This caused Gideon to turn so fast his pristine leather boots squeaked beneath him, a sound that appropriately matched the manner in which he scurried away like a mouse being chased by a cat. “Anything else?” the king asked, looking rather pointedly in Lord Skinner’s direction.

Unlike Gideon, Skinner was too dumb to be scared by the sour mood of his monarch, maintaining his cocksure smile. “I was hoping to gain an audience with the crown prince to discuss the details of the ball you asked me to organize.”

“What?” Tomas said, at the same moment his father said, “Tomas’s schedule is clear. Meet with him at a time of his choosing.”

“Father, we should discuss this in private.”

“Son, we will do no such thing. You will meet with Lord Skinner, sooner rather than later. Is that understood?”

Tomas wasn’t enjoying his father’s mood as much now. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Now if there’s nothing else more pressing than lunch?” When no one spoke, the king slammed his fists down on the armrests. “Court is adjourned for lunch. We’ll reconvene this afternoon. Ensure that all petitioners are prepared to state their purpose as concisely as possible. My patience wears thinner than the endless scrolls of parchment I refuse to read.”

The rest of the court departed the way Gideon had left, frills and curls bouncing and capes and robes swishing. Lord Skinner lingered only a moment longer than the rest, long enough to say, “I look forward to meeting with you soon, Your Highness,” offering a small bow in Tomas’s direction.

“It shall be brief,” Tomas said, hoping it would wipe the smirk off of Skinner’s face but not getting his wish.

When the guards closed the grand throne room doors, the king slumped in his oversized seat and released a tirade of coughs into a handkerchief that was filled with blood when he was finished. Tomas helped him through it, shocked that his father had been able to fool even him into thinking he’d recovered from the worst of his ailments. “Father, you need to take another elixir and rest. You cannot hold court this afternoon. I will make an excuse about you having more serious matters to attend to. I’ll spread a rumor that the Fire Eater has been caught, or something else equally juicy that will keep them talking about matters other than your health.”

The king smiled with lips stained with blood. “I have taught you well, haven’t I?”

“No, not nearly well enough. I am thirsty for your knowledge. And I fear I’m a slow-learner, so it will take me years—six or seven at least—to soak it all up.”

“I’m lucky if I have six or seven days.”

“Don’t say that. Tell me you’ll recover.”