Chapter 135

Convincing Jate to stay with her hadn’t taken much persuasion, even though he was well aware that Kit was too tired for any strenuous activities. Even climbing into the bathtub had been too much for her. Once all of her layers were off and she was wearing a clean shift, she’d discovered the mud was mostly on her clothing, though some had managed to splatter above her boots near her shins, but that had come right off. Snuggled in his arms, she tried to relax, ignoring his bare chest and the fact that all he was wearing were his breeches.

Eventually, she’d drifted off to sleep, but her dreams had been unsettling. Visions of Merek’s headless torso running through the castle chasing her, images of Eli being dragged to the chopping block, even Seph being punished for not seducing Eli on the way back from Eastbury, prevented her from sleeping well, and after a few short spurts of restless slumber, she decided enough was enough and rolled over to face the handsome man whose arms kept her safe from all harm except the thoughts in her head.

“You haven’t slept well.” Jate’s voice was soft, like his touch, as he brushed her hair back away from her face. “Were your dreams unsettling?”

“To say the least,” she admitted. Rather than go back over the scraps she could remember, she attempted to force them from her mind. There were other, more pressing, issues to discuss. “Jate, you’ll be honest with me, won’t you?”

She thought she saw a flicker in his eyes. Whether it was fear or he was only bracing himself, she couldn’t discern, but he nodded and said, “I will try to be, as well as I can be.”

Kit assumed that would have to do. Something told her she’d be able to tell if he was holding back from her. Unlike Eli, Jate wasn’t used to withholding information from the princess. She ran her fingertips down the center of his chest and back up again, trying not to get distracted. With a deep inhale, she asked, “What was it that woman said? Le atsa? What does that mean?”

Jate swallowed hard and shifted so that he was lying on his back, looking at the ceiling. He had to have known she would ask, and yet, he didn’t seem to have a good answer for her. Kit rolled up onto her elbows so that she was hovering over him, trying to be patient as she awaited his response.

“It’s ancient Yewforian, Princess. I’m sure you’ve heard it at religious ceremonies. I think she was just trying to say that she appreciates your concern for the welfare of her family, for all of the guardsmen’s families.” He met her eyes for the first time, and the air of nonchalance he was forcing to the surface did a poor job of hiding the fact that there was a greater significance behind the words than he was letting on.

“Do you know how it translates? What would she have said in our current tongue?”

“It means ‘with you,’” Jate explained, again trying to sound as if it didn’t mean anything special. “Perhaps she meant something along the lines of ‘thank you.’”

Kit studied him for a moment and then flipped onto her own back, leaving a space between them. He didn’t seem to like that much, so he slid over next to her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her against his chest. She let him, but she didn’t appreciate the fact that he wasn’t being completely forthright with her. “I had no idea,” she said, deciding to try another subject. “I had no idea my guards were paid so little they couldn’t provide a decent dwelling for their families.”

“I didn’t either,” Jate admitted. “Is it possible that Tem had other debts, and his family’s circumstances are different than the others?”

Kit turned her head to look at him before shaking it. “I don’t think so. I think it’s like that for most of them. Possibly even for some of my mother’s guardsmen and the other castle workers.” She sat up, pulling the sheet around her breasts as she went even though she still wore her shift, and he’d already seen her fully nude. “With all the money my mother collects—taxes and tributes—where does it go? I don’t understand how such a large realm, with so many provinces specializing in everything we could possibly need, could have citizens living in such horrible conditions right outside the castle doors.”

Jate sat up, too, adjusting the pillows and leaning back against the headboard, and once again, she could see him debating whether or not to speak. She remembered what Cassius had told her in the bath. Had Jate’s experience in his province been similar?

He pulled her over to him, and Kit leaned back against his chest, his arm around her shoulders. Slowly, his hand ran down the length of her bicep and back up again. It was soothing, even if she was angry. Keeping a clear head wasn’t a strong suit for her, but it was a necessity if she was to find a way to help her people.

“There seems to be a disproportionate amount of taxes collected versus what is used to assist the citizens.” His voice was low and cautious, almost a whisper in her ear. “The situation has been worsening, particularly over the last decade or so, Kit. What you saw today wasn’t pleasant, but you asked me to be honest with you, and if I am, then, you should know, it’s far worse in the provinces, particularly the ones that do not have as much to offer. Merek came into this angry because of how his people have been treated. He knew he wouldn’t have a chance at becoming the duke, but he hoped to spark a change. When he didn’t get the chance to do that, I think he snapped.”

Kit turned to look at him then. “I was under the impression that he was put up to attacking me, that it was a show to make Pierce look strong.”

Jate nodded. “I believe the idea was planted in his head, but he was in the state of mind where he’d be willing to do almost anything to help the people of Calster. Conditions are far worse there than what you saw today. He spoke of houses reduced to rubble from the storms and no resources to rebuild, people living in caves. There’s little to eat, though by the looks of him, you’d think what there was, he’d taken all for himself. At any rate, his people sank everything they had into getting him here, making him presentable. Once he was asked to leave, he felt like a failure. One last ditch effort to make an impact cost him his life, but only out of desperation. I’m sure Merek wouldn’t have sought to harm you if he understood that you are the solution.”

He had her full attention now. “What do you mean?”

Jate didn’t get a chance to answer. There was a commotion outside in the hallway, and Kit jumped up, wondering where she could go to protect herself. There was no secret hiding space in her own chambers.

Her protector was around the bed, his sword in hand before Kit even knew where he’d been keeping it. Standing in a ready position in front of the locked door, the muscles in Jate’s back flared to life, and Kit momentarily forgot she was petrified long enough to admire them.

A sharp knock on the exterior door was followed by Avinia’s voice, “Princess—all is well. Eli and Seph have returned!”