came to a sympathetic halt. ‘That tall Arab boy you knocked about with? The apothecary’s boy? I am sorry, Razi. Truly. He seemed a good fellow.’
Razi said nothing. Just stood with his back to the little table, staring at his brother, his face closed up like a book.
‘They did it because they thought Razi wanted your throne, Albi,’ said Wynter. ‘They did such terrible things to that poor—’ ‘Oh, aye,’ interrupted Alberon. ‘Aye – that would be it.’ He crossed to the door of the tent, and Shuqayr’s terrible death seemed to slip into the background for him as he looked down into the camp. ‘My people would do anything to protect me,’ he murmured, his eyes roaming the neat tents, now pink-tinted in the failing light of evening. ‘I have much support from court, as you can tell. Though they are yet to know the nature of my misunderstanding with Father, they are utterly determined to keep you from power.’ He looked at Razi over his shoulder. ‘Not that I ever doubted you, brother. Though God knows, the gossips have you leaping across banquet tables and shoving weeping guards aside in your haste to get to my throne. I know it has never been in your nature to strive for such power. You are not a man destined to be a king. Do not take insult from that. I do not mean it as such. We cannot all be kingly men.’ He turned back to thoughtfully surveying his camp. ‘Indeed, where would we be if that were the case? Incessantly battering each other over the head while our kingdom went to ruin.’
He smiled, his eyes slipping to Wynter. ‘You are ever the sly hand though, bringing our sister with you. No doubt you thought her presence would soften my resolve? I’m sorry, Wyn, but I’m afraid you must resign yourself to camp rations and a hard pallet for a while longer. I await my last representatives – the curs are days late – and I shall not be leaving till my work is done.’
Wynter bristled at that. God knew she was used to court men assuming she was naught more than a bit of fluff to dandle or protect, but after all she’d been through, to hear this attitude coming from Alberon was just too hard to take.
‘I came here of my own volition, Alberon Kingsson,’ she said stiffly. ‘It was only by chance fortune that Razi and I met up. I risked all to get here. I abandoned my poor father to his deathbed to come seeking you.’
At the mention of Lorcan, Alberon’s face fell. He blushed, opened his mouth to speak, but could find nothing to say. Wynter realised with a sudden flare of anger that her father had utterly slipped his mind, and all her courtly restraint flew out the window. Alberon stepped towards her, and she flung her hand up, halting him in his tracks.
‘Alberon!’ she cried. ‘What are you doing? You have the kingdom in an uproar! You have your father crazed with anger and fear. Those supporters you are so proud of? They are lying dead in streams and ditches on this very mountain! They are swinging in cages all along the port road! And those who are free have dedicated themselves to trying to kill your brother!’
Alberon stepped back, his eyes wide, and Wynter advanced, jabbing her finger at him like a common scold. ‘Everything our fathers have worked for is about to fall apart, Alberon! And you, goddamn you, you are at the very heart of this turmoil. Do not stand there, your Highness, and talk to me of kings and kingly acts, when you seem wilfully determined to uproot all the good our fathers have done, and turn this kingdom to the same pit of carrion in which the rest of the Europes currently wallow!’
She came to a halt, painfully close to tears, and for want of words, punched Alberon on the chest.
‘Wynter . . .’ he said gently. ‘Wyn . . .’
He went to take her hand, and she tugged it from his grip. Stepping back, she impatiently swatted the tears from her face. Why had she cried? Now he would think her an incorrigible girl, and would feel obliged to comfort her. The conversation would be hopelessly diverted.
‘Wyn,’ he said again, ‘you must know that I have no desire to undo our fathers’ work.’ She looked up at him in surprise. ‘Everything I do is for the betterment