‘Shall I go?’ Erik asked. ‘I came to pay my respects before the funeral, but I can come back …’

‘No, stay. I was just going.’ Kelewulf stepped to one side, relieved at having broken the physical connection between the two of them. ‘I will be in my rooms if you need me. I have a particularly interesting book I’m reading at the moment, and I wish to get back to it.’ He caught the disapproval in his cousin’s face. ‘I find that reading helps me forget my loss,’ he quickly added, twisting his face into what he hoped was a reasonable semblance of grief.

‘Of course. We must all find our own solace at a time like this. Perhaps we can talk again soon? When your pain is not so raw?’

‘Yes, perhaps. Excuse me, cousin.’

Erik watched Kelewulf leave before turning to look down at his dead uncle again, his mind awhirl. He felt sorrow for his cousin’s loss, and also relief that the throne would pass unchallenged to his own father. As a warrior, his uncle was unsurpassed. He’d used his military might to bring the kingdoms together when they might have fallen into civil war. But his rule had been one largely of fear. Mirvar Rivengeld would be a good king to the Volken people, a people whom Erik secretly suspected Kelewulf held in low esteem. He frowned, silently reproaching himself for these unkind thoughts. He and Kel had grown up together. Back when they were little they played well together; friends as well as cousins. But when Kel’s mother killed herself the younger boy changed. He had always refused to learn to wield a weapon. Instead, he found refuge in the hundreds of books he’d surrounded himself with. And while there was no harm in that, it had—

A movement to his left caused Erik to spin around, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

‘Calm down, brother.’

His younger sister, Astrid, stepped out from behind the pillar. She approached him but was looking off in the direction Kelewulf had just left in, an odd expression on her face.

‘It’s not nice to spy on people, Astrid.’

‘I wasn’t spying. I was in here on my own when Kelewulf came in. I didn’t want to be seen by him, so I hid behind the pillar.’

‘Why hide? You should have spoken to him. He is grieving.’

She gave him a sceptical look. Astrid had never been keen on Kel; he was arrogant, she said, and contemptuous of their ways. Erik on the other hand had always defended him.

‘Did you buy all that guff?’ she asked.

‘Guff?’

‘About our father, and how the crown was now in good hands.’

‘He seemed genuine enough to me.’ Astrid snorted, and Erik sighed. ‘You are being unfair. Kel has never expressed any interest in ruling, you know that.’