Fallon was trying not to smile, but Kevaan could see the corners of his mouth turning up, his advisor as neutral as before. The king was straight faced and stiff. Before Kevaan could say anything else, the servant returned, his face flush, brow furrowed. He bowed to Randor and spoke, panting for breath as if he had run the entire way.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness. It seems that the princess is not in the castle at this time. We have looked in her usual places, trying to locate her, but she’s not in any of them. We checked in the stables. Her horse is gone. No one has seen her since last night when the servants brought dinner to her rooms.”
“What? Where could she have gone?”
“We don’t know, Your Majesty. No one has seen her. Gerard said that no one has come through the gate since Kevaan.”
Fallon spoke up, a menacing tone in his voice. He was calm, but Kevaan suspected he wouldn’t be for long. “Is there a problem, Your Majesty?”
Randor looked to Fallon, his face ashen now, the sweat beading on his forehead again. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me she was leaving, and it’s not like her not to tell someone where she was going.” He looked at Kevaan. “Did she say anything to you?”
“No, sir. I saw her after you, and she was upset and said she wanted to be alone, but I don’t know anything about her leaving.”
Fallon looked at Jaron, then back to Kevaan.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re keeping something from me?”
“I don’t pretend to understand your feelings, Fallon. My sister is a bit hot-headed and she often does what she wants without telling anyone about it. Perhaps she has decided to take a ride through a countryside she may never see again.”
“You sound like she’ll be a prisoner in my house.”
He ignored Fallon’s comment and concentrated on the king. “Father, I will go out and find her. I’ll bet she has only gone into town for some things and lost track of the hour.”
Fallon interceded. “No. I will take care of it, Your Majesty. I will send Jaron. That will give us the freedom to continue our talk.”
Kevaan was about to protest, but his father spoke up. “Thank you, Your Grace. I would appreciate that.”
Fallon leaned over to his companion and whispered in his ear. Jaron rose quietly and tossed Kevaan a look that was unreadable, but it was what he felt that mattered. He felt fear, cold raw fear, not only for Melenthia, but for himself.
“Well since these negotiations need to be paused for the time being, why don’t we take a break for a bit. I would like to see about getting my men settled for the night. Jaron will find Melenthia. I’m sure she hasn’t gone far. When she returns, we can reconvene at that time.”
“That sounds fine. Kevaan, would you see to it that the duke and his men are comfortable. Ask Gerard to put his men-at-arms up in the guest bunkhouse. The duke can have the guest quarters in the east wing.”
Fallon smiled arrogantly at Kevaan. Kevaan held his tongue. He would say no more until he was out of hearing range from his father. Kevaan motioned for Fallon to follow him from the conference room. Fallon was not behind Kevaan for more than a few footsteps then brought himself up equal to him.
“I so look forward to meeting lovely Melenthia again.”
“You should have told my father that you were already acquainted.”
“The brief interlude her and I had was between us.” He changed the subject. “From what I noticed last time we met, she is quite a spit fire. Of course, I cannot have that kind of behavior in public, so she will learn to act properly in the presence of others. Maybe your father has tolerated it all these years, but I will not. I won’t be embarrassed in front of anyone by my wife, and she will soon learn that.”
Kevaan stopped short, his ears were burning and his heart was pounding. Fallon noticed he had stopped walking and turned to him. They were just outside the main doors, at the top of the steps. Kevaan moved forward and got in Fallon’s face.
“I don’t know what you have done to my father to bend him to your will, Fallon, but it will not work on me.”
“Your father understands the inner workings of a kingdom, Kevaan. As you are not yet king, there are many things I’m sure you have not learned. He knows what this kingdom needs and has decided to go forward. Perhaps he doesn’t think you’re ready.”
“Don’t patronize me, Fallon. You’re a duke, given more land than you’ve earned, but don’t pretend to know how a kingdom is run or what a king needs to know. Melenthia will never let this happen. She would rather be stripped of her title and be banished rather than marry you. You are manipulating my father. He would never have left me out of the decision making if you weren’t controlling him.”