Page 8 of The King's Sword
“A few of the men had something tying them to Avoni.”
“So we know it’s either Lynk or Avoni who is causing Bakley all these problems.”
“Correct,” he replied. “Did you see anything to support any of this at the palace?” Otto asked. “Did Rainer mention anything to you at all?”
She shook her head. She’d been so wrapped up in finding Alina’s killer that she hadn’t been paying attention to anything else. Sometimes she felt her young age and lack of political knowledge keenly—this was one of those times. If she’d paid more attention to her studies, if she’d attended more meetings with the dignitaries from other kingdoms…there were a lot of ifs. She needed to rectify these things. She needed to protect Bakley.
“You’re not looking well,” Otto said.
“I need something warm to drink. Can someone bring me a cup of tea?” Hopefully, the beverage would soothe her stomach.
“You want tea?” Otto asked around a chuckle as he stood from the sofa. “You’re turning into Mother.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m cold and hungry is all.”
“There aren’t any servants, so we’ll have to make it ourselves.” He led her to the kitchen.
Sabine had never made her own tea before and wasn’t sure how one went about doing it. “Why aren’t there any servants?” And who would cook their supper? The kitchen had an alcove with a small hearth containing a fire. Next to it, several pots and pans hung. There were also two long counters for cutting vegetables or kneading bread. Below the counters were stacks of plates and pewter mugs. In the middle of the kitchen, a long table with a bench on either side took up a majority of the space.
“We don’t have servants because we don’t want anyone to overhear our conversations. It’s safer this way.” Otto went over and grabbed a pot.
“Are all of the League members here?” Sabine asked, taking a seat on one of the benches.
“All but one.”
She pinched her eyes shut, realization dawning on her. “Is Evander Avoni’s representative?” She looked at her brother, fearing the answer she already knew.
“Yes.” Otto filled the pot with water.
“Which means Evander is a member of the Avoni royal family?”
“He is.” He hung the pot in the hearth, above the low burning fire.
Sabine drummed her fingers on the table, contemplating this new information. Originally, she’d thought Evander was simply a member of the delegation. Then when he’d appeared on her balcony at the palace, she figured he was an assassin since he seemed to possess stealthy skills. Then he went and kidnapped her. And now she found out he was a prince. An assassin-kidnapper-pirate-prince. A man of many talents. She snorted.
Otto poured some steaming water into a mug, handing it to Sabine. Then he got a jar of tea leaves and added some into a strainer, giving it to her.
“Why is the League meeting here today?” she asked, taking the strainer and setting it in her mug to steep.
Otto sat across from her. “We’re here for two reasons. One, to discuss your marriage to King Rainer. And two, to do a little spying.” The corners of his lips rose in a half smile.
“Spying?” Sabine wrapped her hands around the mug, warming her fingers.
“Yes. We’re going on a trip tomorrow to investigate. Our spies have discovered that certain caves and tunnels are being used to transport weapons from one kingdom to another. We’re going to go and take a look to see for ourselves. The League can’t act on this information unless we’re one hundred percent sure it’s true and accurate.”
After taking her tea strainer out and setting it aside, she took a sip of the hot tea, letting its warmth fill her. “About my marriage to King Rainer,” she said as she set her mug back on the table, “we secretly married.” She quickly told Otto what had transpired before the Avoni delegation arrived in Lynk. When she finished, she leaned across the table and whispered, “The marriage hasn’t been consummated.” She sat back down, waiting for his response.
He sat there motionless, staring at her, his face revealing nothing.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” she asked, unease filling her as she shifted her weight on the bench.
His face remained unreadable. “Let me think this through. Tell no one.”
She nodded, knowing this was a tricky situation. One in which she had no idea how to navigate through. She was married, but the marriage was not consummated. She was crowned queen of Lynk but no one knew except for a handful of people. A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Is Anton here?” Since he was Lynk’s representative, he should be present.
“He is due to arrive the day after tomorrow. We wanted to talk with you and then do our spying mission before Anton got here.”
Evander came strolling into the kitchen dressed in clean clothes, his hair wet. “Tea?” he said, shaking his head as he eyed the table. “You Bakley people and your plain tea.”
