“What is that supposed to mean?” Rhy snapped, breaking off when Astar’s meaty fist pounded once on the table, rattling their mugs.
“Not. One. More. Word. Or I will order you confined to the borders of Annfwn and you will very likely never see Lena again so long as you live. If you think Her Majesty won’t back me on that, or that your own parents won’t, you are gravely mistaken.” Astar stared hard at Rhy, who finally slouched in his chair, miming sealing his mouth. If only.
“May I respond to that?” Jak asked Astar, tipping his head at Rhy. At Astar’s nod, he answered calmly. “It means that telling Stella of my strong feelings might create a sense of responsibility on her part,” he explained. “Especially for Stella, who feels everyone else’s pain so keenly. If she decides to be with me, it will be on her terms, because that’s what she wants, not because she feels the burden of making me happy.”
Rhy glared mutely, then looked at Astar expectantly, finally raising his hand like a child in class.
“No,” Astar replied. “Jak has reminded me that—though I regard you two as my closest friends—I am also the crown prince, whether I like it or not.” His grimace made it look more like not at the moment, and Jak regretted his role in that. Still, his own happiness, and Stella’s, were too important. Astar inclined his head at Jak. “You may court my sister.”
A smart remark sprang to Jak’s tongue, which he fortunately managed to squelch before it escaped.
“But I will speak to Stella about it,” Astar continued, “and satisfy myself that she is receiving your suit willingly.”
Hmm. Would he be able get to Stella first, explain his intentions? She might not take Astar’s interrogation well. The simplest route for her would be to simply wash her hands of Jak. Stella was a tough nut to crack, and it required persistence to penetrate her walls and discover whatever idea had her believing she’d be alone all her life. And then to talk her out of it.
Astar watched him closely, as if following Jak’s thoughts. He’d learned well under Ursula’s relentless mentoring, and understood how to discern what people didn’t say. “I want your word, Jak,” Astar continued, confirming the insight, “that you will not attempt to speak to Stella about this before I do. You, too, Rhy. That should go without saying, as you don’t have my permission to speak at all.”
Rhy opened his eyes wide, lips pressed firmly shut, expression indignant.
“Yes, I mean it. Until I rescind the order. Maybe in the future you’ll think twice before using your wit to cause trouble,” Astar replied, as if Rhy had spoken. Then he looked back to Jak. “Your word, please.”
“You have it, Your Highness,” Jak answered, giving him the Hawks’ salute again. So be it. Either Stella would cut him off at the knees or she wouldn’t. He’d made his best case—and the second opportunity had been more than he’d hoped for even that morning, so he’d put himself in Danu’s stern hands. In Moranu’s, too, as Stella looked to the goddess of shadows. For that matter, he’d say a prayer to Glorianna, also. Astar and Stella were Queen Amelia’s children, after all, Glorianna’s avatar. Maybe the fierce goddess of love would stand up to her crueler sisters and sling Jak a much-needed favor.
“All right, then. I will talk to Stella in the morning.” Astar shook his head, bearlike, then drank down his ale and repoured. “Can we get back to being drinking companions? I’d like to shed the crown for a while.”
“We can, Willy, my boy,” Jak replied cheerfully, clinking his mug against his friend’s.
Rhy pointed to his mouth, raising his eyebrows.
“Oh, fine,” Astar sighed. “Since you asked politely. But one wrong word and I’m slapping you mute again.”
“Thank you, cousin,” Rhy replied with a half bow, almost managing to keep the snide tone out of his words. “May I make a request?”
“Is it going to piss me off?” Astar returned.
Rhy considered. “Possibly. But it’s important to me.”
Astar waved a hand in resignation.
“I don’t want to lose Lena without giving her everything that’s in me to give,” Rhy said, giving emphasis their words that he echoed. “I’d like Your Highness’s permission to court her, just as you’ve given Jak.”
Astar considered his cousin with a weary expression. “Sure, Rhy. Why not?”
Rhy sat up, excitement sparking in his eyes.
“And I’ll hold you to the same terms,” Astar continued. “I will put the question to Lena.”
“She’ll say no.” Rhy deflated again.
“Then there’s your answer. Unless she changes her mind, you have to live with it.”
“But she won’t listen to me,” Rhy protested.
Astar grinned, not at all nicely. “What was it Jak advised you? Maybe figuring that out is a good place to start, if you’re smart enough.”
Jak toasted to that, feeling grim. He couldn’t enjoy Rhy’s setback in this case, as he figured the odds very high that Stella would take the safe and easy route and tell Astar she’d rather be left alone. Glorianna, Moranu, and Danu, he sent mentally, deciding to up his own odds by applying to all three goddesses equally, all of them the various faces of woman. Smile on my efforts, and I will… What? It was beyond reckless to offer open promises to the deities. I will give my blades and life to Your daughter, Stella, who You love so well, and upon whom You’ve showered Your gifts. There. He could live with that. He’d do it anyway.
“So, boy.” An older man, skin toughened from wind and weather, loomed over Jak. He jerked his chin at the blade still buried in the back of Rhy’s chair. “Can you aim those gnat-stickers from any distance?”
Jak deftly snagged the dagger and spun it through his fingers, blood tingling at the prospect of a wager. “I can put a blade through your gnat’s eye at twenty paces. Have a contest in mind?”
“Me and the boys have some throwing targets out back, if you’ve got coin to match your boasts.”
He had a nice stash from the unwise pockets at Elderhorst. Sliding a glance at Astar, he cocked an eyebrow, implicitly asking permission.
Astar pulled out a sack of coin, pouring a few onto the table, Ursula’s likeness stamped in the fresh and shining gold. “This enough to make it worth your while?” he asked.
Jak rubbed his hands together with glee. This would be fun.
~ 9 ~
“Nilly! Psst,” Zeph hissed, grabbing Stella’s sleeve and pulling her into an alcove.
Stella, who’d been just about to descend the inn steps to breakfast, briefly teetered from surprise before she found her footing again. “Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly wrong,” Zeph whispered cryptically, gaze sweeping the otherwise empty corridor. “But it is vital that I talk to you. Immediately.”
Despite her urgency, happiness radiated off Zeph, so Stella believed her that nothing dire had happened. Zeph’s sapphire eyes were bright, her glossy black hair in untidy waves—no doubt from Astar’s hands. She hadn’t been there when Stella awakened, Zeph’s side of their shared bed decidedly cool.