Ruined (Ruined, #1)(19)

Em pushed back her shoulders with a smile. Good thing she wasn’t from Vallos.

Cas arrived at her door after the sun had set. He wore black pants, a white collared shirt, and a black coat with silver buttons down the middle. The coat hung open unbuttoned. He was a bit disheveled, like he’d run around the castle a few times before coming to see her. It would have been cute, had she not been determined to hate him.

“Good evening,” he said as she stepped out of the room. She was suddenly unsure what to do with her hands.

“Hello,” she murmured, avoiding his gaze. He offered her his good arm, and she took it and let him steer her down the hallway.

“Are you feeling all right?” she asked, stealing a glance at him. The deep black color of his coat made his eyes stand out even more than usual. It was hard not to stare.

“I am, thank you. A little sore still, but it’s healing fine.”

“Glad to hear it,” she lied. Just how “fine” was he? Ready to make up for the wedding night “fine”? She shuddered and let her fingers brush against the rope tieback on the curtains as they passed them.

“Jovita told you about the warriors?” he asked.

“She did. I was surprised. I thought relations between Olso and Lera were tense.”

“They have been for a long time. But the warriors reached out recently, wanting to come in person to discuss a few treaties. Said they wanted to keep the peace.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said, suppressing a smile. Not a hint of suspicion in Cas’s tone. He really thought the warriors were there to bow down at Lera’s feet, like everyone else.

“Have you ever met a warrior?” he asked.

She had. And not just the ones she’d negotiated with recently. Many citizens of Olso had come through Ruina, since their kings and queens always seemed more intrigued by the Ruined than scared. Em’s mother had admired the way warriors dedicated their lives to training for battle, and had invited many to stay as guests in the castle.

Cas was watching her, waiting for her answer. Would Mary have met any warriors? It seemed unlikely. Olso looked down on Vallos.

“Not that I recall,” she said carefully.

They walked to the main dining room, the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air as they approached the double doors. A staff member opened them, and Cas and Em stepped inside.

Several long rows of tables ran down the center of the room, most of them already full. Large bowls of bread and fruit sat in the middle of every table, and staff members scurried about, refilling wineglasses.

There were at least a hundred people, maybe more. Most of the wedding guests were staying in the castle for weeks, exactly as the warriors had said they would. To properly take down Lera, she needed to destroy many of their leaders, and a good number of them sat in this room. The governors of the six provinces reported directly to the king, and five of them were present. There were also a few captains, the Lerans responsible for managing safety and soldiers in their area. The queen had informed Em that judges, the lowest rank in Lera, had mostly stayed behind to manage their provinces in the absence of the governor or captain. They weren’t terribly important anyway.

“Prince Casimir and Princess Mary,” a voice announced.

Everyone in the room quickly stood, and Em scanned the crowd, looking for the warriors.

“Please be seated,” Cas said. Everyone obeyed and took their seats again.

Three people in white-and-red uniforms stayed standing for a beat longer than everyone else. The warriors. Two men and one woman. In fact, Em knew the girl. She had spent several days in the Ruina castle three years ago with her mother and father, a powerful Olso family.

Iria. That was her name.

A smirk crossed Iria’s face, and Em resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Iria had spent most of her time in the Ruina castle challenging Em to “duels” (“To the death!” she’d always yell, and then giggle), and the rest of the time antagonizing Em and Olivia at every turn.

Of course King Lucio had sent Iria. She had probably requested to come, because she knew it would annoy Em.

She took a deep breath and glanced at Cas. He was staring at her.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “Should we sit?”

Cas steered her toward the table at the front of the room, where Jovita and some of the governors were already seated. Em noticed the warriors were not seated with the royal family, which seemed like an intentional slight.

She and Cas sat as a member of the staff brought the warriors to meet them. Em leaned forward in her chair, plastering a smile on her face.

“Koldo Herrerro,” the staff member said, and the young bright-eyed warrior smiled at them.

“Benito Lodo.” The man with a dark beard nodded.

“Iria Ubino.”

Iria stepped forward. Her long, wavy dark hair was tied back in a braid that fell over her shoulder as she bowed her head in the traditional Lera greeting. Her dark eyes were trained only on Em as she straightened, and Cas looked between them.

“Have you met before?” he asked, loud enough for the warriors to hear.

One side of Iria’s mouth turned up, and Em hoped the warrior knew she was imagining strangling her. “I don’t think so.”

Iria waited a long time before speaking. Em wished Iria would hide her delight at torturing her a bit better.