The King was five cups deep and fuming.
โI told Filick where Iโd be, and when Iโd return.โ Elm leaned back in Hauthโs chair, tensing as the wood groaned. He kept his face even, his fingers trailing the Scytheโs velvet edge in his pocket. โYou werenโt worried about me, were you?โ
He knew better than to poke the bearโmost of the time. Only now, the bear was too drunk to poke him back. โYou missed the first feast,โ the King said, his voice a low rumble.
Elm looked out over the great hall. There wasnโt a single thing in the wide, echoing room he regretting missing.
The scene was as it always was. Tables heaping with food, servants carrying trays stacked with silver and crystal goblets, decanters full of wine. Courtiers, laughing and swaying to a string ensemble, jaws slack with laughter. Branches and stems, leaves and seed clusters, tucked into their clothes and hairโ
Elmโs gaze narrowed. He dragged it over the great hall once more. โWhy on earth is everyone wearing greenery?โ
The King muttered into his cup. โBaldwynโs notion.โ
โDonโt tell me these feasts are in costume.โ Elm put a hand to his brow and groaned. โWhatโs the theme? Shrubs?โ
โTheyโre wearing sprigs from their house trees, you imbecile.โ The King
โwho wore no adornment save a permanent scowlโpulled another deep drink. โYou would know that had you attended last nightโs feast and not
scurried away to Castle Yew.โ
โYouโve stripped me of my Destrier duties. I was bored.โ
โThen pick a bloody wife,โ the King spat. When heads turned, he pressed his lips together and lowered his voice. โWhat do the Yews have to say?โ
Elm took a drink. โNot much.โ โEmory?โ
โBetter now that heโs at home where he should be.โ
The King kept his eyes forward on the great hall. Elm had long ago stopped expecting remorse from his father for what he had planned to do with Emoryโs blood. That clever, innocent boy. A boy Elm had watched grow up. Get sicker. Slowly die in Stone.
Elm had never caught the infection. But he knew all too well what it felt like to wither away at Stone. So when he had gone to Castle Yew last night, and there had been a thimbleโs worth of warmth in Emoryโs cheeks, he had all but kissed the boy.
Even without Ravyn and Jespyr present, Castle Yew was Elmโs true home. The bed where he slept best. Where all his favorite books were kept. He spoke freely there, without pretense.
His aunt had wrapped him in her strong arms, and so had his uncle. They hadnโt hugged him that tightly since he was a boy. โItโs all right,โ heโd said. โIโm managing.โ
Heโd told them everything. About what had happened on the forest road.
The inquest. Ione and the Maiden Card and the Kingโs feasts.
About becoming heir.
Heโd reached into his satchel and pulled out the marriage contract with the Kingโs seal. โI need you to put this in a safe place.โ
Fenirโs eyes had widened. โThis isโโ โYes.โ
Morette had ran her gaze over the parchment. Twice. Elm knew sheโd seen what he had. โWell, nephew,โ sheโd said, the corner of her mouth curling as she looked up at him. โI hope you know what youโre doing.โ
โSo do I.โ
The sharpness in the Kingโs green eyes was beginning to blur. Perfect. Better he was pliable, because Elm was going to do something he had never done before.
Barter with the King.
โYouโre wearing black,โ his father barked out of nowhere in a voice that might have belonged to one of his hounds. โDonโt you have any gold?โ
โI like black.โ Elm kept his eyes on the crowd, watching for the one person who was not yet there. โIt suits me.โ
The King finished his cup, raising a crude hand to the server, who came rushing back to refill it. Elm folded his hands on the table. โIโve thought about what you said on the drawbridge. About being heir.โ He took a sip of wine. โIโd like it in writing. With your seal.โ
โItโs already been drafted. Find Baldwyn to sign.โ โHold on. I have a price.โ
The King coughed. โTrees, Renelm.โ
โThis issue of these ridiculous feasts. Of a wife.โ
โNo,โ the King said. โI will not bend. The heir will marry.โ
โI didnโt say I wouldnโt marry,โ Elm bit back. โBut Iโd like your word that you will honor any contract I strike.โ
โDid you have someone in mind?โ
โNo one to whom you have not already given your seal of approval.โ
The King searched the great hall, as if he were looking for a loophole. But everyone in attendance had come by his invitationโselected for their property and wealth and all the things a sovereign might want for his heir.
The King ran a gnarled hand over his brow. โVery well.โ
Elm hid his smile in his wine cup. โYou look relieved. I imagine you expected Iโd give you more trouble.โ
โYou always have.โ
Elm opened his mouth, a drop of venom on his tongue, but the gong rang, and he snapped it shut. Nine tolls. Nineโand still no Ione. It dawned on him that maybe she would not come. He should have told her heโd be absent at Castle Yewโthat he hadnโt resigned their search for her Maiden Card just because sheโd left him panting in the cellar.
He stood, his bow to the King barely a nod, and was out of the great hall in less than a minute. He took the stairs two at a time. When he got to the fourth landing, he heard a manโs voice, echoing from above. It almost
sounded like Hauthโs.
Linden.
He quickened his pace and reached the fifth landingโthe royal corridor. Royce Linden had Ioneโs arm in his fist and was pulling her down the hallway. Ione said something Elm could not hear, and Lindenโs shoulders went taut. His reached over and gripped her cheeks, fingers digging into her skinโshouted into her face. โTraitor.โ
Elmโs finger was on his Scythe in less than a breath. โStand still, Destrier.โ
Linden went rigid. When he saw Elm coming, a flinch crossed his face.
It made Elm feel powerful, watching the brute cower. It made him feel like Ravyn.
โShe should not be wandering the castle without a guard,โ Linden gritted out. โHad I not caught her creeping toward the gardens, she might have easily gone outside and disappeared into the mist.โ His jaw was rigid. โThough I suppose it is no wonder, with you as her watchman, that she was able to slip away.โ
โTake your hand off of her.โ
Lindenโs fingers on Ioneโs face went white with strain. Play strengthโ the worst kind of pageantryโfor there was no disobeying a Scythe. His hand went limp, and Ione pulled away, her gaze unreadable.
Flames licked up Elmโs middle. But his voice remained calm. โYouโre not to go near her again.โ
โI take my orders fromโโ
โOne more word, Destrier, and Iโll finish what began on Market Day and rip your face so far open not even the Spirit will recognize you. If you touch Miss Hawthorn again, by the fucking trees, Iโll end you.โ He ran his gaze over Lindenโs scars. โDo you understand?โ
Hate boiled behind Lindenโs eyes. It greeted Elm like a brother. โYes,โ he said through tight lips.
โYes, Highness.โ โYes, Highness.โ
Elmโs anger wasnโt spent. Not by a fraction. But, with a lazy wave of his hand, he released the Scythe. Linden stepped away, quickly disappearing down the stairs.
Only then did Elm dare to glance at Ione. โHey, Hawthorn.โ
She was watching him, her face without expression. โThat was excessive.โ
โSorry.โ He rocked back on his heels, feeling wide open beneath her stare. โWhy were you headed for the garden?โ
โWhy do you think, clever Prince?โ
The pinprick of her voice found Elmโs chest. She was angry, though the Maiden masked it well. It felt strange to Elm, liking that she was angry at him. Anger was better than nothing at all. โIโm sorry I havenโt helped you search. I was away. Heir business.โ
As quickly as it came, the prick in Ioneโs voice was gone, her tone flattening. โI assumed you were avoiding me.โ
โNot at all. I spent the night at Castle Yew.โ โAnd that had nothing to do with me?โ
To say no would be a lie. It had been about her. Just not for the reason she thought. โYou think very highly of yourself, Hawthorn, if you imagine all my comings and goings concern you.โ
A noise hummed in her throat. โMaybe not your goings.โ
Elm smiledโran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. โThat wicked mouth is going to get you into trouble.โ
Ione turned away, her gray dress spilling behind her as she headed down the corridor. โIf you say so.โ
Elm followed her to a door with a hare carved into the frame. โIโm not inviting you in,โ she said at the threshold.
โI didnโt expect you to. I merely wished to note,โ he said, tapping a finger over the hare, โwhat door to knock on in the morning.โ
โWhat for?โ
โWe keep up the search.โ Their eyes caught. Elm shoved his hands into his pockets, strangling the desire to touch her. โThe Chalice didnโt work. But there are other Cards that may help us find your Maiden.โ