He hesitates, then meets my gaze. “Vesilane remembers you.”
My breath stills. “She was young when I saw her last.”
“Children are very smart. They soak up everything they see like a sea sponge,” he says softly. “I was able to get her into a position as the consort’s attendant before this mess happened.”
I sheathe the dagger slowly. “You killed someone to make space for her, no doubt.”
He gives me a half smile, one that tells me not to ask questions. A part of me revolts when I feel myself softening. How could I have ever believed that this was agoodman?”
“Hmm.” I turn toward the shuttered window. The festival music outside swells, muffled by distance. “Will you rescue Arlet and Vann from the dungeons?”
He shakes his head. “The king will want retribution to reaffirm his throne and demonstrate to the court that he is still in control. Those who stand against him must be punished.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Gods on their stony thrones. Arlet cannot fight.”
He raises a brow. “Are you sure?”
I think of the curse she’d been plagued with in Enduvida. But surely all of that is gone now, right?
“How exactly will they be put on trial?”
Castien frowns. “I think he will have it be a tethered fight to the death against beasts and monsters. But the good news is, if I can find the seed, Arion will likely have the throne transported to the arena in a show of dominance.”
I raise a brow. “I wasn’t aware such a thing could be moved. Does it not have…roots?”
“Only magical ones. Besides, it is in the king’s best interest to show the entirety of his subjects just how powerful he is. How the gods smile upon him.”
I nod, absorbing all the information. “Very well. I must notify my king and queen. There are other assassins I came with, I should meet with them also.”
I pull out the crystal I’ll use to contact them, and prepare a few speaking stones to share a message with Teo and Estela as well.
Only then do I look at him again. “When will you tell me the next move?”
“Soon.”
“And where will we meet?”
“I’ll find you.”
“Very well, I will find lodging,” I say, and cross to the door.
He moves to stand beside me. “Does that mean we have an alliance again?”
I glance at him from the corner of my eye. “The Enduar Court, which I serve, has melded with humans. They have an alliance with Mrath. If you are with her, then I will cooperate.”
“Merely cooperate?” His voice is testing.
I turn back around. “What more do you want?”
Suddenly, he is too close. Again. His hand snatches my chin and I resist the urge to snap my jaws at him.
“I…” He hesitates. “I don’t know. I’ve waited a hundred years to see you again. If that is all you will give me, then I will respect your word.”
I am there, locked in his grasp, for a moment longer. Then I say, “The woman marrying Arion is the mate of a member of my court, and my dear friend. I need to get both of them home, and I don’t fully trust Mrath. If you wish to prove yourself, help me do that.”
A part of me is uneasy to have admitted that aloud. Mrath has done many things for my people over the years. It’s not that I think she would betray us, but I don’t wish for anything to happen to Arlet because she bound herself to Arion.
Castien’s grin returns, faint but real, and his fingers caress my jaw. My neck. “That sounds like the Liana I remember.”