Sun, I hope so.” My tone is lackluster despite my attempt to cover it with something akin to enthusiasm.
“But…?” When I look across the room he’s staring, scrutinizing my expression, when I realize how scrunched my forehead is.
Instantly, I smooth my emotion over. Place my figurative heir hat on. Raevald warned me not to mess up. The last person I want to show my hand to is the High Regent’s eyes and ears.
“But…” I meet his eyes and stand, removing my red sash. “I look forward to every last responsibility I’m given. It’s a blessing to be in this position, and I welcome the challenge and duty of being heir and eventually High Regent.” I run my fingers over the scruff on my chin, then toy with the pen and ink on the desk. “It was an important day, is all. Much to think about.”
“Of course.” He sets my boot back on the floor and goes to work on the other but stops mid-circle. “Denali?”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to convince me…”
“Oh?”
“I wouldn’t want the job to save my life.” I don’t think he’s testing me, but I can’t allow myself to react—the guy practically lives in Raevald’s back pocket—so I only nod. “I’m a friend, not a judge. My role is to guide you and see to your needs. I’m not a spy for the High Regent—as much as I’m sure he’d like me to be.” He raises an eyebrow, releases a laugh as if he’s not telling me the full story behind that comment.
Salazar finishes polishing my other boot and sets them next to his chair. When he stands, he starts for the door but stops before me. “Just don’t take yourself too seriously. There’ll be time enough for that.” And he gives me one of his exceptionally hard pats on my shoulder. “You’re to meet with the High Regent in half an hour for drinks in the sitting room.” He opens the desk drawer as he passes, pulls out some stationery and a fresh pen and ink. “Take a breather, write a letter, gaze out the window, and appreciate the gardens.” Then another friendly wallop before walking away.
“Salazar?” I call after him. He turns to face me. “Thanks.”
Giving an exaggerated bow of the head, he says, “Of course, my lord.”
Without missing a beat, he leaves, and I’m left wondering why the hell he’d mention writing a letter at this moment of all moments.
But no …
There’s no way.
It was Bronwyn who delivered that muffin, I know it.
Right?
* * *
THIS IS THE scene when I step into the sitting room to meet Raevald:
The High Regent sits sentry to the fire, half-full glass of brandy in hand. Before him is a small table, and upon the table are stacks and stacks of paperwork. He glances up when I enter but doesn’t react to me or my presence other than by taking a sip of his drink.
“My lord.” I bow my head and then sit in the chair across from Raevald—the one on the other side of the hearth. It too is slightly lower, and I begin to wonder if he’s had all his chairs raised enough so he’s always sitting taller but not enough that it’s terribly noticeable. What a petty, odd thing to do. And also, undoubtedly characteristic of him.
Raevald pours a second glass of brandy, hands me the crystal, and then refills his own glass.
I take a small sip—the taste, the bitter bite makes me retch slightly. I now equate these sensations to Raevald, and after today, I’m certain for the rest of my life, the sour of brandy will make me queasy.
But it’s the High Regent’s favorite. It would seem, by the way he’s lazily shuffling through the papers, how his eyelids are heavier than usual, Raevald’s had his fill already.
But I don’t dare begin our conversation. Especially after what he said at the Offering. He’s far from trusting me, and I fear that on some level he could be onto the game I’m playing.
More, he’s always playing his own.
Everything to this point has been a test. I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. He has this need to be in control at all times and I intend to play into that. If I’m to make any progress, gain any useful information, he has to know I’m one hundred percent in.
Raevald looks up at me. “It was a good day today.”
Yeah. The best.
But I nod, feign another drink of my brandy so it only wets my lips. “An