Page 26 of Court of Talons
“Fortiss,” he mutters, and I jerk my gaze forward again. My blood freezes in my veins.
It’s Fortiss, all right, still dressed in his pageant finery. He’s seated himself outside our tent, propped against the grave shovel he’s driven into the ground, looking for all the world that he might happily remain there all night.
He’s here to see me, I’m sure.
But which me?
Chapter 10
Nazar snatches my hand again and curves it into the crook of his left elbow then lifts his right hand in greeting. “Lord Fortiss,” he calls out while I try to keep from gawking. “Well met. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
Fortiss looks up with a broad smile, sees me, and springs to his feet.
“Not in the slightest,” he says as we draw near. “I came looking for Merritt, but it seems my luck has improved even over that option. Lady Talia, I’d heard you were staying in Trilion. I didn’t know you had ventured this far into tournament grounds.”
It’s no difficulty to flutter and gape over him, and I do both in equal measure for another half-second until I regain control over myself. Up close, he’s even more impressive in his rich and glittering silks than when I’d seen him on the tournament ground. And without my sword and boots, I feel woefully insignificant in his eyes, even though he regards me with more than a little interest. What’s his game?
“Lord Fortiss,” I say, and drop into a curtsey. “Merritt will be so disappointed to have missed you.”
“As long as he’s off enjoying the splendors of the tournament, I have no complaints.” Fortiss grins, and I find myself unreasonably glad that my face has healed so well—then annoyed that I’m even thinking something so stupid. “Perhaps you’ll allow me to show you some of it as well?”
He glances to Nazar. “I assure you, I’ll keep her safe.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes, but Nazar nods back to Fortiss, every inch my solemn guardian. “Your escort is much appreciated. She returns tomorrow to the Tenth House, to await her brother’s return.”
“The Tenth?” Fortiss asks with ease, turning his smirking gaze on me. “And yet a sneaky little bird told me you were intended for the Twelfth House when you were waylaid. If that’s still your goal, we can arrange for an escort all the way there. Lord Orlof hasn’t deigned to send any representatives to the Tournament of Gold in far too long. We’d like to make sure he still fares as well as we hope he does.”
If this little speech is meant to get my back up, it succeeds, but once again Nazar saves me from saying something I’d surely regret. Instead, he continues to embroider the lie he’s so deftly weaving around us. “It’s a gracious offer, but no. It’ll be good for the family to gather close again once we have a full complement of soldiers loyal to the Tenth house. The union of the Tenth and the Twelfth houses can wait a bit longer.”
“Then I’ll take full advantage of my opportunity,” Fortiss says smoothly and holds out a hand. I’d sooner push him into the dirt than walk with him, but I accept his grasp and allow him to draw me away from our camp. He curls my hand into the crook of his elbow much as Nazar had done, only his grip is like iron, as if he’s fully aware that I would flee from him at my first chance.
The moment we’re out of Nazar’s view, I test his hold. I attempt to tug my hand away, and he grips me closer still. “I’ve already had the pleasure of you running away from me once,Lady Talia,” he assures me cheerfully, though steel now laces his words. “I have no wish to repeat the experience.”
“Why?” I asked him, just as lightly. “Are you worried I might interrupt some new villain attempting to shoot my brother? What was the term you used? Oh, right.Marauder. Do you suppose these unknownmarauders’tastes still run to small houses who pose no threat?’
He turns a much colder gaze on me. “Have a care, Lady Talia. The words you speak are treason at the Tournament of Gold. Lord Rihad takes his security very seriously.”
“So do I. And so does Merritt, especially given how close he came to returning to the Light on his way to your vaunted tournament. Tell me, why wereyouin the forest by the Shattered City that day, Lord Fortiss? Of all the hills and valleys to hunt in, it seems a curious choice.”
“I’d answer the question, should your brother put it to me. Alas, these aren’t topics for a woman’s ears, even one as fierce as you. But rest assured that no one was more pleased than me to see the villains thwarted that day. Your brother’s health ensures the health of his house. And the health of all houses contributes to the safety of the Protectorate.”
“Mmm.” I don’t trust myself to say anything more for a moment. Instead, I recall the words Fortiss used the first day I arrived at the tournament. How had he put it exactly? That unlike many, he was genuinely happy to see me—to see Merritt, anyway?
Merritt.We step into a wide square just as music starts up, and I’m struck again with the unfairness of it all. Merritt would havelovedthis. The torches, the color, the music and food—the people milling around, old and young, men and women. He would have reveled in the pageantry, and his place among his peers, celebrated and fêted, honored and cheered. I may not care for celebration, but he would never have wanted to leave.
Irritation crests anew. “Well, if our safety was such a concern to you, you could have stopped the slaughter of our men and my handmaiden. We could have used your sword in that melee.”
“And if I had been at liberty to use it, I would have gladly done so. But once again we speak of things that are better shared with your brother, not you. Plus, if I’m not mistaken, you have changed your hair.”
He steps away slightly to regard me, not quite letting go, and I tilt my chin up to meet his gaze. He doesn’t know the half of the changes I’ve undergone since he saw me in that forest. “And you have changed your clothes, but not your colors,” I counter. “Tell me, what house dares to try to assassinate a nobleman with gray arrows, Lord Fortiss? Have other houses been attacked? Is there a traitor in your midst?”
“Enough.” Fortiss’s grip tightens on me, and as his hand closes around my forearm, I count myself lucky that he has my right arm in his grasp and not my left. But how easy it would be for our positions to change, and my secret found out with a brush of his fingers across my warrior band?
Too easy. I shouldnotprovoke the man.
I draw in a fortifying breath and pray to the Light for patience. It doesn’t fully work. “My apologies. I just have heard there’s no end to your power and influence, and we lost good people that day. Seems like you could have helped.”
He scowls. “I did help.”