Page 35 of Of Scale and Blood

“Indeed,” she replied calmly, “but until we uncover just what those secrets are, we have to play along.”

“I detest playing along and I hate secrets.” I grabbed a bowl and filled it with the hearty stew. “But I take it youdohave a plan to uncover said secrets? Or have your seeress skills suddenly decided to work on demand?”

My father laughed. “Whilethatwould be majorly handy right now, we’re doing it the old-fashioned way—via spies in Aric’s court.”

I scooped up some stew with my spoon, but it was so damn hot I burned my tongue. I gulped down the wine Mom handed me, then said, “Why was I never told we had spies in his court?”

“Not even Vaya and Jarin know. There’s less risk of them being caught that way.” He accepted the stew Mom handed him with a nod of thanks. “Aric has several here. In fact, you’re now related to one of them via marriage.”

“Gayl?I thought she was his aunt rather than a spy.”

“Oh, she’s definitely his aunt, though she’s Aric’s half-sister rather than full. He has ten half-siblings, apparently.”

“Ten? In Vahree’s name, the men in the Velez line certainly like spreading their damn seed about, don’t they?”

“Yes,” Mom said. “Though I do believe it’s a tradition that will stop with Damon.”

I snorted. “According to the military rumor mill, he flaunts his wares about just as much as his father and brother.”

“The rumor mill has some decidedly conflicting things to say about Zephrine’s heir. If one did not know better, it would not be hard to believe we were dealing with two separate men.”

“Aric does have something of a split personality—ruthless one moment, charming the next, depending on who he is dealing with,” Rion commented. “I suspect that might well be what we’re seeing when it comes to his firstborn—rumor wise, at least.”

“Then maybe I should ask Damon about his aunt and her real purpose here.”

“No, you should not,” Mom said, with surprising force. “I have no idea why they are lying or why Gayl continues to be a presence here, but I am certain of one thing—whatever is happening, Damon is an unwilling participant.”

“And given Aric’s... shall we say, volatility?” my father added, “even voicing your knowledge about Gayl could have dire consequences.”

“Damon did say recently that he’d answer my questions when lives were no longer on the line, but that really makes no sense. He’s the heir, for goodness’ sake.” I stabbed my spoon in the air to emphasize the point. “The trade contracts are signed, and our marriage consummated, so why continue the farce? What else could they be up to?”

“Well, there hasn’t been an assassination attempt for a few centuries now,” Rion said, with a half-serious laugh. “Perhaps they plan to install Damon on our throne.”

“Except for the fact Mom becomes regent if anything happens to you or your nominated heir until either Garran’s son is old enough or I produce a son. Which, in this case, would be a second son, as any firstborn would ascend the Zephrine throne. Damoncan’trule in your stead, no matter what.”

“Which is why I’m sure Gayl is here to do nothing more than report on, rather than murder, me.”

Mom put a hand on my knee, her gaze solemn as it caught and held mine. “You must believe one thing—I would never have allowed this marriage to proceed had I in any way believed Damon was a bad man or that you would not have a happy life with him.”

“A fact I can confirm,” my father said in a dry sort of tone. “We had multiple... rather heated... discussions about the relevance of treaties and their necessity to avoid war. It was only when your mother met Damon that she agreed not to tear up the contracts. And we all know that while it might have taken the threat of war to drag my Zephrine counterpart to the negotiation table, if wehadthen torn up the hard-won contract, he would have reacted negatively.”

An understatement if ever I’d heard one. I smiled and placed my hand over Mom’s. “Thank you for being in my corner.”

“Neverdoubt the fact that I’m also in your corner, Bryn,” Rion said, with just the touch of an edge. “But I have the weight of a kingdom on my shoulders and sometimes I must consider the safety and happiness of the many over that of the one, even if that one is more precious to me than life itself.”

And yet, he would have allowed Mom to tear up those contracts and gone to war on my behalf if her doubts had intensified on meeting Damon. Of that, I had absolutely no doubt.

Mom withdrew her hand from under mine and elegantly motioned to the food. “Our meal grows cold. Enough talking until all this is consumed.”

“Dear heart, there is enough here to feed an army.”

My father’s voice was dry. Her response was a somewhat prim, “But only a verysmallarmy, and I’d wager you have not eaten all day.”

He grumbled softly but amusement danced around his lips as he lifted his bowl and began to eat. Once the bulk of the meal had been consumed to Mom’s satisfaction, I picked up my shamoke and one of the remaining sweet pastries and asked, “So what news on Jakarra?”

Mom blinked and looked away, but not before I saw the brief shimmer of grief.

“Nothing new on Garran or Glenda,” my father said, “but hope lingers.”

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