Page 28 of The Sun King's Noon

Richard had thought Corwin was pulling his leg, until he returned to the feast and watched Elara tuck a strand of red hair behind Penelope’s ear, the gesture all too intimate and clear.

Hope had blazed first. Elara, in love. His sister, who was as hot-tempered as her flames, but who was also kind and bright and so full of compassion, deserved every blessing this difficult world could offer. Despite his revulsion for King Marius, Richard had written to him that same night to enquire about a betrothal.

The reply had arrived within the week.

‘I would be delighted to welcome your radiant sister as my daughter-in-law. But Penelope will not be sent to Ardenia. If Princess Elara wishes to wed her, then your sister must dwellin Estara. In all matters, my children’s spouses must come to me. Unless, of course, it is you who wish to marry my son or daughter.’

Elara had pleaded on her knees, hands clasped. Richard had joined her on the floor to seize those hands and press her knuckles to his brow.Forgive me,he had begged. He could not send her there. Not to a realm of atrocities. Not to a king who had?—

Stop.Richard dug his nails into his palms.Do not think of?—

Haldric’s battered body curled around Aralynn’s. The blood that had dripped from his mother’s eyes, the crown that had bent in the shape of his father’s crushed skull?—

Stop.

Richard gave his head a shake and lifted his gaze. Elara’s bedchamber was adorned with intricate ornaments and pretty tapestries, with the scent of rosewater thick. Penelope sat with Elara on the edge of the bed, their fingers interlinked. On a rug by their feet lounged Corwin and Kaelen. The two of them made for an odd sight, with Corwin cross-legged and leaning back into Kaelen, who was still armoured and even wearing his helm with the visor raised—no doubt, needing to rush back to duty afterwards. Kaelen absently rocked Corwin from side to side as they listened to Penelope’s mumbled explanations.

Elara’s glare landed on Richard as he shifted against the door.Try it,her glare warned.Try to pull me from her.

Richard sighed. Did she think he had enjoyed tearing them apart? He had not slept for three days after. More than once, he’d contemplated telling her the truth behind?—

Richard’s hands trembled. He pressed them flat against his thighs and crossed the room.

“Princess Penelope.” He stopped a few paces from the bed. “Your father’s court did not respond to our invitation. You have arrived with no formal notice.”

Penelope attempted a smile. “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.” Her voice was hoarse, her Estaran accent rolling her ‘r’s. “My stepmother only granted me leave six days ago, and I set off before she could think better of it.”

Richard frowned. Penelope’s new stepmother—Queen Octavia—was once the wife of Estara’s eldest prince, Calentris, until his ugly death two years prior. Marius marrying his dead son’s widow had roused incredulous gossip in Richard’s court for weeks, and none of it kind.

Elara stroked a thumb under Penelope’s eye, catching a tear. “What has the snake done now?”

Penelope let out a watery laugh. “Everything, my heart. And nothing. She is gifted at making Father think every notion his own. Octavia controls the court. Father leans on her, and the council and generals bend whichever way she looks. The laws and taxes are harsher each season. The city rebels grow by the week. The Broken Stag, they call themselves. But they hold little power, and when Father’s guards catch any of them, the poor man or woman is covered in oil and set afire. The burnings happen so often now that the stench of charred flesh seeps into my bedchamber.”

Corwin lifted his head from Kaelen’s shoulder. “But your father is the king. Surely he sees the atrocity behind all this?”

“He sees what Octavia wants him to see.” Penelope’s chin quivered. “Regardless, I no longer recognise the horror he has become. He was not always so bad. When we were little, Father laughed freely. Calentris was alive then, and he and Alaric and I would race each other through the sunlit beaches, and Mother—” She sniffed and tugged at her fingers. “But now, all has gone to the hells.”

A pang of sympathy jolted through Richard. Yes, he had lost his parents, but at least he had his siblings. And though his courtnever failed to give him headaches, their loyalty had stretched from before his grandfather’s time.

Penelope stared at her trembling hands. “I miss Calentris. I miss his laugh. I miss his smiles and the way he worked for hours carving toys from wood. But where he had softened my father’s edges, Octavia now sharpens them like a whetstone. I see only despair and death for my kin.”

“Oh, Penny.” Elara drew Penelope closer, tucking the woman’s head into the crook of her neck with such tenderness that Richard had to look away. He paced, instead, to the window. Below, the castle grounds were washed golden by the sunset.

No, he had never truly believed Estara would lend its armies against Galdran. Not with Marius as king. But now, on hearing Penelope’s account, the faintest hope of their support crumbled.

Richard turned from the window. “You are safe here, Penelope, and you may remain for as long as you are permitted by your father.”

“Permitted?” Elara gave a scornful laugh. “She will remain for as long as she wants, Brother.”

Richard sent her a withering look. What did she expect? He could hardly kidnap a foreign princess—least of all now.

Penelope patted Elara’s hand. “I will leave the day after the Summer Ball. Octavia made it clear I must return.” She clenched her jaw. “Alaric is there. I cannot abandon him. We are all each other has.”

Richard caught Kaelen’s lip curling as though he’d bitten into something rotten.

Penelope snorted. “Oh, Kaelen, do not pull such a face.” She dabbed at her nose. “Alaric has changed in some small manners since—” She glanced at Richard. “Since Queen Aralynn gave him that prophecy at your betrothal.”

Richard’s chest tightened at his mother’s name. He remembered the prophecy and how the Estarans had bristled after Aralynn broke the betrothal.