Froi didn’t want to talk about the Queen of Lumatere. He didn’t want to talk about anything. His need for Quintana was fierce. It had been a long time since that last night in the palace. He fumbled at the drawstring of his trousers, loosening them, taking her hand and pressing it against him. Still, she stared with a question in her eyes. Froi knew she wanted more from him and although he ached for her, he fought hard to control his desire. Counted to ten in every language he knew. Counted to ten again. And again. Until his breathing was less ragged and his hand linked with hers. Finally he sighed, and placed his arm around her, drawing her close.
‘The Queen of Lumatere complains constantly of her nose. “Too big,” she says. Finnikin just shrugs and says, “What would I do with a Queen who has a little nose?” ’
Quintana laughed and she leaned her head against his chest. ‘He’s supposed to say she doesn’t have a big nose.’
‘I know, but Finnikin was brought up by men. If it wasn’t the Guard for the first ten years, it was Sir Topher for the next nine. He knows very little about women.’
‘So what do you say when the Queen of Lumatere comments about her nose?’
He flicked a finger at her nose. ‘I tell her I’ve seen much bigger.’
‘You are a smart man, Dafar of Abroi.’
He shuddered with pleasure to hear his name spoken by her.
‘Froi?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t trust the Avanosh party,’ she whispered. She moved closer to his ear. ‘I’ve allowed them to believe that all is civil between us, but I think they are planning something wicked. There’s too much whispering and Feliciano doesn’t seem to have control. His uncle does. He reminds me of Bestiano.’
She shuddered and Froi held her closer.
‘Don’t let them take away our little king, Froi. Not the Avanosh people or Bestiano. I’m begging you, Froi.’
That she had to speak the words broke something inside of him.
‘I will protect you,’ he whispered. ‘I will never let anything happen to you or our child.’
And he would come to realise sooner rather than later that it was the greatest lie he had ever spoken aloud.
Chapter 39
He went to see Gargarin in his chamber the next morning. It was almost a miniature compound with two bedrooms and a library. Gargarin was writing with vigour and Froi could hear Lirah pottering around in the other room. They’d be safe and comfortable here. Despite his bitterness, at least he could take that away with him.
‘I don’t trust the people of Avanosh,’ Gargarin said, his head still bent as he wrote.
‘Nor do I.’
Gargarin sighed and their eyes met. Froi saw relief in Gargarin’s. ‘Good. I have a plan.’
Froi shook his head. ‘I have a plan. I’m taking her. Probably to Turla.’
‘Excellent. My plan exactly. If anyone can hide us it’s Ariston. We can leave –’
‘I’m taking her alone.’
Froi heard a sound behind him and saw Lirah standing at the dividing door. She looked at Gargarin.
‘I can’t look after you,’ Froi said. ‘I can’t protect you and Lirah and Quintana.’
‘But I can protect you, Froi,’ Gargarin said. ‘I’ve written to every Provincaro. Every Ambassador. I’ve attempted to contact every mountain tribe. We can build an army, bigger than Bestiano and Nebia’s. Her army, Froi. Without one, she has no power.’
Froi shook his head. ‘You’ll slow us down,’ he said bluntly.
‘But if we get caught, you will be protected by my name,’ Gargarin said. ‘I’m beginning to realise that at a time like this it means something.’
‘Your name is nothing,’ Froi argued. ‘You can’t protect me. Neither of you can. You never did!’
Lirah stood watching them. ‘We stay together. We need you both,’ she said, firmly.
‘He can’t even protect himself,’ Froi shouted. ‘Did he save you from harm? Or me? Do you want to know what they did to me in Sarnak, Gargarin? Do you want to know what they made me do?’
Tears of rage spilled from Froi’s eyes. Because he loved them and he hated them. Because he wanted them safe and he wanted to hurt them beyond anything else. So he spoke the words he had never dared to speak aloud. About the men who controlled the back streets of the Sarnak capital and made him sing on street corners because his voice was sweet and high and a gift from the gods. How the rich merchants would pay to take him home. And he spoke of the time in that stable in Sorel when he tried to take Isaboe of Lumatere. He watched Lirah and Gargarin flinch, as though his words were Gargarin’s cane beating them over and over again until nothing much was left of Gargarin and Lirah’s spirit.
‘You couldn’t protect me, so why would I trust you with Quintana and my son?’
He knocked on Olivier’s door moments later. The lastborn of Sebastabol looked worse for wear, having had little sleep the night before.
‘Let’s talk about what we spoke of last night in the inn,’ Froi said.
Olivier looked down the hallway and ushered him in.
‘When can you be ready?’
‘We are ready.’
They planned to meet the others in the courtyard under the pretence of an excursion into the vicinata. They were to take no possessions with them, for it would draw attention and cause suspicion, and Grijio felt it best that they invite Feliciano along as well.
‘We’re going to see the last days of the greatest show in the kingdom,’ Grijio called out with a wave to his father on the balcony beside the uncle from Avanosh.
Froi felt De Lancey’s eyes on him and there was something in his stare that told Froi he knew what would take place. That Gargarin had already spoken to him.
‘Grij?’ De Lancey called out. They were almost out the gate and they nervously looked back up at the Provincaro.
‘If you and Tippideaux aren’t back in time, I’ll send the Guard to come search for you.’
It was a father’s warning. That whatever the plan was, it would not involve his children.
As they travelled down the road to the vicinata, Tippideaux clutched Quintana’s arm.
‘I’m not feeling myself today,’ she sniffed, and Froi could see she was weeping, truly weeping and not just acting out her part in their charade. ‘All this anger from Father about your nonsense, Grij. It’s upset us all. Upset the Queen.’
Grijio stopped and held out a hand to Quintana. She took it and he pressed a kiss to it. In the eyes of Feliciano it was an apology. In the eyes of the others, a farewell.
‘You’ve never offered anything but friendship, Grijio,’ Quintana said. ‘One day I’ll repay it tenfold despite your poor form these past nights.’
Quintana turned her attention back to Feliciano and linked her arm with his, whilst taking one moment more to clutch Tippideaux’s fingers before walking ahead with the heir of Avanosh.
When they reached the lane that would take them into the vicinata, Olivier indicated the fletcher’s cottage with a slight toss of his head.
‘Be safe, friends,’ Grijio said, quickly embracing Froi and Olivier.
‘Everything is for Charyn,’ Olivier said sombrely, his voice breaking from emotion. ‘
Tippideaux quickly hugged Froi. ‘Keep her warm. She’s awfully bad-tempered when she’s cold.’
And then they all caught up with Quintana and Feliciano, full of pretend laughter and talk of the greatest show in the kingdom.
‘Feliciano,’ Tippideaux said in a hushed tone, with a wink towards the stalls they could see at the entrance of the vicinata. ‘Trinkets. A perfect gift for a blushing betrothed.’
