assessment. “I’d thought of it as a lovely sentiment.”
He laughed. “Ah, Hollis, you have such a simple view of life. I wish I had it myself.”
The match began, and I saw quickly that Silas had been right: he was much better at making swords than wielding them. Still, I found myself moving closer and closer to the edge of my seat, hoping he’d somehow take the victory. His footwork was clumsy, but he was strong, swinging the sword with much more conviction than his counterpart, who, by chance, was wearing blue.
The crowd cheered and whooped with every blow, and I lifted my hand to my lips, hoping that if Silas didn’t win, he’d at least walk away uninjured. I never worried about Jameson when he was jousting. Perhaps it was his skill on horseback or just the belief that it was impossible for him to fail.
Knowing that loss or injury were both very possible made me care about what I was seeing all the more. But I found my hope restored that Silas would at least be safe when I saw a hint of golden fabric peeking out from his sleeve.
He’d taken it. I felt my heartbeat fly even faster knowing that he’d scooped up my favor and was wearing it as his own. I peeked over at Jameson, hoping he didn’t notice. I told myself that even if he had, plenty of ladies wove golden thread into their handkerchiefs. It was a thrilling and delicious secret.
Silas and his opponent battled back and forth, each refusing to concede. After one of the longest sword fights I’d ever seen, it all came down to the man in blue taking a few missteps and Silas bearing down with the sword hard on his challenger’s back. His opponent dropped to the dirt and the round was over.
I stood, cheering with all my might and clapping thunderously.
Jameson rose beside me. “You must really support this swordsman,” he said.
“No, my lord,” I shouted over the noise, grinning ear to ear. “I support diplomacy.”
He got a good laugh out of that and waved Silas over.
“Very good show, sir. And I appreciate your . . . statement.”
Silas removed his helmet and bowed to the king. “Thank you, Your Majesty. It was an honor to fight today.”
It took King Quinten a few blinks of his eyes to be sure of just what he was seeing, but once he was, he stood furiously.
“Why do you wear no colors?” he demanded. “Where is your blue?”
Jameson turned to him. “He is a Coroan now.”
“He is not!”
“He fled your country to find sanctuary here. He has sworn his allegiance to me. And yet he wears no colors so as to not insult you. And you take it upon yourself to shame him?”
Quinten’s voice was low and gravelly. “You and I both know he will never truly be a Coroan.”
Just past them, I could see Queen Valentina clutching her stomach, her eyes flicking between Quinten and Jameson nervously. Up until now, she’d seemed above anything so common as nerves, but she was clearly worried about how this would unfold. I didn’t want to see it, and my guess was she didn’t, either.
“Come with me, Your Majesty. You mustn’t get overexcited.” I walked her down the stairs and into the shade behind the royal box. We could still hear Jameson’s and Quinten’s voices, but their words were muffled.
“Kings, huh?” I joked, trying to break the tension.
“I think it’s just men in general,” she replied, and we both laughed.
“Can I get you anything? Some water, something to eat?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m just happy to get away from the yelling. His Majesty gets upset easily, and I prefer to stay out of all that.”
“I feel bad for the swordsman. I think he meant well.”
“Silas Eastoffe.” She looked at the ground. “I think he only ever means well.”
It was funny. I was aware that Silas knew of the queen, but I’d never considered that she knew of him.
“Has he done things like this before?”
“Not exactly. I’ve caught him in a few conversations where he tried to get the person he was speaking with to consider the other side of the argument. He just wants people to think.”
I nodded. “I don’t know him well, but that sounds about right.”
A stampede of footsteps came down the stairs and Quinten was there, bearing down on his cane, pulling his wife away so quickly I didn’t get to curtsy before she went. Jameson came down shortly after, hands on