Castle Town 3 by Anya Merchant

Author:Anya Merchant [Merchant, Anya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-20T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Koa made his way downstairs into the castle, collecting Verity along the way. Part of him had wanted to linger in the rooftop garden, if only to get a sense of just how much Genevieve had changed since their last encounter.

He’d heard of fingold pollen before, a fairly common drug especially among younger nobles. A few times during the Great Hunt he’d suspected he’d seen some of the princes doing it off in the distance.

It’d never really appealed to him, in part because being as rare as it was within Harvestglade meant that it was expensive even as an indulgence for a prince. Brin had told him about how he’d tried it once and found the results disappointing, and that had sated his own curiosity.

“What do you think of the new underqueen?” Koa asked Verity as they walked down an empty hallway. “Didn’t you imply that you’ve met Genevieve before?”

“Through my sister, yes,” said Verity.

“Why didn’t you come up to the roof garden along with me?” he asked. “It seems odd that you wouldn’t want to say hello to her.”

“I’ve already spoken to her since she arrived here,” said Verity. “The… knowledge of what I am now isn’t something I want to prime into the forefront of her mind.”

Koa understood her logic, even if it was a precaution for a revelation that’d already arrived. It was possible that she’d presented herself to Genevieve as a spy still undercover in Harvestglade, rather than one who’d essentially been declawed and allowed to sleep in front of the hearth. If that was the case, then her presence around Genevieve with Avina also within earshot might only set the young underqueen on edge.

Koa headed into the kitchens, intent on getting a snack to tide him over to dinner. He was surprised to see a man he recognized from his few visits into the king’s court loitering around with a similar idea — Claudius Demathis, the legendary Sword of the King.

“Prince Makoa,” called Claudius. “Well now! You’re certainly taller than you were the last time I saw you.”

“Lord Claudius.” Koa nodded.

He was technically of higher courtly rank than Claudius, common born as Claudius was, but the reality of politics was more freeform than the blood of birth. Claudius was a wealthy man, perhaps the most esteemed warrior within the realm during his prime, and a close friend of both King Kendall and Thunderclaw.

They shook hands. Claudius had a firm grip, but he was perhaps in his late fifties or early sixties and no longer an active general within the realm. He eyed Koa with an appraising glance and gave an approving nod that felt far more significant than it should have.

“I suspect you already know why I’m here, my prince,” said Claudius. “The long chapter of peace and prosperity the realm has sustained in the years since the Naked Wasting is under threat.”

“Yes, well, the idea of a war in the borderlands seems to be on everyone’s tongue,” said Koa. “Thunderclaw all but announced it during the Great Hunt.

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