Page 90 of A Queen's Game
“My Queen,” he said, his mousy hair falling forward with his bow. “As you had suggested, I offered to take them to the Ertwymer Sculpture Gardens. They showed no interest and instead focused on visiting a few taverns. Besides that, they show little interest in seeing Satiros.”
Such news didn’t come as a surprise, though she’d had thought they’d take a tour of the city-state’s gateways and river system. That had been in the plan, at least. “Perhaps Lord Brynden has been too preoccupied by other sights Satiros offers.”
Kurtys blinked at her words, failing to hide his discontent. The poor male had asked for Elyse’s hand many times only for her to deny him and court Brynden after meeting once. Now, Gyrsh had him showing Brynden around Satiros. Satisfaction spread out from her chest; playing with Satiroan nobles never grew old.
“If that’s a mention of Elyse,” Gyrsh said, anger underlying his tone, “I would like to put on the record that her interference with the Chorys Dasians has not distracted them from our work, though Lord Brynden has been playing a lesser role in negotiations.”
Playing a lesser role? Elyse had diverted him then. Valeriya made a mental note to follow up on that.
“How unfortunate that their betrothal fell apart,” she said, sipping her tea. “As her father, you must have been disappointed.”
Gyrsh flared his nose at her words, trying and failing to hide his anger. “As you are aware, Elyse emancipated from my estate and is no longer considered my daughter.” He took a sharp breath, his grip tightening on his quill. “Anyone who continues to pursue her hand is advised otherwise because she no longer has any financial bearing.”
Though he didn’t look at Kurtys, the male flinched. His words had been a warning for him. How curious that not only did he still wish to court Elyse, but that Gyrsh would sabotage anyone who tried. Perhaps he thought if no one offered their hand then she would go back to him. The fool; he was a terrible father.
Kurtys cleared his throat and continued on with his update. Valeriya plastered on her fake smile, knowing none of it mattered. One day soon, she would replace these wasted afternoons with actual work—actual change. These males did not know what they were in for. Valeriya looked forward to the day she could show them.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Elyse
Elyse stifled a yawn as she nodded to the two guards outside the library that she didn’t recognize. Since moving to her own suite, it was easier to wake early and head to the library without raising her father’s suspicion. Though the sun just crested above the horizon, Elyse looked the part of a court lady with her hair tied into a half knot and black lining her eyes.
One freedom of living on her own was the choice of clothing. The dress she wore was chiffon of pale gray that cinched at her waist, the neckline dipping low. The tulip skirt appeared as if she had a normal slit until she walked, the fabric falling to the sides and revealing more of her legs. It was a style that would have been too odd for her father.
Elyse would be thankful during her afternoon walk in the gardens for less cloth on her body. Plus, she liked the way her leather slippers and legs peeked out as she walked through the palace and to the library.
When Elyse arrived, her mind was still sluggish, with only having had one cup of tea. She jumped when she opened the door, finding the King in the office looking at her notes and a new stack of books on the desk.
“Elyse, I didn’t realize you came in so early.” King Wyltam set down her notes and placed his hands into his pocket, his eyes heavy with sleep and marred by dark underneath.
“Good morning, King Wyltam,” she said with a curtsy. “I spend my mornings reading and the afternoon practicing.” Ever since the experience with Mage’s Eye, Elyse practiced feeling for aithyr and other techniques from Fulbryk’s.
He nodded, looking down at her papers. “These notes are intriguing. Usually, those who study magic write line after line of text from the book. You drew diagrams and pictures instead.”
Elyse bit the inside of her cheek. “Drawing helps me memorize the visual details.”
“Clever. Were you good at your basic studies as a child?”
“My scores were less than average,” Elyse said, the admittance not burning as much as she thought it would. “I struggled to memorize text. When I tried to draw out my notes, the tutors would scold me.”
King Wyltam raised a brow, one side of his mouth lifting. “Typical. Funny how tutors know so much but also so little. Some, like yourself, cannot learn from text alone and I found in my teachings that visual aids go a long way. To figure that out on your own shows great promise.”
“You speak too kindly, Your Grace.”
“I don’t. I speak the truth.” The King’s hand spread her notes across the desk to read. The uncharacteristically slight smile remained on his face as he retrieved from his pocket a metal tin. “Ink is often unforgiving and slow to dry. I can see your smudges—and your frustrations.”
Gods, he saw the angry scribbles where she made mistakes, hashing them out hard enough to nearly tear the paper.
“I prefer charcoal, but being left-handed means it’ll smudge on my page; so, I had these made,” he said, shaking the tin, causing a rattling noise. “They work well for taking notes.Charcoal wrapped in paper, enchanted not to smudge unless intentionally done with the paper end of the utensil.” King Wyltam set the tin on the desk next to her notes. “Borrow my set for the time being. See how you like them. If you prefer them over ink, I’ll have some stocked in here for you.”
Elyse bit back her shock at his observation and kind expression. “Now, you are too kind. Thank you, my King.”
He waved his hand, turning back to her notes. “Enough of the titles. When it’s just you and I, Wyltam will suffice. If you’re to work with me, I prefer less pageantry.”
Surprised, she couldn’t hide her reaction that time. “Of course, understood.”
Wyltam then placed his hand on the new stack of books on the desktop. “I know you’re still focusing on Fulbryk’s principles, but work these texts into your studying. Fulbryk is good for groundwork and theory, but the new material provides better physical instructions. My goal for you is to have you training with magic by the end of next month.”
