Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3)(81)

Destin slid a look at the queen. He’d long suspected that Marina knew more about the king’s tragic end than she let on. If she did, she had not shared it with him. While they exchanged information, they each had secrets they kept close.

“Speaking of King Jarat,” Destin said, “what news of the young hawk?” He and the queen often played at pretty speech when discussing the ugliness at court.

Madeleine leaned toward him. “My brother has been drinking all afternoon with Charles and Georges and Luc.” She rolled her eyes. “They’re disgusting.”

Charles and Georges Barbeau and Luc Granger were members of a group of young lordlings—what the young king called his “privy council.” Emphasis on privy. Most were in their early twenties, and so a few years older than Jarat (and Destin, for that matter). They were the sons of thane loyalists, and were minor bannermen, with a lot to gain from a relationship with the king. None were tainted by a history with King Gerard, nor were they spoiled by wisdom or experience—or common sense. They were more than happy to take the young king under their tutelage in the study of drinking, hunting, dicing, wenching, and swordplay.

“I’ve told you to stay away from them,” Marina said. “It’s not suitable conversation and company for a young lady.”

“How else am I supposed to find out anything?” Madeleine said. “Jarat was bragging that he’s going to marry a northern princess.”

It took Destin a moment to process that. “Really? Does he have one picked out?”

Madeleine shrugged. “There’s only one left, isn’t there? They were talking about all the women they’d had, and would have. Jarat said Father never bedded a wolf, but he would, and even a wolf could be tamed with the proper—”

“Madeleine!” Marina scowled at her daughter and thrust out her hand. Madeleine sighed deeply, dug in her tiny purse, pulled out a copper, and dropped it into her mother’s hand.

“What’s the copper for, Your Highness?” Destin said to Madeleine.

“Mama is trying to teach me dis . . .” She frowned and looked at Marina.

“Discretion, darling,” Marina said.

“Whenever I’m . . . indiscreet, I have to pay Mama a copper.”

Destin reached behind Madeleine’s ear and pretended to pull out a silver. He handed it to her and said, “You were saying?”

Mother and daughter both laughed.

“I think it was just Jarat bragging like he always does,” Madeleine said, tucking away the silver.

I hope so, Destin thought, recalling what Matelon had said about the northern queen. “If your brother means to marry a wolf, you should tell him that wolves eat hawks for dinner,” he said.

“No,” Marina said sharply. “You should not tell him that. Now, isn’t it time for your dance lesson?”

“She wants me to leave,” Madeleine confided in a stage whisper. She kissed Destin on the cheek, curtsied to her mother, and flounced away.

Marina gazed after her. “She will make somebody a clever queen if she lives that long.” She turned back to Destin, set out two cups, and poured them both some cider. “What brings you into the garden today?”

It was an odd echo of his garden walks with Gerard, during which he’d receive his marching orders.

Destin nodded toward Madeleine, a bright spot of color disappearing through the gate. “Is there anything to what she said? Is there some kind of plan or negotiation with the north afoot?”

Marina sighed. “Not to my knowledge, Destin, but the king doesn’t confide in me much anymore, either. I’ve been giving him too much counsel that’s contrary to his nature. I don’t think he trusts me to tell him what he wants to hear. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people at court who will.” She fluffed her skirts and offered him a platter of grapes. “But enough about our family squabbles. What do you have for me?”

It was part of their unspoken bargain—to trade information without getting too specific about sources.

Destin sorted through bits of information, setting aside those that were too dangerous to share.

“Do you remember the empress in the east? Who wanted to lend us an army?”

“Of course. That deal fell through, right?”

“Right,” Destin said. “But she’s brought an army anyway, and invaded the Fells.” He watched the queen closely, and she looked absolutely ambushed. The queen had her own sources, but clearly she hadn’t known this was coming, either.

She leaned forward. “Does the king know? Is he working with the empress?”

“I was going to ask you that question,” Destin said. “My sources—on both sides of the Indio—are usually reliable, especially as regards diplomacy with the empire. From what I’m hearing, there has been no communication to or from, which suggests that she is acting on her own.” He paused, then continued, knowing that he had to frame this in the right way. “I think I can say with confidence that the king doesn’t know it yet, but he soon will. Jarat will think this is good news, that it will free him up to act against the thanes.”

Marina raised an eyebrow. “And? You disagree?”

“If King Jarat thinks it’s bad having Queen Raisa as a neighbor, wait until he has to contend with Celestine,” Destin said. “In just a few years, she has conquered the entire Desert Coast. Her army is larger than ever, and her soldiers are unstoppable. If she invaded the Fells without an agreement with the empire, you can bet that this is just the prelude to her coming south.”