But it was better than nothing.

She lifted a hand, opened the door, moved through it, closed it behind her.

And headed back to her doorway.

97

The Consummation

King True

Bedchamber of Sir Alfie, Birchlire Castle, Notting Thicket

WODELL

“We now have eleven priests arrested,” True told Alfie.

“Eleven is good,” Alfie replied. “Are they in the Down?”

True nodded. “Being interrogated by Bram and Wallace.” He felt his lips twist before he went on, “They learned much from Mars and his men, but they do not have the taste for it.”

“Torture brings unreliable information, True,” Alfie muttered.

“This is why Florian and Luther are interrogating them a different way. Though we do know they’re of The Rising.”

“And how is this?” Alfie inquired.

“They say naught but ‘long live The Rising.’”

This time, Alfie nodded, before he asked, “And what from Go’Doan?”

“They still await a bevy of birds, sending them and receiving them. Ophelia is long gone. Apollo’s wolves guard their temples. But in some places, their priests are prisoners to them, the people so agitated, they fear showing their faces.” True shook his head. “It is not that there’s naught I can do. I could send soldiers. And it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that I do not. But it is the only bargaining chip I have with them.”

“No more temples have been burned down or priests harmed, they have something with these wolves,” Alfie replied, and a softening came to his eyes. “You have to do what you have to do, True. And this you have to do.”

True turned his gaze away and slouched into his chair.

He could not say he ever looked on with relish to the day he’d be king.

But if he’d known how tedious it was, how rife, there had been times since his mother’s death when he thought he might have wished to escape it altogether.

Though if he’d done that, he would not have found Farah.

“News of Airen?” Alfie asked.

“Nothing from Ophelia. But upon return, Cassius wasted no time. He and a good number of men sailed down the coast, marched inland and attacked the besiegers from behind. It was not what they were expecting. Especially with Nadirii in their midst. They were trounced. Slán Bailey is now as populated as Crittich Keep.”

“This might be a quick victory, but it will not be a quick fight,” Alfie warned.

“I believe he knows that but now the focus is on freeing Fern and, well…the wedding.”

Alfie looked astonished. “He’s prioritizing the wedding?”

“He isn’t, Elena is.”

Alfie now looked shocked. “Elena?”

“Apparently she’s keen to have done with it,” True said, his lips twitching.

Alfie began to look amused.

And seeing his amusement, True’s day, which was not better than yesterday, not worse, but not good, was made good.

“I can imagine she is,” Alfie muttered, but stronger, asked, “Has he heralded he’s prince regent?”