“No, I do not care for your brother, at least not in the way I think you’re suggesting. We have reached an understanding and that is all.”
I thought she’d be pleased by this answer, that her brother was not entangled with one of those distasteful Vendan Rahtan, but her expression only darkened.
“But the way he kissed your cheek and looked at you.”
She was stubborn, just like her brother.
“Surely you, Priya, can discern a show when you see one. Your brother doesn’t care one rat’s whisker for me either. We were only working together in the face of Paxton’s clear effort to plant doubts about Jase’s character. And it is apparent, even to me, that Paxton is the kind of trouble no one needs.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m more than able to discern a show when I see it—and I’ve seen my brother with plenty of girls. But I also know I saw something in him that wasn’t like my brother at all.” She fingered her dagger.
Don’t do it, I thought, or you’ll be sorry and so will I.
She leaned closer and said, “Let’s just call this a friendly warning. If you hurt my brother, I’ll make sure that you regret it.”
She stepped away, and I breathed with relief, sliding the knife I gripped behind me back beneath my bodice. “Friendly warning accepted,” I said. It wasn’t just an idle threat. I believed she would do her best to make good on her word.
* * *
When we arrived at the dining room, Jase, Mason, Gunner, and Titus weren’t there yet, apparently still busy, but the rest of his family was there talking and laughing as Nash tried to stand on his hands. They didn’t notice Priya and me standing in the doorway. Besides the immediate family, Priya pointed out their uncle, aunt, and two cousins. Twelve of us already, but the dining room was large and could clearly hold many more. It was the many more that I wondered about.
Where were Wren and Synové if they were in custody? And the captain we searched for was definitely not among those present. I had a clear description of his distinct features—tall, square-shouldered, thick black hair, with a cleft chin and a small moon-shaped scar over his left brow from where he’d been kicked by a horse. As the queen had said, If only he’d been kicked a little harder. “Is this everyone at Tor’s Watch?” I asked.
“Not nearly. But we don’t eat with everyone. Only family and sometimes close friends—and of course, our guests join us from time to time.”
Her message was clear that I didn’t fit in with the former, and had only provisional status on the latter. But at least now I knew that others were somewhere here at Tor’s Watch.
Within seconds, Nash and Lydia, only six and seven and overflowing with curiosity, dashed over and asked the first awkward questions. “Are you and Jase sweethearts?”
Their mother jumped in quickly. “That’s an impolite thing to ask, Lydia.”
“I’m only a guest,” I said. “Here to pay my respects for your father’s passing.”
“But Jalaine said—”
“I said nothing, Nash,” Jalaine cut in sternly, “except that Jase’s friend was joining us for dinner.”
Nash’s head swiveled instantly back to me. “Then are you our friend too?”
His and Lydia’s eyes were wide and innocent and not part of this game the adults played.
Everyone waited expectantly. I knelt so I was eye level with Nash and Lydia. “Of course I am,” I answered, taking their hands in mine. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Nash Ballenger. And yours too, Lydia.”
Further introductions were made. Each extended a cautious hand to me. Now that I had faces to put to the names that Jase had already mentioned, it was much easier to remember them. First the twins, Samuel and Aram, who were impossible to tell apart. Both had dark brown hair that brushed their shoulders, dark eyes, and easy smiles. I made an effort to find some distinguishing mark and could only find a temporary one—a scratch on the back of Aram’s hand. Next, I met Jase’s Uncle Cazwin and Aunt Dolise, and their boys, Bradach and Trey.
Lastly, Vairlyn, Jase’s mother, with whom I had already had an eye-to-eye moment at the entombment, stepped forward and introduced herself. The tight coils she had worn earlier today were pulled free and her blond hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders now, softening her appearance. She seemed too young to be the mother of this extensive brood.
She directed me to a seat at the table. The tone of the room had shifted, reserved and controlled, but polite. I had helped Jase today, but they still weren’t quite sure what to make of me. Was I friend or foe?
“Your quarters are comfortable?” Vairlyn asked, as if trying to fill in the silence.
“Yes. Quite. Thank you.”
“I’m sure it will be good to sleep in a bed again,” Jalaine said.
“Yes, it will.” Especially Jase’s little cave.
Lydia sat up on her knees and leaned across the table asking softly, thinking the others wouldn’t hear. “Did you two kiss?”