Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(8)

To be fair, she had hated me from the start, ever since I disobeyed her orders during a mission to Caltoth during Darren’s and my apprenticeship. That hate had only multiplied since she had taken up residency in court and persecuted my brother.

I couldn’t wait until the day I exposed Blayne and his loyal right-hand for the villains they were.

Darren’s voice was low in my ear. “Was that really necessary?”

I feigned indifference with a shrug. Inside, I squelched unrepentant rage. It felt like I was sawing away at some part of my soul, bit by bit, small flares of pain sparking along my chest.

I took my seat at the left of the long rectangular table. Karina and Yves, the Colored Robes for Restoration and Alchemy, were already seated across. I sat with the king and the leader of the Crown’s Army, Eve’s father. Commander Audric controlled the largest regiment in Jerar; it housed over ten thousand men, though a couple hundred were always on continuous patrol while the rest awaited orders at a base just miles outside of the capital. Unlike the city regiments, the Crown’s Army answered to Jerar as a whole.

“So,” Blayne took the opportunity to speak, leaning back against his chair, looking every bit his father’s son, “why such a pressing meeting during a week of festivities. Surely, Darren, your wife can’t be so terrible in bed that you ache for war instead?”

My whole face burned, not just at the implication—which was terrible in its own right, but made worse because I had actually pushed Darren aside—but that the rest of room and his brother had been witness as well.

“You will leave my wife out of this.”

Blayne’s surprised gaze shifted from his brother to me, and a crude smile crossed his face as he caught my expression. His shrewd observation missed nothing. “Interesting.”

“Enough.” Darren’s curt command gave away none of the emotion beneath. “We have more pressing matters at hand.”

The young king gave a flick of his wrist. “So I hear, and yet you still haven’t revealed why the meeting was called.”

“It was for me. I made him call it.” I made myself break the uncomfortable pause. Best to put my anger to use. “I can’t stomach the thought of a week gone by playing the princess in love.”

Again, I caught the hushed intake of breath. The others thought it a slight to Darren, but it wasn’t. “Not when the rebels are loose, not while we are on the brink of war with a Caltothian king that could strike any day. Blayne, I’m blind to the state of this country, and as a part of the Crown, I deserve—no, I need—to know where we lie. I can’t sleep knowing that we put Jerar at risk just to give the crown prince and I a week of festivities. Your gift is too much.”

I caught the nod from the villain and knew I had won his approval. Nothing I had said had been a lie, even the fervor in which I used to tell it. Blayne had no reason to suspect anything amiss.

The Pythian ambassador had been the one who told me I was a terrible liar. I hadn’t grown up spinning lies like the rest of the highborn court. And so, I had found a way to spin my truth, never mind that the king’s interpretation was different than my own.

“I applaud your earnest appeal, Ryiah.” Blayne folded his arms. “But I must say it’s unwarranted. Commander Audric and the Council have seen to our strategy firsthand. There is nothing left unaccounted for.” His face hardened. “I believe this meeting was called for in error. Darren, perhaps reveal the reason behind your request before calling us to meet at such a late hour in the future.”

“Please.” My tone grew strained. “I can’t just remain in the dark. There must be some way I can help—”

“Ryiah,” Blayne’s reply was curt, “you are neither a commander of my army nor the Black Mage. You are allowed to listen in on our future meetings as a courtesy to your new position in the Crown, but that is all.”

My face fell. No, I needed information to bring to the rebels. This was ending before it had even had a chance to begin.

I tried to appeal to the one thing out of Blayne’s control, the loose end in his plot. “But the rebels are still out there—”

“Rest easy, lass,” the gruff commander spoke up at my left, turning in his chair. “No one blames you for your brother’s actions. My Eve was first to sing your praise, before.” His face contorted painfully.

There was an abrupt silence, and then Darren’s hand shot out to grasp the older man across the table. I had almost forgotten that the man had trained Darren during his youth, and his daughter alongside.

There was a look exchanged between the two, something deep, and I quickly averted my gaze.

But not before I noted the flare of envy in the king’s eyes. It was gone as fast as it appeared.

Darren cleared his throat a second later. “Blayne, Ryiah is right. We should discuss the rebels.”

“And we can, after the week is over.” The king’s words were sharp. “This time isn’t just for you, it’s for our subjects. They need something to inspire hope before we go to war.”

Once again, Blayne played the gracious sovereign. I caught Karina and Yves nodding along, never the wiser.

“Then send your brother to start the investigation now.” The commander had taken up his prince’s cause. “Darren grew up a warrior, Your Highness. Sitting and waiting is never something we do well.”