Page 81 of A Deception of Courts

“Is everything okay over there?” Althea Cedarfall asked, fire flaring suddenly as it bloomed within her hand like a rosebud. It cast light and shadows across her pinched expression, then over the scene: me, splayed out on the ground, and Kayne hovering above me.

I acted fast. I took hold of Kayne’s hand before he could pull back. His weak gasp revealed he never expected me to accept his offering. He quickly shifted his weight to support me as I pulled myself up, using him as my anchor. Disgust laced across Kayne’s face as the melted ice and blood smeared across his own hand before I pulled away.

“Who knew it was so treacherous out in these streets?” I replied, grinning at the concerned Althea and the fearful Kayne. “Thank Altar for Kayne. If I was alone, I could’ve really hurt myself.”

“Yes,” Kayne laughed, shuffling awkwardly from one foot to the other. “You could have.”

“So, not sleeping is an issue we all have then, Althea?” I asked. “Seems to be the common theme tonight.”

Her wary gaze swung between Kayne and me like a pendulum.

“I thought I heard you outside and, funnily enough, I was right,” Althea replied, wide, distrusting eyes coming to settle on the Tracker. “It was either me who came out looking, or Gyah. And I think we can all agree that I was the preferred option, wasn’t I, Kayne?”

The bud of flame became a tower in her hand, making the Tracker wince. His face paled to a sickly pallor, eyes diverting to the ground.

He may not have feared me, but I couldn’t say the same for his reaction to Althea, or the promise of Gyah.

“All is well, Althea,” I said.

She didn’t believe me, and nor did I want her to. Her clear, judging disbelief twisted her face into a scowl. It had the effect I wished it to have on Kayne. All his bravado had slipped, and he was quieter than I had heard him before.

“Wedidn’t mean to wake you,” I added. “Did we, Kayne?”

He kept silent, knowing that saying the wrong thing would end up with him as a pile of ash.

“Well, you did.”

Kayne swallowed hard and took steps away from me. He mumbled something beneath his breath. It was a mixture of an apology and a goodbye. Althea’s amber stare followed him until he was out of view, and his footsteps were no longer audible.

Just like that, he was gone.

“Wish to talk about it?” she asked, eyes tracking Kayne until the shadows swallowed him.

I shook my head, looking over my shoulder. Perhaps I wasn’t the only puzzle with missing pieces. There was no working Kayne out. “Not tonight,” I said. “I should get back to Duncan before he comes looking for me.”

“Robin…” Althea pressed. “I can sense your distrust for the Tracker, it’s so potent that I can taste it.”

“Don’t worry.” I smiled at her. “I haveeverythingwell under control.”

CHAPTER 23

The pungent smell of boiled potato and meat stew seeped into my skin, lingering like an unwanted guest. My fingers were sticky with the brown sludge-like liquid. It splashed across me each time I dunked the ladle into the cast-iron pot and slopped it into a bowl offered out before me.

Regardless of the stains across my tunic, I was thankful to be helping. Putting myself to work among the people of Berrow – my people – gave me a sense of worth. Purpose. And that was exactly what I needed to take my mind off unnecessary worries. Spending time with the civilians of Icethorn not only focused my mind away from my list of anxieties, but also kept my fingers out of my mouth and my teeth away from my nails.

They had become my repeat victim.

“We’re nearly all out,” I called over my shoulder as I sloshed another spoonful into the wooden bowl of a gruff-looking man with sandy curls and hands the size of plates. He thanked me quietly before shuffling off toward Gyah, who worked at my side, handing out lumps of crusted bread.

“That is the second pot we’ve gone through,” Althea chimed from the burning stove behind me. “At this rate, we will need to request further supplies from mother before the week is out.”

I cringed at the thought of asking for help from the autumn court. But it was required, so I welcomed the carts brimming with supplies with a smile. What sort of king was I to the people when I could do little more than dish up stew with a forced smile whilst their lives were still at threat with each passing moment?

“Robin?” Gyah prompted. “Focus.”

I shook my head, forcing a smile suddenly at an older fey woman with a nest of grey hair and eyes that matched. “Sorry, my mind’s running away from me. Here you go.”

She bowed, eyes glittering with admiration I didn’t feel like I could accept. “Thank you, my king.”

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