King by R. J. Larson Page A

answer.”
    Praying he hadn’t said too much, Kien bowed. And started to leave.
    An imposing, dark-cloaked man appeared from a side gate adjoining the residence, eyeing Kien as if considering him an enemy. “Who are you?”
    Mindful of his orders, Kien departed in silence, aware of the three watching him ride away on Scythe. Had he looked foolish?He certainly felt foolish right now. And why should he have ignored that arrogant man? Kien looked up at the graying sky. “Am I finished here?”
    Yes.
    â€œIt seemed too simple.”
    I require simple things. You, My children of dust, always complicate matters.
    â€œGuilty.” And forgiven. Kien grinned. “What now?”
    Munra.
    Ela! Kien rubbed his knuckles into Scythe’s massive shoulder. “Find Ela! Go!”
    Scythe bolted, galloping through ToronSea, leaving tremors and screams in his wake.

    Freshly scrubbed and properly clothed, Kien stared at his apartment within the palace and shook his head. Who would believe he’d spent the last few nights sleeping on sodden grass near muddy roads, guarded by an irritable, ever-hungry destroyer?
    He settled at his desk and wrote two notes. One to Aeyrievale’s steward, Bryce, the other to Akabe, thanking him for offering shelter while Kien sorted out his legal and financial issues.
    Finished, Kien sealed the notes and paid a servant to run them to their destinations.
    Just as he was considering a brief nap, a thump sounded at Kien’s chamber door. He shook out his still-damp hair and flung open the door. Three vaguely familiar, richly attired graybeards stared at him, and their eyebrows lifted in unison, as if by prearranged signal. One, boasting a spectacularly curled and waxed beard, inclined his head. “Lord Aeyrievale. I am Lord Faine, calling with regard to a matter of some importance. Lords Trillcliff and Piton wished to accompany me.”
    He motioned toward his comrades, who bowed to Kien as if the move was choreographed. Alarming. Kien bowed and retreated, holding open the door. “My lords, please step inside.” Whatwas Siphran courtly protocol for receiving unexpected nobility? When in doubt, practice good manners. “Are you thirsty? May I request drinks for each of you?”
    Lord Trillcliff’s thick upswept silver eyebrows rose all the more, looking oddly spiked. He shut the door. “No, Aeyrievale, thank you. We’ve come to welcome you and to warn you.”
    The third lord—Piton?—chimed in, “The king will send for you this evening, my lord, no doubt. However his circumstances have changed.”
    â€œChanged?” Kien looked from Piton to Faine, then at Trillcliff. “Is he stepping down?”
    Faine sniffed and lowered his voice. “Hardly, sir. He’s now married. To a girl from an Atean family.”
    â€œAtean!” Kien couldn’t hide his shock. Akabe, of all people, married into an Atean family? Impossible! “Sirs, how did—”
    â€œShh!” Piton interposed. “Aeyrievale, lower your voice! Though we argued against the matter, the king married the young lady to legally acquire the temple site. Guard your words around her, my lord. She might prove to be a spy. We’re trying to think of ways to . . . ahem . . . mitigate any power she might ultimately wield.”
    Wonderful. Kien rubbed a hand over his chin. In the palace less than half a day and already swept into court intrigue—surrounding Akabe, no less! “I’m sorry to hear of it.”
    â€œAnother thing . . .” Faine sniffed. “You’re partly to blame for one of the king’s recent disappointments.”
    â€œI’m to blame?” Kien shook his head. “How? I wasn’t here.”
    Trillcliff leaned toward him, widening his golden eyes, almost ferocious. “Sir, the king’s previous disappointment involved the rejection of his marriage proposal to