The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey

Daughter. I’ve buried family. Friends. If it’s going to end, it’s going to end with blood. I’d have thought an Onnani would understand that better than most.”
    It was a well-aimed shaft. The look that came over Vel was at once proud and serene. “My ancestors sacrificed a great deal, it’s true. Many innocents had to die for their children and grandchildren to be free.”
    â€œJust so,” Wraith said. “And it might have been my ancestors who had yours under the boot, but make no mistake—Andithyri and Onnan understand each other now. We’ve learned from you, and the greatest lesson is this: Strike where you can, when you can, even if it’s a glancing blow, and eventually the enemy will bleed out.” His gaze shifted back to Alix. “For what it’s worth, I don’t ask this lightly. If that bloodyparasite had the balls to set foot outside the palace, it’d be simple enough. But he won’t, which means we’ve got to go in there after him. That won’t be easy. I’ve got a few men of skill, like Asvin here, but he can’t do it alone. So I’m asking one last time: Are you in?”
    Alix paused. Traced a final circle on the table. “We’re in.”
    â€œGood,” Wraith said. “We leave at dawn.”

S EVEN

    â€œI don’t know,” Liam said. “Piglet, maybe?”
    â€œPiglet.” The cook repeated the word as if he’d never heard it in his life. Then a delicate spasm of pain crossed his face. “Does His Highness perhaps refer to
suckling pig
?”
    â€œThat’s it, exactly. We had it at the wedding. It was great.”
    â€œVery good, Your Highness.” The cook made a note on his ledger. “Suckling pig it is.”
    â€œHmm,” said Albern Highmount, “I think not.”
    Liam’s back teeth came together, hard. “You disagree, Chancellor. What a surprise.”
    It wasn’t. It wasn’t anything
like
a surprise, because Highmount had done nothing but disagree with every single sodding thing Liam said from the moment he’d been put in charge. “Can I ask why you have an issue with suckling pig?”
Childhood memories, perhaps? Not enough room at the teat?
    â€œI simply do not think it suitable for the occasion.”
    Even the cook looked perplexed. “It is a fine dish, my lord, worthy of the most distinguished of guests.”
    â€œI quite agree, Master Horna. One of my personal favourites, in fact. But I am afraid it would not be an appropriate dish to serve the Onnani ambassador, given its origins.”
    â€œOrigins?” The cook’s brow rumpled even further. “Why, it originates from right here in Erroman!”
    â€œPrecisely. It is, in fact, an Erromanian dish, dating from the days of the empire, and particularly associated with the imperial class.”
    Liam laughed incredulously. “You’re worried the Onnani ambassador will be offended that we served baby pig because the white-hairs used to enjoy baby pig way back when?”
    â€œWay back when the baby pig was being dished onto their plates by Onnani
slaves
. Yes, Your Highness, that is precisely what I am worried about.”
    Liam growled and rubbed his eyes. Bad enough he had to muddle his way through a diplomatic dinner, they couldn’t even plan the sodding menu without worrying about the political implications.
How in the name of the Virtues does Erik do this all day?
Barely a week of trying to fill his brother’s boots, and already he was going mad. “Whatever you think,” he said, as though Highmount needed his permission.
    The chancellor spent another few moments discussing the dinner before dismissing the cook. Liam didn’t bother listening; he was getting the impression his presence was purely symbolic anyway. Was it like this for Erik, he wondered, or did Highmount actually give a damn what the
real
king