SWORDPOINT DIPLOMACY 31

Chapter 31

He didn't like the spoilt little hanger-on. Kian kept his body language easy and his tone relatively friendly, but this 'Maurice' put his hackles up.

'What is she aiming for?'

Kian would be the first to acknowledge his ability to anticipate needs, to read a situation and produce the solution before anyone had asked for it. It was a game he often played with himself. Harrod didn't think much of his amusements, but they were normally much more stimulating to him than attempting to fight his way up the social ladder.

Currently, he was frustrated.

'She didn't introduce him, so he's not using his real name and they didn't discuss a cover. If she truly trusted him, she would have spoken freely in front of him. So I should assume he's not fully trusted - that could mean a wide range.'

The princess - the Queen presumptive didn't seem to fully trust anyone, if Kian was candid. So it might not mean much that she wasn't sharing information freely in front of this obvious foreigner.

He could have been a fellow prisoner from her time in enemy hands, freed out of mercy. Or he could be her prisoner in some way- the fact that he'd been unarmed might indicate that.

"How much longer should we wait?" Avoie was standing his straightest, like the proud little lord he was.

Kian hummed, feeling it rumble in his chest. "We will wait outside of Her Royal Highness' tent," he said, keeping any emotion out of his voice. "You'll go in and report that we are awaiting her convenience."

Maurice snorted, because he had no sense of discipline. "I thought you said that there was no acceptable way to enter without specific invitation," he needled. It was obvious that he thought he'd gotten one over on Kian.

'Arrogant and flippant- definitely a noble. He doesn't even have the respect to keep his japery silent.'

The hint of smug mockery in his tone sort of made Kian want to hit him in his face. That face was somehow not any less annoying when covered with a helmet.

'More of a child than Avoie,' he thought uncharitably.

Kian settled for avoiding any eye contact. "As her page and personal attendant, Avoie only needs to announce himself," Kian said blandly. "You may be unaware. As I understand it, he has been somewhat absent, but he is expected to be in her personal quarters."

Avoie should have been very grateful that his father had managed such a feat as his page assignment. There was literally none more prestigious.

Avoie fidgeted at the pointed comment. He didn't say anything, which was as good as admitting that he wasn't clinging to his assigned mentor as well as he should have been.

'Can't imagine why,' Kian thought blithely. 'She is ever so warm and friendly. I wonder if she even tried to remember his name.'

The Queen presumptive was many things - intelligent, terrifically competent, fundamentally reasonable, pleasant to look at- but she was not cursed with an approachable mien. The casual warmth that her brother exuded had skipped her entirely. She had charm, of course, but only when she chose to use it.

He liked her better, if he was to be honest. She was sharp in a way that cut through the usual banal falsities of society.

'But she could consider increasing her communication.'

If he'd been a bit less disciplined, Kian would have slouched as he settled into a waiting posture. Avoie hovered for a moment as if hoping for a last minute reprieve from some sort of terrible fate. Maurice gave him a reassuring grin. Avoie gave a wobbly smile back and fixed his posture before leaving.

Kian looked away. He didn't allow any irritation to show.

'It's much more likely that he's a leech on the Queen presumptive and not even aware of what Avoie stands to inherit, but I dislike how he acts with my brother.'

Avoie had apparently been perceptive enough to question why someone was wandering around in armor without a sword, but trusting or naive enough to confront him directly rather than speak to an officer.

'I must speak with Harrod,' he thought resentfully. Telling tales left a bad taste in his mouth, but this was a serious mistake in judgment. Avoie could have been in serious danger.

Kian kept his lips pressed together and didn't start any conversation.

The interloper must have read the air, because there was blessed silence. Kian let his mind slow down and relaxed as best as he could on his feet. They hurt like a bitch after a day on the road, but there was no use in complaining.

He was dozing when fabric rustled. "You're to come in," Avoie said, looking at Kian. Just Kian. Perhaps he was finally to get his explanation.

"And you?" Kian asked, as if he didn't care.

"I'm with you." Avoie looked puzzled to be asked.

Kian relaxed. "Wait here, please," he told Maurice, as if he hadn't been tense. He'd have taken the man in against orders rather than leave him alone with Avoie.

"Goodbye, then." Maurice was clearly trying to hide that he was miffed, but it didn't quite work.

Still, he'd made a show of politeness, so Kian echoed it and steered Avoie back into the Queen presumptive's presence.

Her piercing gaze honed in on him as soon as he entered. "Thank you."

"Good evening," he said crisply. He made the correct bow. "Will I be going to retrieve the Duke?"

She blinked, but otherwise hid any surprise. "Yes, that's what I had hoped." Her gaze went a little distant. "I suppose that I don't need to tell you why."

"No," Kian agreed calmly. "I understand."

She nodded. "Thank you." They were silent for a moment before she continued. "Can you take Marcel with you?"

Avoie made a sound of surprise as he clearly made the same connection that Kian did.

Kian closed his eyes. He resisted the urge to rub at his temples. "The foreign crown prince." His tone was flat.

He could feel his little brother boiling in mortification.

"That's right." She tapped her long fingers against her belt in a fidgeting motion he'd noticed before. It usually seemed to mean she was itching to take some kind of action. "I have a responsibility to at least get him out of here safely, and I don't think it'll go over well for his presence to be noted here when there's a changing of the guard."