The Hollow Crown (Kingfountain #4)(20)

“What if he had pulled his dagger instead of the training sword?” Lady Evie said vehemently. “Neither of you were wearing hauberks . . . He could have shed your blood before Captain Staeli or anyone else intervened.”

Fallon glowered at his mother, clearly still humiliated by the outcome of his altercation with Elwis. Ever since the incident, Trynne could not stop thinking about how Fallon’s rash act had been motivated by Elwis’s insult toward her. She felt a certain guilty pleasure from it that was confusing.

Fallon’s mother held a bloodied rag to his torn ear, but he winced and lifted his arms to ward her off.

“Enough coddling, Mother!” he snapped at her.

She squinted in anger at her son and shook her head. “Don’t you blame me for this, Fallon Llewellyn. You weren’t thinking. You rushed into something without plotting out the consequences. It took four years to make peace with Brugia, and it was nearly wasted in a training-yard brawl.”

“You think I don’t realize that?” Fallon blustered. He rose and stalked away from her, casting a miserable glance at Trynne. “I already feel like a fool. There’s no need to add salt to the wound.”

Trynne glanced over at Captain Staeli. He had been summoned as well to account for his role in the scene. Elwis had claimed both men had attacked him, and the whole affair had exploded into flaming spurts of accusation and threats of retribution. Trynne sighed. Within hours of Myrddin’s pronouncement, the kingdom was already roiling with inner conflict. Staeli had answered briefly and curtly amidst the passion and bluster. He looked calm, but she watched him pacing slowly along the far wall.

“I’m not trying to torture you, Fallon; just be sure you’ve learned your lesson.” Lady Evie clenched the bloodstained rag in her hands. “You’re nearly a man now. You can’t afford to make such costly mistakes. Sometimes, we aren’t given a second chance. Actions have consequences.”

Fallon’s mouth was twisted into a pained frown. “I know, Mother,” he said softly, looking at her with hurt in his eyes. “I will do better next time. Next time, Prince Arse-turias will be the one bleeding on the floor.”

His mother threw up her hands. “Iago Fallon Llewellyn, have you heard nothing I’ve said this past hour? He shamed you, yes. Even worse, he shamed you in front of your peers and in front of girls. But the blame belongs to you. You assumed that you were better than him. The Espion could have told you that he’s been training since he was ten years old and is likely one of the best swordsmen, if not the best, in Brugia. He’s had four or five masters.”

Fallon rounded on her amidst his pacing. “And how I am to know such things if no one tells me anything? You and Father are keeping secrets from me right now.” He shot Trynne an angry look as well. “What are you hiding from me?”

“Fallon,” his mother said curtly, “I would tell you if I could. But we were commanded by the king to keep it silent. Even from you. I see by your angry glance that Trynne hasn’t broken her word either, and I’m proud of her for it. I can expect such discretion from the daughter of Lord Kiskaddon. Apparently it’s too much to expect from my own son?”

Her last blow rocked Fallon like a punch to the stomach. He stared at her, miserable, and Trynne wished she hadn’t been there to witness his shame.

A wall of silence came up between them after that, making Trynne squirm inside.

The noise of approaching bootfalls announced the coming visitors, and Lady Evie walked up to Fallon and mopped the blood from his ear again. He capitulated and then went to one of the benches and sat down, burying his face in his hands.

The door opened and Trynne’s father came in with King Drew, Queen Genevieve, Iago, and Lord Amrein. The wretched young man looked up at his father as he approached, waiting for another rebuke. Iago put his hand on his son’s shoulder, gazing down at him. Then he patted his shoulder comfortingly and bent lower. Trynne was just close enough to hear his words.

“Buck up, buttercup. You lost a battle, not the war.” He winked at his son, clapped him hard on the back, and then turned around. His wife gave him a challenging look, and Trynne saw Iago nod sagely to her, as if he agreed with her on every point.

Genevieve came over and sat next to Fallon on the bench, put a sisterly arm around him, and gently rubbed his back. He gazed sideways at her, looking sheepish. She sighed and shook her head, trying to stifle a smile. Trynne felt a flush of affection for her calming manner.

“Has Brugia decided to abandon the treaty, my lords?” Lady Evie asked with a sigh. “Out with the worst of it.”

Trynne’s father smiled wanly and shook his head. “Grand Duke Maxwell is interested in preserving the peace, as are we.” He nodded for the king to continue.

King Drew started pacing, his hands clasped behind his back. “It’s our thinking that this rupture was intended by Prince Elwis alone. It was probably even staged.”

“Staged?” Evie asked with concern.

Drew nodded. “He has a deep hatred of Lord Owen for defeating his father. I think it’s reasonable to deduce that his slight to Trynne was intended to be provoking. He stands to inherit his father’s kingdom and doesn’t want to be beholden to the throne at Kingfountain—or his nemesis. Nor does he likely want to be bound by the principles of Virtus. Quite simply, the young man is a troublemaker.” The king looked pointedly at Lord Amrein. “It’ll be best to keep an eye on him from now on.”