Sylph chuckled, and Thana knew she’d been found out. Sylph didn’tmiss much, even if some expressions of emotion were still a mystery to her.
But she was well acquainted with lust by now.
Sylph took her hand and kissed her fingers. “I’m glad to know Ican still entice you.”
“It’s only been a few weeks. I won’t go off you for at least afew months.”
“How sweet,” Sylph said wryly.
“It’s not for nothing that I have a reputation as a lothario.”She stroked Sylph’s cheek as they both laughed at the obvious lie. Thanasighed. “You’re the first person to spend the night in here apart from me.”
“I’m honored, and I wouldn’t say I’ve been apart from you verymuch.”
Thana laughed. “Very nice. Worthy of Dina.”
Mention of someone else made Sylph sigh, and Thana regretted it,though they both had to leave this room soon. “My father’s fate is to bedecided today,” Sylph said as if reading Thana’s mind. Or maybe it had justcome back to her, too.
“Earnhilt saved him for last so you could think on it and renderyour opinion.”
“That seems less like a boon and more like a punishment.”
Thana would have argued, but she didn’t. Sylph already knew thatshe’d like to see Duke Felix rotting in prison. “And have you formed anopinion?”
With a groan, Sylph scooted forward and buried her head inThana’s shoulder. Thana held her, telling herself not to get lost in the feelof her warm skin but to think only of giving comfort. She couldn’t afford to distractthem both, and evidence had shown that Sylph would definitely let herself bedistracted given the chance.
“Will you be angry if I say I haven’t decided?” Sylph asked.
“No, you can leave it entirely to the queen.”
“And what is she likely to do?”
Thana sighed, and Sylph pulled back to look her in the eye. Atleast she wasn’t weeping, but she’d said before that she’d cried out herfeelings for her father long ago. Thana fumbled for Sylph’s robe and draped itaround her before she stood to pace, thinking better when she was in motion,especially when trying to have a care with what she said.
“The nobles involved in the coup have all been forced to abdicatetheir positions to their heirs, and many have had to surrender all titles andhonors, and a few have been exiled from Farraday. Anastasia and HeadmasterCyrus will hang.”
Sylph remained silent. She knew all this, but she seemed happy tolet Thana think aloud, no doubt used to it by now.
“Your father would be joining them or spending his life in prisonif he hadn’t helped us with Yanchasa. At the very least, you will be the newduchess, but I doubt your family will lose any land like some did.” She pointedat Sylph. “But that’s because of your help, not his.”
Sylph smiled. “Thank you.”
Thana resumed pacing again now that she’d reminded Sylph thatshe’d done more for the kingdom than her father had. “So the question isreally, do you want your father forbidden to leave court and stuck here with notitles save being Duchess Sylph’s father? Or do you want him banned from courtand stuck at your home up north? Earnhilt doesn’t want to exile him, not with aFiend, but if you ask her, she might.” When Sylph didn’t respond, Thana keptthinking aloud. “If he’s here, the queen could keep an eye on him while you’re notat court, and since he no doubt still wants his family to increase itsholdings, he’ll keep his ears open and report to you about other nobles’schemes.”
“True.”
“And he’d come in handy if we have to do another emergency Waltz,since the crown prince and his wife don’t live here.” Thana rubbed her chin.“If he’s banned from court, he can run your holdings when you’re absent, or youcan send him touring other noble houses and making nice.”
“Not his strongest quality,” Sylph said with a snort.
“Maybe he can make a good marriage.”
Sylph laughed delightedly. “Oh, that might be fun to watch afterall he’s said to me on the topic.”
“And the third option, pack his bags and exile him. See if anyfaithful retainers will accompany him.”
“I doubt it.”
“And you’ll never have to see him again unless you wish to. Ifyou’re feeling guilty, you could buy him a house in Allusia.”
“What did the Allusians ever do to me?”
Thana barked a laugh. “Allusian servants are famous for speakingtheir minds. Your father might get quite an education.”
Sylph chuckled again, her gaze far away. “You know, it neveroccurred to me that I would or could someday be without him. He was…like theair I breathed, and I panicked at the thought of not being part of his sphere.”
“I remember,” Thana said softly, though it did seem like anotherera.
“And now I keep seeing him hit that man who was going to stab meand imagine him taking on a Fiend, and I can’t help but wonder, does heactually care for me?”
“You can ask,” Thana said. Sylph shut her eyes as if the veryidea pained her. “I can ask for you.”
She kissed Thana’s cheek. “I don’t want to give him theopportunity to sneer at you.”
“Let him sneer. His scorn is all he’s got left, and he knows it.I’d like to see if he’s willing to smile on the peasant who can influence hisdaughter. If he’s even capable of that.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” The words were joking, but neither ofthem laughed because this was about the longing of a child for parentalaffection, even after everything he’d put her through. And if he did care,could he put his pride away long enough to show it? Would his desperatesituation help or hinder that?
Thana licked her lips. “There is a way to see past all thescheming and stiff-necked horseshit to his true heart.” She hesitated at thequestion on Sylph’s face, hoping she wouldn’t be forced to say it, but for allshe had learned, Sylph was still a novice when it came to magic.
“A mind pyramid,” Thana whispered. She called herself a fool andswitched to a normal voice. “Normally, using one on him without
