“Beneficial, as in reclaiming your throne.”
“So I can change the course of our future. Yes.” That is what a good king who can make hard decisions would do.
A glimmer of something sparks in Gesine’s eyes. “You will work together, your hands still tied.”
“I suppose so.”
“As you see, there can be more than one path to prophecy.” She pauses. “Though I would be remiss if I did not tell you that the seers have seen the door opened in the age of the casters.”
“Not by my will.” Or the will of anyone else who might try to use the key caster for their own benefit. I harden my resolve. “You are not to tell Romeria of what we have discussed.”
She frowns. “If you are requesting that I deceive her—”
“I’m asking that you not tell her more than she needs to know.” Not until I’ve had a chance to consider what telling her might mean.
“She will have many questions. If she is to trust me and accept my tutelage, I must answer them.”
“Then answer them. But not with speculation like the kind we just walked through. Not yet. It would be distracting for her.”
Gesine considers that a moment. “Such knowledge might divert her from her focus with training, and we need her learning as quickly as possible so she can protect herself.”
“Exactly.” Atticus may not be on our heels right now, but it won’t be long before he’s hunting us—her. “I will enlighten her when it makes sense.” If it makes sense. It means we’re back to keeping secrets from each other, but that has always been the case. “I am willing to lead us to Venhorn for shelter within the caves and because I want to root out the Ybarisans. We will pass Stonekeep on our journey, and you can see for yourself that no tokens are waiting for us. But you will not speak of this to anyone. If the Legion thinks we are following one of Mordain’s schemes, I will lose their loyalty, and that is far more important to me than anything these nymphs could offer. Is that clear?”
Gesine bows her head. “As you wish, Your Highness. Is there anything else?”
I pull back the edge of the tent, effectively breaking the sound barrier Gesine constructed. Noise erupts instantly, with shouts carrying and blades ringing. I seize the flame, intent on laying waste to any enemy, only there doesn’t seem to be one. The legionaries hang back as Abarrane marches toward Romeria and Elisaf, her dagger gripped within her palm, water dripping from her braids.
Clearly, Romeria has done something to irritate the commander. Again.
I sigh. “Yes. Train her well.”