“It will be a compromise, Priya. And it’s going to cost us very little in comparison to what we gain. Laying out a single copper for trespassers wasn’t high on my list of things I wanted to do, either—until Gunner shot off his big mouth and said the queen was coming. What choice did I have? At least now there is some measure of truth to our claim, and with the letter Kazi wrote, the queen may actually come. It’s what our father wanted. If it takes rebuilding a few shacks far from our territory, I will swallow the gall in my throat and do it—and so will you and everyone else.”
“But what right do we have to move them, Jase? The king may have something to say about that.”
“The king can go yatter to his chickens as far I’m concerned,” I answered. “He’ll never know they’ve been moved, and we’ll have our land back.”
It was true, what Kazi said, that we had no defined borders. It was a hard thing to explain to an outsider. It had to do with comfort, and what felt intrusive, and too close. As far as you can see. We knew we didn’t own the land all the way to the horizon.
“So what was with that kiss? I’m pretty sure that even Paxton had to have his jaw rehinged after that display. Kazi told me you didn’t care a rat’s whisker for her.”
My fingers tightened on my mug. “When did she tell you that?”
“Last night.”
After lying to her about where we were going, threatening to throw her off the horse, and then her suspecting I had harmed her friends—I suppose those were all grounds to believe I didn’t care about her—and I had failed miserably at conveying how I really felt, or maybe I just kept hoping my feelings would go away. Instead, they only grew larger, like a rock in my path that I couldn’t maneuver around. That rock was the size of a mountain now, and I couldn’t get past it.
Priya looked down and shook her head. “Oh damn, Jase. She’s got you by the throat.”
“I’m the Patrei, remember?” I answered, trying to sound more sure than I was. “No one has me by anything.”
She didn’t look convinced.
The barkeep came and set down the new round of ales Priya ordered.
When he left, she reached out and squeezed my hand. “I love you, brother. You know I’m behind you in whatever you do. Just be careful.”
Mason cleared his throat and tapped the spoon on the table. Priya reached out and squeezed his hand too, but much more violently than she had mine. “I love you too, brother,” she said to him. “But if you make any more clatter with that spoon, I’ll dig both of your eyes out with it.”
Mason deliberately dropped the spoon on the floor to irritate her, and they began wrestling like they were twelve years old again. The ales suffered the brunt of the tussle, all three sliding from the table. Some habits didn’t die and I was glad. Mason finally called surrender when Priya dug her nails into his ear.
“All right, I’ve had all the fun I can stand here,” she said, letting go and giving the fallen ales a cursory glance. “We should get home anyway. There’s a party in the garden tonight with our new special guests. Let’s see if these Vendans know how to dance.”
I already knew.
Kazi was an expert dancer—but not the kind
Priya was talking about.
Mason rubbed his ear and stood. “I’m taking those other two back to the house now. They can cool their heels there until the party starts. I’m not making another trip down here in a few hours.”
“Be careful, Mason. Last time I said I was going to make a Rahtan cool her heels, it cost me more than I bargained for.”
“Those two?” Mason answered. “I’m not worried.”
That’s what I had said too.
“Coming?” Priya asked, gathering some packages she had purchased.
“I’ll be along. I have a late meeting at the arena.”
Priya rolled her eyes. “The ambassador?”
I nodded.
“Give him hell, Jase. I’m tired of that asshole.”
The asshole who was responsible for a good portion of our revenue. I smiled. “I’ll be sure and give him your regards.”
“Be careful,” she added as she left some coins on the bar to cover our tab. “Those Candorans are crazy.”