“Three is still a very small number.”

  “We aren’t going to fight. This will be a social event.”

  “Followed by a kidnapping.”

  Will scowled. “She doesn’t belong to the king. She’ll come willingly.”

  “And if not?”

  He sighed. “Then I suppose it’ll be a kidnapping after all. Having second thoughts about swearing to me?”

  “Ask me again and I’ll knock you down. I’d be there with you, oath or no oath. Janice would be too if you let her,” said Tiny gruffly.

  Will nodded, but he knew better. Janice had a new priority, one that he fully supported. In fact, he felt terrible that she still hadn’t told Tiny yet. What if something happened? Because of her anxiety, she had barely emerged to see Tiny, and thanks to Will’s latest crisis, his friend wasn’t ready to propose yet. The two of them needed to talk.

  More importantly, was it right for him to risk Tiny’s life? Janice was simple enough, for she carried the child within her, but what about the unwitting father? It reminded him of Selene. She’d chosen to let Tabitha make a sacrifice to keep him safe, prioritizing him over her friend. I’m doing the same thing, Will realized. I love Tiny, but I’m willing to risk his life for the sake of my sisters, and he doesn’t even know what he might lose.

  It aggravated him that he couldn’t tell his friend, but Janice had been adamant. “Please, it will only distract him. I need to tell him myself, when we have time together,” she had said. He’d agreed, but he didn’t like it.

  Will looked up, seeing someone advancing toward them quickly. Tiny noticed and turned to face the newcomer. “Who is it?” he asked.

  “Tailtiu,” said Will simply. She was currently in her burly masculine form, which was why his friend hadn’t recognized her. Tiny blanched at the name, clearly uncomfortable. Tailtiu’s overt sexual nature had embarrassed him several times in the past.

  The fae woman grew even larger as she approached, until she stood a few inches taller than even Tiny. She gave the knight a wink as she addressed Will. “You have a visitor.”

  “Who?”

  “One of the Drak’shar,” she replied. “The same one that followed you during parts of the war. I recognize its stink. It seems to want to talk.”

  Will nodded. “Show me.”

  She frowned. “The creature is dangerous. Better to destroy it.”

  Tailtiu still carried mental scars from the time that the vampires had tortured her, scars that should be impossible for one of her kind to have. Nonetheless, she both hated and feared the undead monsters. “Is it dangerous to you?” he asked.

  “Of course not,” she scoffed.

  “Then it’s barely a threat to me,” said Will. “Which way? I’ll meet him privately.” He’d already deduced that the vampire must be his old classmate, Rob. Tailtiu growled, but pointed off to the left, toward part of the grounds that contained a lot of large topiaries. Tiny started to protest, but Will waved him off. “It’s fine. I know who it is.”

  He moved confidently, while behind him he heard his fae aunt muttering, “Barely a threat? That makes me so damned horny.” Then she asked Tiny, “Still monogamous? I could offer you some interesting exercise.”

  Will tried not to laugh and kept his mind on the meeting in front of him. Rob he could handle, hostile or not, but if Rob’s master, the lich, was present, then he might be entirely helpless. Grim Talek was probably capable of hiding his presence from Tailtiu, which meant that Will might be putting himself in danger, but bringing support wouldn’t change anything. The danger was just as great whether he was alone or with an army. The lich was immortal, magically flawless, and entirely amoral. Will could only hope the conversation would be peaceful if the undead paragon was present.

  He found Rob standing on the other side of a massive, sculptured bush, unflustered by the morning sun. His old friend smiled, flashing sharp fangs as he approached. “Long time no see.”

  Will nodded. “You look better.” The last time he had seen his friend, Grim Talek had tortured the young vampire by grinding up his internal organs and bones with a nasty spell. “I notice you aren’t getting a tan either.”

  “I’m learning to draw turyn again. The spell is my own,” said Rob, obviously proud, then he lowered his eyes. “I want to apologize.”

  Will didn’t trust his old classmate any farther than he could see him. “What for?”

  “I behaved badly toward you in the past. I was obsessed. It’s—it’s hard to describe, but in the early years after the transformation, the thirst, the urges, they tend to make it difficult to think properly. I’m better now. Almost—”

  “Human?”

  Rob met his gaze with frighteningly inhuman intensity. “No. Never that, but I’m more civilized at least. In time, my master assures me I’ll be far better than merely human.”

  “Is he here?” asked Will.

  “No, he sent me with a warning.”

  Will’s hands twitched, then tightened into fists. “I’m getting tired of threats. If you’re truly alone, you should be careful with your words.”

  Rob blanched. “I’m on your side, Will, even if you don’t trust me.”

  “You serve your master.”

  “Your patron,” returned Rob.

  “What?” Will’s temper flared. “Are you trying to provoke me?”

  “He’s been helping you, even if you aren’t conscious of it,” said Rob. “He calls you his ‘disciple.’”

  “I’ll reduce him to dust, given half a chance,” spat Will. “Just a few months ago I framed your master for a murder. Isn’t he aware?”

  Rob smiled. “He knows, and he wanted me to tell you that the opinions of mortals don’t concern him at all. If anything, he found your stunt humorous. He favors you greatly, Will. For me, or any of the others, such actions would result in extinction.”

  “I’m getting tired of this,” said Will. “Give me the message. Drag this out any longer and I’ll put an end to your suffering.”

  “I’m only trying to help, but very well. My master warns you to stay at home. You’re walking into a trap.”

  Will sighed. “I know it’s a trap.”

  “You cannot kill Lognion, not yet. No one can.”

  “Your master’s former student, Androv, nearly killed him not too long ago. I can do even better.”

  Rob shook his head. “You saved the world from what would have been Androv’s greatest mistake. Have you read the book?”

  “What book?” Will was genuinely confused.

  “My master’s book, left behind for the generations to come. He told me you should have read it by now. If so, he warns you that Lognion is the beast mentioned in the book.”

  “I don’t have any book written by your decrepit master,” growled Will. “You aren’t making any sense.”

  Rob looked genuinely confused, his eyes widening. “But you’re Master’s chosen. You must have read the book. He teaches that you will save the cattle and bring us a golden age of blood, when every appetite will be sated.”

  Will lifted a hand, and even though they were separated by more than ten feet of space, he tugged at the spell protecting Rob from the daylight. “You’re irritating me beyond my tolerance. Explain yourself or I’ll let the sun have its way with you.”

  Rob held up his hands. “I don’t know. I haven’t read the book, nor even seen it. Master left it to your kind, in preparation for the day that someone like you would arrive.” The vampire backed away. “You shouldn’t threaten me. I’m an adept of the fourth order now. Though I’m young now, someday I will surpass you.”

  “Tell that to Androv,” growled Will. “Leave, I’m almost out of patience.”

  Rob vanished with frightening speed, and Will returned to the others. Tiny was the first to ask, “What did it want?”

  Will had spent the last minute as he walked back thinking about what to tell them. Rob’s warning wouldn’t sit well with Selene. “Threats,” he replied simply. “Grim Talek is unhappy with what I’ve done to his reputation. Today’s message was posturing.”

  Selene was standing by the carriage. “We need to leave. You can explain in more detail while we travel.”

  Tiny would be riding alongside, on Thunderturnip, so he merely shrugged, then gave Will a look of encouragement. Inside the carriage, Selene waited expectantly, and as they began rolling, he did his best to explain. She wasn’t entirely satisfied with his answers.

  “Why would he threaten us now?” she asked. “It doesn’t feel right. Does the lich know where we’re going?”

  “Probably,” said Will. “I think he wants to shake my confidence. He likely has a grudge over losing Darrow. Overthrowing your father would be yet another feather in our cap.”

  “From what you’ve said, he could kill you if he wanted. Why doesn’t he?”

  Will shrugged. “I think he’s somewhat like the king. He likes games. A brute force win doesn’t give him any satisfaction.”

  Selene eyed him suspiciously. “Maybe.”

  He asked a question to change the focus of the conversation. “Do you really think we should be taking the carriage? We won’t be able to use it later.” The trip to Cerria took half a day by wagon or carriage while they could make the journey quicker on fast mounts. If Will and Selene used travel spells, they could get there in just a couple of hours.

  “Definitely,” she replied. “A speedy arrival won’t help us. Tonight is the first of several events to introduce Tabitha to the populace. It doesn’t start until late afternoon, and you’re not planning to abscond with your sister until afterward. By arriving just before, we give the king the least amount of time to react.”

  “Assuming he isn’t already aware of our movements somehow,” observed Will.

  She nodded. “True. Either way, though, we’ve limited his time to prepare by some amount. Tonight will be limited to the nobility, so it will also be the smallest crowd and the one he least wants to offend, which should keep him on his best behavior.”

  “I’m not sure I understand why he’s having multiple gatherings to accomplish the same thing.”

  Selene took a deep breath and began to explain. “It’s a bit like how ordinary people publish banns when they are about to get married, but for royalty it’s much more involved. As the head of state, Lognion’s marriage is a significant event for the entire nation. The parties leading up to the wedding will get larger each day, but only the most important people get to be at all of them. The nobility, those with the most wealth and power will be present tonight—and every other night. Tomorrow, the invitations will include rich merchants, guild masters, and other captains of industry. The next day, those with less wealth and influence will be included, and the final day will be a public event.”

  She paused, giving him a pensive look, then added, “And you’re wrong about the carriage. Laina and I can use it since we’re escaping separately.”

  “You’ll be caught sooner,” Will cautioned.

  “We can ride separately, and when the pursuit gets close, we can split off and let the carriage serve as a decoy for us. A decoy for the decoy, so to speak.”

  “Unless he uses Laina against you from the beginning.”

  “She won’t be conscious,” Selene responded. “Since she’s presumably going to be cooperating, I can keep her asleep for at least a full day. He won’t be able to issue any orders if she’s unconscious. If we get lucky and he misses his chance when I wake her to handle her necessities, we might be able to remain uncaught for several days.”

  He nodded. “With Tailtiu’s help, I can get Tabitha and Agnes safely to Barrowden and be back in Cerria within less than a day. Hopefully this will be over before you’re caught.”

  Mentioning his planned confrontation made Selene visibly nervous, but she hid it well. “Can you travel that quickly with others tagging along?”

  “I’ll be alone on the return trip.”

  She froze. “What about Tiny?”

  “I’m leaving him with Mom and the others in Barrowden. He’ll be more use there, and he would just be a hindrance when I fight the king.”

  “You don’t have eyes in the back of your head, William—”

  Will held up a hand to forestall the rest of her argument. “Tailtiu will be with me. He’s about to be a father.” As he spoke, he noticed her right hand tightening on part of her skirt, though her features remained smooth.

  She nodded, then stared out the window for a moment. “As I should have expected.”

  “Are you upset?”

  “Let’s not talk about it for a while. I didn’t get enough sleep.”

  Chapter 10

  “Presenting Her Highness, Princess Selene Cartwright and her husband, William Cartwright, Duke of Arenata. They are accompanied by Sir John Shaw and his companion Denise…” The announcer’s voice remained calm, but he stumbled slightly over ‘Selene Cartwright.’ Will had argued for a more conservative approach, but despite her usual calm, Selene hadn’t been willing to compromise on that point. She had insisted that her father was more cautious when angry than otherwise, as he viewed emotion as a weakness.

  Despite being the smallest event of the week, the palace ballroom was still full. No one among the nobility had wanted to miss the chance, and having an opportunity to attend the first night was a clear indicator of power and the favor of the king.

  Their arrival was unexpected since they hadn’t responded to any of the invitations, much less appeared at any social events in the capital recently. Not only had they arrived without forewarning, but they’d also appeared late, two hours after the start. According to Selene, arriving late was a privilege and statement of power. “The later you show up, the more influence and authority you have—presumably. The one rule, though, is one must never arrive after the royal family. The king is always the last to appear. Daring to enter after him is considered an affront.”

  “I’m not here to fight, remember?” Will had reminded.

  Selene had nodded. “Again, the angrier he is, the more cautious he will be. He’s at his most aggressive when he’s calm.”

  Descending the steps to the main ballroom floor, Will couldn’t help but notice everyone’s eyes had fixed upon them. He met each gaze with steady eyes and a haughty smirk, while Selene’s response was the opposite. She accepted the attention as her due, returning the curious stares with a charming smile. Those who approached, she met with warmth and familiarity, addressing each and every one, lords, ladies, and even their children, with their names and a polite question regarding their health or similar doings. Her memory for such details was simply colossal, and Will was continually impressed.

  He knew some of the names, but in general he paid close attention to Selene’s introductions since he recognized only a fraction of the nobles present. It was with a sense of relief that he was able to greet Baron Lambel and Baron Hargast without needing any assistance. They were his own vassals after all, and he knew both men well from the recent war.

  “You are a vision of health and vigor, Your Grace,” complimented Lord Lambel effusively, “though even you can’t stand beside the vision of beauty and grace without seeming plain in comparison.” The young baron tipped his head respectfully in Selene’s direction. “It’s a pleasure to see you here this evening, Your Highness.”

  After a short exchange, in which Lambel introduced his wife, Evelyn, the baron turned his attention to Tiny and Tailtiu. “Is that you, Squire Shaw?” he asked with a smile.

  “Sir John, now,” Tiny answered politely with a blush. “I’m honored you remember me.”

  “Sir Kyle would let none forget your name. To hear him recount it, half of all the enemy casualties were done by your hand.” The baron glanced at Tailtiu. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting your companion, Denise—I didn’t catch the rest of your name.”

  “Mortiferous,” replied Tailtiu promptly.

  The baron’s brows went up. “How unusual. I haven’t heard a name quite like it before.”

  “It isn’t really my name,” Tailtiu added honestly. “It’s more a description of what I do.”

  Lambel looked uncertainly at Will, who merely shrugged, then the man asked hesitantly, “You’d describe yourself as deadly then?”

  Tailtiu nodded agreeably. “Though not always in a violent sense. Sometimes I fuck them to de—”

  Will choked on a laugh, but Selene intervened, speaking over the fae woman. “Lady Evelyn, tell me about your journey. When did you arrive in Cerria?” Tiny took the opportunity to warn Tailtiu to silence with a stern shake of his head.

  Others approached, such as Baron Hargast and the newly minted Duke Lustral. The greetings and introductions were endless, and through it all Will could feel Lognion’s eyes studying them from the balcony above.

  The ballroom itself was enclosed by a wide upper balcony that looked over the main floor on all sides. It was there, on the north side of the room, that King Lognion entertained a steady stream of well-wishers while showing off his future bride. If his daughter’s rude appearance bothered him, he showed it not at all.

  Will’s attention was drawn back by Selene’s voice. “Lady Nerrow, it has been too long!” Turning, he saw that Agnes Nerrow had finally reached them, accompanied by a younger man with a distinctly martial air to him. Selene continued, “Sir Nelson, this is my first time seeing you since your elevation to knighthood.”

  Will ticked off the details in his mind. Given that his father was in Darrow, Agnes had elected to bring a younger vassal as her escort. The knight in question seemed capable in ways that some landed gentry did not, which made him think her choice might be grounded in a real need for security. Mark isn’t here, and she’s under immense pressure from the king. No number of men-at-arms would be enough, but she must feel better having a strong arm beside her.

  “I am honored you remember me, Your Highness,” said the knight in question, then he nodded respectfully in Will’s direction. “And I’ve been wanting to meet you since the war, Your Grace.” He offered his hand, which Will then shook.