But Silence and her beast of a husband were only a day’s ride away.

And King Mars might be a savage, but he was not difficult to look at, and even Mercy thought he had an engaging manner.

He was wealthy.

He was now their ally.

And he was besotted with his Dellish countess-now-queen.

If paraded about the city, that tall, dark, dynamic king with his petite, pretty, pale Dellish queen on his arm would at least set the women’s thoughts to swooning.

That was, until their own handsome Prince True returned with his (Mercy had to admit), exotically beautiful future princess at his side

And Mercy knew, if played correctly, a woman could control the sentiments of an entire family, certainly her husband.

Romance was in the air, and there was something Mercy also knew, and she knew it very well.

Romance equaled hope.

And hope was worth a million gold coins.

68

The Honesty

King Mars

The Study, Cord Cottage, The Arbor

WODELL

Sitting behind the desk, Mars studied the dispatch that had just arrived from Lorenz in Fire City.

The Go’Doan were being circumspect. But even so, Lorenz was not convinced that all the conspirators had fled from the city.

Further, the city-state of Go’Doan had officially denied any knowledge of and definitely any collaboration in regards to the attack on Catrame Palace. They went so far as to denounce it, and anyone behind it, with “all due potency.”

Mars wondered what potency they thought was due this denouncement.

They went on to request to continue their “vital” work in that “region” and shared they had already sent new priests to take up the posts of the “wayward” ones that had “gone missing.”

In his last years, his father had kept Mars close to his side in order that Mars could witness the king at work, and they could discuss communications received, decisions made, and strategy taken.

Therefore, Mars did not have to consider long what his father would think of the Go’Doan official statement.

What Ares would think was…

It was bloody rubbish.

He turned his attention to studying the second missive received that morning, this given to Silence and bearing the royal seal of Wodell.

It was from Queen Mercy.

Silence had read it, then handed it to him, saying, “I’d love to show you around our capital. It’s really very pretty. And it’d be nice to spend time with your mother.”

To which he’d replied, “We shall leave in two days.”

And then he’d received her smile.

However, looking at it now, he found some of the language interesting.

It would be most beneficial if you and King Mars could arrive early. The wedding planning is taking up much of my time, and I’m afraid Queen Elpis is at odds for things to do.

Most beneficial was unusual wording.