Page 61 of Never the Roses

“But no.” She resumed climbing. “I offered to feed you and we might as well be comfortable while you tell me whatever thing has darkened your gaze so.”

Following after, Adsila still riding on his shoulder, Stearanos wondered at the woman’s ability to see into him so easily.

31

Oneira didn’t care for how much she liked having Stearanos there. As before, he rolled up his sleeves—this time a lovely silk suitable for court, a deep color that flattered him—and helped her to prepare the simple meal. Because of the darkness in his aura, she set the little table out in the garden, thinking the sunshine and vibrant life might help dispel whatever grave topic he brought to destroy her peace.

For destroy her peace he would. She knew it as surely as if she’d drawn cards to read the future, not something she did anyway, as it wasn’t her strength and people never made good decisions from that knowledge.

The two of them worked in companionable silence, then carried the salad and bread out to the garden, along with a pitcher of iced herbal tea. Stearanos had raised a brow at her more liberal use of magic—such as icing the tea—and she simply said that Tristan had gone on his way. Not when or why. Stearanos looked pleased but said nothing in response. Wise man.

Adsila observed from a nearby branch, Bunny and Moriah, lying on the grass in the shade and sun, respectively, all at ease around Stearanos as they’d never been around Tristan. Ironic, as Stearanos was the dangerous one and Tristan utterly harmless.

“Excellent salad,” Stearanos told her. “I love the flavor these orange flowers add.”

“Nasturtiums.”

“We don’t have those.”

“I can give you some seedlings.”

“I’d like that. Some other time, as I’m not at home to tend my garden at the moment.”

Oneira figured that was as good an entrée as any. “So you mentioned, when you said you’ve been at court. Plotting your war, I imagine.”

He sat back, the gravity that had enshrouded him upon arrival and that had briefly lifted falling again like a black cloak about his shoulders. “It’s notmywar—I’d like to be very clear on that—but yes.”

She considered telling him of the queen’s summons and her own refusal. Decided to wait.

Stearanos, stern to the point of forbidding, watched her warily, as if uncertain of her in a way he’d never before revealed, even when they’d been on the point of dueling. The sunlight played on the silver strands in his dark braids, left to hang over his shoulders, and he laced his fingers together on the table where he’d pushed aside his empty plate. “I won’t dance around it. As you already know, my king is planning a war against the Southern Lands.”

“That does not mean you should tell me anything about it.” In truth, she didn’t want to know. Even this much made her feel vaguely ill, panic fluttering at the edges of her vision at the memory of what she’d done.

“I don’t want to, but I feel I should. Without getting into specifics of the strategy, which I firmly believe will succeed—”

“Since you crafted it.”

He met her gaze steadily, seriously. “Since I crafted it, yes, with every intention of resounding victory.”

“Do you expect congratulations?”

“Quite the reverse. I want to stop it.”

That took her aback. Not at all what she’d expected. “I feel I should point out that the simplest way to stop something is not to start it. Though I know that’s easier said than done.”

“True, but it’s exactly what I have in mind: to stop it before it begins.”

Her unease curled into dread. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

He lowered his eyes, shaking his head in one sharp movement. “No, but I’m asking anyway. Because I need you to help me.”

She laughed, a sharp peal of near hysteria before she dragged it back, realizing he was deadly serious. “Not possible.”

“I believe it is. You said you’d hear me out. Then, if you still want to, you can say no, and I’ll accept that as your final answer.”

Knotting her fingers in her lap, sliding slickly together with a cold sweat that had nothing to do with the midday warmth, she nodded reluctantly.All you have to do is say no. They can’t make you do anything.

“Those of us on the king’s war council discussed—”

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