Page 7 of The Prince's Fealty

Tor would be happy to explain all of that to his brother—if only it wouldn’t get him thrown into the dungeon again. Honestly, getting involved with anything to do with the exiles was probably the most foolish thing Tor could possibly do right now… but he was going to do it anyway.

These people needed help, Bavil was willing to listen, and it sounded like Tama was going to try to bring someone with decision-making authority to meet Bavil, or at least that was Tor’s best guess. They couldn’t ignore this stellar opportunity just because Varex might think that Tor was committing treason again.

Besides, there was a chance the original charge of treason would be upheld anyway, in which case the most important thing was that Tor did his best to help people for as long as he possibly could.

And if Varex was sensible about the original treason charge, then Tor was pretty confident that he could explain all of this, too. He certainly wasn’t conspiring against his brother or the United Realms. Everything they were doing was to promote peace.

“When can we meet?” Tama wanted to know. “Tomorrow? We could be back by then if I leave now.”

Her urgency was clear.

Bavil looked mystified. “It’s that important?”

Solemnly, she confirmed, “Yes.”

When everyone looked at Tor, he tried to consider the matter logically. Theyweretalking about bringing more exiles onto Tond land, which technically broke the peace accords, but the only person who’d been adamantly violent about that was Forex.

Tor meant to uphold the spirit of his mother’s work to achieve peace. After all, what good were the accords if an entire group was dying?

“I believe it’s crucial to work with you,” he admitted to her. “I think the fighting is nonsensical. I think if your land is becoming uninhabitable, we need to look at viable alternatives.” Sighing, he conceded, “I’m just not sure what that alternative is right now. And I definitely can’t speak for my brother, who may well feel that any discussion that we have is further evidence of treason.”

“I understand,” Tama said gravely, but that gleam remained in her eyes.

There was an air of suppressed excitement about her. She seemedhopefulin a way that Tor didn’t quite understand—except he’d much rather talk to Bavil than Forex, so maybe it did make sense.

Carefully, he cautioned her, “We need to figure out a lot, and it’s not just related to the exiles. I can’t stay here.”

“You’re not ready to travel right now,” Tama told him even as Pel opened his mouth on what was clearly a similar protest.

“You got me here when I was unconscious,” Tor pointed out.

Foolishly.

Pel glared at him. “You really want to go there? The days where you were unconscious in the bottom of the boat? Me clutching you on horseback for the end of the journey?Really?”

Tor cleared his throat. “I’m feeling much better than I was.”

Which wastrue… largely because he’d been in a magical coma for two weeks after thinking he’d burned out his core after fighting too many mercenaries before throwing himself out a window.

Tama’s eyes were now amused, but her tone was more serious. “You are far from well, Prince. And I might have an idea that could benefit you along with us. Give me one day. Rest, and recover a bit more of your strength. Please.”

Pel was clutching at him, and Tor knew he’d never hear the end of it if he insisted on haring off into the unknown when he’d barely woken up from a two-week magical coma.

“Very well.”

She flashed a smile, unable to hide her relief. “Thank you. I’ll be back as quickly as I can, I promise. Thank you all.”

She gathered up her things, and a moment later, she was gone. Tor noticed that Denil slipped out after her, quiet and unobtrusive. Unlike huge Cavun, slender Denil was good at going unnoticed, and Tor supposed this was the smartest option. There were a lot of unknowns right now.

Dark eyes serious and face filled with concern, Beluna said, “She could bring a force back against us. She now knows that she has both the High Prince and the presumed King of Tond as easy targets.”

“She wouldn’t,” Bavil protested immediately.

Stubbornly, Beluna repeated, “She could.”

Bavil looked as though he were going to make an angry retort.

Tor interceded. “It’s true that she could, Bavil, even if you think she wouldn’t. Of us all, you’re the one who knows her best. She healed me when she could have used her abilities for leverage. I don’t think it’s her intention to harm us.”