“You’re a damn fool is what you are, and I’m leaving!”
He turned toward the end of the veranda. “Guards!”
The sentries standing at the railing immediately stepped forward. “Escort Princess Arabella back to her quarters,” he ordered. “And post four guards to see that she stays put!”
I stood there, stunned with disbelief, trying to find my voice. “Are you saying I’ve gone from being the prisoner of one kingdom to being the prisoner of another?”
“You can twist it into whatever warped thing you choose, which I’m sure you will, but you’re going to your tent and staying there until you come to your senses!”
I looked back at the guards. They stared at me anxiously, not sure how to proceed until Rafe told them, “If she doesn’t follow willingly, you have my permission to drag her.”
I glared at him and spun, stomping down the steps with the guards hot on my heels.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
KADEN
We heard every word.
When the shouting began, Sven stood halfway up as if to leave. “Maybe we should give them some privacy—” Then he seemed to realize that the only exit led right into their argument. He sat back down. The only other option would have been to sneak out single file through the cook’s entrance, which would be even more awkward, an admission that we were hearing their raging argument.
So we sat there listening, wondering how it could get worse.
Words like devil’s hell, damn fool, and I decide raised eyebrows, but prisoner was a word that sucked in breaths. Tavish groaned, and Jeb mumbled a curse. Sven leaned forward, his face in his hands like he wished he could counsel his charge in the rules of a proper argument. I heard him mumble drag her? beneath his breath.
Griz was surprisingly silent, and I realized he was enjoying listening to the king dig his grave. Griz believed in Lia in a strange, fierce way that I was only just grasping. It didn’t matter that she planned to leave him behind. T
he king was showing his true royal colors, and Griz was savoring every word.
I tried to savor the warm kernel of satisfaction growing in my gut too, but I also knew the rage I heard in Lia’s voice came from a place of deep hurt. My satisfaction turned cold. After my promise of honesty, I had dispensed only portions of the truth to Rafe about my kiss with Lia, knowing it would enrage him, but she was the one who had shouldered the brunt of the pain it had caused. I didn’t want to hurt her any more.
It was quiet outside on the veranda, and Sven finally broke our silence. “What else could he do? It’s not safe for her to go back to Morrighan.”
“She asked me once about going home,” Jeb said. “I always assumed she meant Dalbreck.”
“Dalbreck is not her home,” I told him.
“It’s going to be,” Tavish said, shooting me a dark glare.
“Nothing to worry about.” Orrin poured himself more ale. “She’ll come to her senses.”
Tavish snorted. “Sure she will.”
“Her worry is valid,” I said. “The Komizar is going to march against Morrighan and the other kingdoms.”
“Which kingdom first?” Sven asked.
“Morrighan.”
“And you know that with certainty, probably because he told you.”
Sven’s point was clear. The Komizar wasn’t the best source for any truths, and I knew how he could hold back information, pitting one governor against another for his own purposes. The Komizar wanted Morrighan, but he wanted Dalbreck too. He wanted them all.
“Yes,” I answered. “Certain.” But now I wasn’t.
Bodeen grinned. “March with his supposed army of a hundred thousand?”
Griz cleared his throat. “Not exactly,” he said, finally speaking up. “I’m afraid the princess didn’t get the numbers quite right.”