Mother gave a bitter laugh. “Which of my children would you sacrifice to that compromise, dear friend? Rosalind? Giles? Cordelia?” She gestured to each of them in turn, her dark eyes shining with an angry glitter that looked impossibly like tears. “They wouldn’t last a month at court, and you know it.”

“I would so!” Rosalind scowled ferociously. “Anyone who tried to attack me—”

“I’d quite like to be king,” said Giles. “I’ll wager kings can have as many lutes as they like, and no one tells them to stop practicing, no matter how late it might be. Besides—”

“You two have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mother snapped. “This conversation is over. You will all stay safely inside until I tell you otherwise, no matter how long that may take—and we won’t speak of this again.”

“No!” The word burst out of Cordelia’s mouth like an animal breaking free. She gripped her wooden spoon with all her might, forcing herself not to give in under the weight of Mother’s gaze. She had a storm of her own whirling inside now, and it wouldn’t let her stop. “Of course we don’t understand,” she said, “so tell us! Who are those men outside? Which one is Alys’s brother? Why do those other dukes and duchesses want us dead? And why won’t you ever just explain anything?”

Mother’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t care for your tone of voice, Cordelia.”

“She’s right, though.” Unexpectedly, Connall spoke up beside her, frowning. “They are getting older, Mother. They have a right to understand so they can—”

“I can help you fight them off already!” Rosalind said eagerly. “Just point me at them. I’ll take down that big one first with my sword like—thwack!” Her spoon hit her bowl with a crash that sent soup splashing everywhere.

“Enough!” Mother pushed back her chair in a sudden, jerky movement that scraped its legs loudly against the flagstones. “Can’t I even eat supper in peace? There’s my reward for spending all these years trying to protect my family!” Her voice broke in a sudden, harsh crack on her last word.

“Mother!”

“Wait!”

Connall and Giles both started from their chairs, reaching toward her, but she strode out of the room without a backward look, her long green skirts swishing furiously around her.

Alys waved the two boys back into their seats as the big wooden door slammed shut. “Let her cool her head. She’ll calm down soon enough. She’s only agitated by the day’s events … as we all are.”

Her gaze turned inward, and her pale eyelids fell to hood her cool green eyes. Cordelia could almost feel the weight of secrets and memories simmering behind them, only a few feet away but hopelessly out of reach.

Just like always.

No one would ever tell her the truth.

Even Alys wasn’t reliable anymore.