chair between them. He pulled the chair out, motioning for Tava to sit.

“Callan, I couldn’t possibly,” she said softly, shaking her head slightly, her eyes going to the ?oor.

“Yes, Veda had requested to sit next to you tonight,” Mikale cut in. “She is eager to hear tales of your travels.”

“And I will be delighted to share them,” Callan replied. “But she will be able to hear them just as well from another seat. Lady Tava will sit next to me.”

“Why did my daughter arrive at the castle with you, your Highness?” Lord Tyndell asked, taking a seat down the table between Eva and Drake. Tava glanced at Callan demurely again while she lowered herself into the seat, and Callan sank into his own chair. He gave her a soft smile, his eyes ?xed on hers when he answered, “I simply could not wait to see her when I arrived home.”

“You could not wait to seeher?” Veda demanded harshly, and heads turned in her direction. The look of disdain was quickly wiped from her face, and a pinched sort of smile appeared onher lips. “I mean, I did not realize you and Lady Tava were … close.”

Callan reached for Tava’s hand, bringing it up and pressing his lips to the back of it. “There is something to be said for exchanging letters and getting to know each other via ink and paper rather than monitored conversations and touches.”

Tava’s cheeks darkened further, and he had to wonder if that was all a complete farce. He kept her hand in his when he brought his gaze back to Veda. Her mouth was slightly agape in obvious shock as she stood frozen in place.

Mikale cleared his throat from down the table. “When did all of this … develop?”

Callan released Tava’s hand to pour her a glass of wine as he said, “Interestingly enough, the evening of your engagement dinner to Miss Monrhoe. Where is she, by the way? I thought she would be with you.”

Tava stiffened beside him. They had discussed how to spin their relationship, but bringing Scarlett into the conversation had never been brought up. She glanced at her brother across the table, taking the wine glass when Callan extended it to her.

“Our wedding was unfortunately delayed,” Mikale said smoothly. “Her illness took a turn for the worse, and she is away seeking a treatment that will hopefully cure her of having to rely on that dreadful tonic.”

“That would be wonderful,” Tava cut in, taking a sip of her wine. “I do hope she ?nds what she’s looking for on her travels.”

Mikale’s gaze slid to her, and the look he gave her had Callan tensing. He shot a look at Drake, who was glaring at Mikale from across the table.

“Do you mean to tell me that you have ?nally found someone, Callan?” his mother asked, her voice ?lled with hope. His mother had been trying to set him up with court Ladies for the last three years, constantly giving him lists of potential brides that would make for suitable partners. Before he could respond, she had turned to his father. “Isn’t this wonderful, Theo?”

King Theodore was studying Callan closely, his chalice still in his hand, swirling the contents. “It will be wonderful news if he tells me they are betrothed,” he ?nally answered.

“What?” Callan balked, his eyes going wide. Drake’s glasslanded on the table a little harder than necessary, causing a slight thunking sound, and Tava had inhaled sharply.

“There was an agreement made,” Mikale interjected, his ?st slamming onto the table.

“Calm yourself, Mikale,” Lord Tyndell chided from across the table. “I am going to assume they are not betrothed considering Tava ismy daughter, and I was not asked for her hand.”

“How could he when he has been off doing the gods-know-what all over the damn continent?” his father said tightly.

“I know you have questions about where I was and what I have been doing,” Callan started, “but perhaps this can be discussed tomorrow, and not the moment I have returned.”

“This will be discussed tonight, Callan,” his father said, his deep voice rising, and his chalice banging down onto the table, wine sloshing over the side. “You have been gone for months, neglecting your responsibilities. I received correspondence once a week if I was lucky, and I still have no godsdamn idea what the fuck you were off doing!”

“Theodore!” his mother exclaimed. “Mind your tongue at the dinner table.”

“Perhaps the women should take their leave so this can be discussed without your sensitivity then,” the king snapped.

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