Dividing Eden (Dividing Eden #1)(46)
Carys resisted the urge to smooth her hair or straighten her dress. She wasn’t fifteen anymore and infatuated with the solidly built, skilled nineteen-year-old who had bluntly said her erratic behavior and stupors were an embarrassment to the entire kingdom. She’d admired him for speaking the truth to her face instead of whispering it behind her back and for thinking she was strong enough to handle it. But he was her enemy now, and it was clear by the way Elder Jacobs clapped Garret on the back that he was part of whatever the Council had planned for her and her brother.
Turning toward the steps to the blue platform, Carys stopped short of running smack into the same dark-haired dignitary she’d spotted riding with Elder Ulrich.
“Excuse me, Your Highness,” he said with a smile that softened his sharp, tanned features in a compelling way. “I didn’t mean to get in the way. Although, it seems like I am making a habit of that when it comes to your family.”
“It does seem to be a skill of yours, Lord . . .”
“Errik of the House of Yarxbell, Trade Master of Chinera, and a lot of other titles my father and mother would say are necessary but mean just about nothing to those who don’t live within our borders.” His mocking charm should annoy her. Instead, she was intrigued by his lack of fascination with his own importance.
“Trade Master.” Chinera was at least fifteen hundred leagues away, across the Fire Sea, but she had been schooled thoroughly enough on the power structure of the kingdom to know the Trade Master was a counselor to the King and empowered to speak on his behalf in negotiations beyond the Chinera border. Lord Errik appeared at most only a year or two older than herself. To rise to that position so quickly spoke either of the influence of his family or his skill. Perhaps both. “It’s been at least fifty years since the last Trade Master visited Eden. And your visit was timely for my family. My brother and I owe you thanks for your interference with our mother yesterday. That habit came in useful.”
“It’s always nice to be of service. Although, I have a feeling you would have found a way to solve the problem had I not been so intrusive, Highness.” His deep blue eyes turned serious. “I should probably get out of your way now, unless you’d allow me the honor of escorting you to your platform.”
Carys shook her head as trumpets sounded, signaling that the nobility’s participation in the tournament was about to begin. “I believe the High Lords and visiting dignitaries are to be seated with the Council of Elders in the center. I’m sure they’ll be able to make you comfortable there.”
“I find comfort to be highly overrated, Your Highness.” He offered his arm. “May I have the honor of joining you?”
Normally, Carys would turn him down flat. But as much as she told herself she didn’t care what people thought of her, she didn’t want everyone to see her standing atop her platform at the start of these trials utterly alone.
She placed her hand on his arm and was surprised at the strength and muscle she felt there. Lord Errik was not bulky like Lord Garret or most of the guard, but there was strength in him others probably missed. She had. She wouldn’t again. She noticed him studying her and said, “I trust you realize you’ve picked the less popular side, Lord Errik.”
He put his hand atop hers and smiled. “Which makes it the far more interesting one.”
There was strength in his fingers, too. And calluses that spoke of hours spent training with steel. Yes. Carys had missed much about Lord Errik in her first assessment. She tried to remedy that as they climbed the steps to the long rectangular platform, and she was surprised when they reached the top to see she and Errik wouldn’t be completely alone. Eight of the young women of the court sat on wooden benches facing the tournament grounds—all girls Carys recognized as conquests of her twin brother’s charms. The girls stood and curtsied when they saw her and Errik appear. They all eyed Carys’s escort with interest as he walked her to the blue-cushioned throne-like chair in the center of the viewing stand. Not that Carys could blame them. Lord Errik’s strong chin and angular features would catch any girl’s attention.
When they reached her seat, Errik raised her hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles. Trumpets sounded and her heart skipped as she stood in front of her chair and straightened her shoulders; the people crowded around the tournament field grew quiet and turned toward the platforms.
Elder Cestrum stepped forward on the center viewing area and held up his good hand and his metal claw. Heralds stationed near the fence of the tournament area prepared to memorize his words and plunge into the crowd to make sure all who were too far away to hear learned what was said.
“Congratulations to all the tournament winners thus far. The winds blew strong for you today. I had planned to be standing in front of you now under very different circumstances. Today was to be the first of our celebrations to honor the reign of Queen Betrice. But the Queen has been struck hard by the death of King Ulron and Prince Micah and is unable to take her rightful place in the Hall of Virtues.”
The crowd shifted and murmured. On the center platform, just behind Elder Cestrum, Garret turned his head and looked again at Carys. She pulled her eyes away from him and focused on his uncle as he waved off the crowd’s concern. “While we are saddened that Queen Betrice cannot take the throne, we are fortunate to have two of King Ulron’s children who are ready to wear the crown. Since only one can sit on the throne, starting here at this tournament we will hold a series of Trials based on the seven virtues to determine whether Prince Andreus or Princess Carys will stand as our ruler.”