Lynx shrugged. She had sort of noticed it.
Kestrel shook her head, smiling. "Oh Lynxie, can't you see? A people who can create such magnificent art can't be all bad?"
"I'll take your word for it," Lynx said doubtfully. "But don't forget, they're also the bloodthirsty bastards who killed Hare."
They reached a narrow stone archway leading to an even narrower flight of slippery stairs. Lynx assumed they were climbing one of the palace turrets. Finally, they reached a large room, brilliant with oil lamps. A nest of comfortable sofas waited on a brightly colored rug in the center of the space, inviting conversation.
Kestrel sank into one.
Lynx looked around, seeing two doors leading off the room. She peeked through the closest doorway. A giant four-poster bed, nothing like her bedroll in her tent back home, stood in the middle of the room. She guessed the other room was a bedroom, too. She instantly missed her familiar tent.
One of the guardsmen spoke. "Your Highnesses, I've stationed two men at the top of the stairs. You can sleep peacefully, knowing you're well protected."
Monitored, more like it, Lynx thought.
He bowed low and then nodded to his companions, leading them out of the room.
Lynx considered throwing the cushions from the chairs onto the floor, but sooner or later, she had to get used to life in the palace. She eased down into one of the sofas, trying to get comfortable in her bustle.
Kestrel stretched out like a cat on her red velvet chair. "I might hate those ghost-things, but I could get used to this luxury." She grinned. "No painful slumping on cushions in the Avanov palace."
Lynx frowned, then decided there was no point debating with Kestrel about which seating arrangements were better, Chenayan or Norin. "So, Tao?"
Kestrel's face fell, and her voice was flat, filled with disappointment. "He's fine . . . if I wanted to marry a Norin. Which I don't."
"I'm sorry. Really I am. If it's any consolation, though, I think Tao's an infinitely nicer person than Lukan. For a Chenayan."
"How would you know, given that you hardly spoke a word to Lukan during the meal?"
The sharpness in Kestrel's tone surprised Lynx.
She answered in kind. "He made it very clear that he didn't want to talk to me." A sigh, and then she admitted, "Any more than I wanted to talk to him." She stood and paced across the room, stopping to lean against the wall between two oil lamp sconces. "I worry about you. You seem determined to become like them."
Kestrel sat bolt upright. "And what's wrong with that? I never fit in at home. This is my chance to belong, to be happy, and I'm grabbing it with both hands." She frowned. "But it goes against all my dreams to have to marry a man who looks like every boy who ever rejected me because I wouldn't raid an egg."
"Tao is more than just his looks."
"By that argument, so is Lukan."
Lynx grunted, acknowledging that Kestrel had a point. Her gaze settled on her sister's face, wishing they were closer. She longed to tell Kestrel about her mission here. If she confided in her, maybe Kestrel would become the ally Lynx needed as she searched for the truth. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to risk sharing her task.
Kestrel cut her off. "There are far worse things that could happen than making love to someone as gorgeous as Lukan. And as for that diamond next to his eye! Well, I have never seen anything so incredible or so beautiful. Did you notice that it's bigger than Tao's?"
Lynx shook her head, glad now for the interruption.
Kestrel looked at her, face etched with concern. "Wolf said I was to support you. So, Lynx, my advice would be to forget your hatred and appreciate what's being offered to you on a golden platter." She flopped down onto the sofa. "And if Lukan gets bored with you, you can always make a play for Axel. The two of you seem to have some kind of lusty thing going. He's probably good in bed, too."
Mortified Kestrel had sensed her reluctant interest in Axel, Lynx protested, "Axel! In my bed! You have got to be joking. I'd rather befriend the she-witch."
"Keep telling yourself that, Lynx, and maybe you'll begin to believe it. Just as well Heron is seven days away by train."
Lynx's face flushed, and a stab of longing pierced her heart. "Leave Heron out of this."
"Whatever." Kestrel lumbered to her feet. "I'm exhausted." At the closest bedroom door, she stopped. "And by the way, keep your claws out of Tao. He's mine."
Lynx's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?"
"Tao. He's mine."
"Yes, I heard that, but-"
"Oh please, Lynx. I saw the way you were flirting with him during dinner. Do us both a favor and content yourself with Lukan and Axel."
"What are you talking about?" Lynx demanded, unable to believe her sister's temerity. "I was keeping Tao occupied while you cried over marrying him! Trust me, I have no interest in your betrothed."
"So what if I was tearful?" Kestrel's face flushed, and she took a step toward Lynx. "I came here to hold your hand, so how about repaying me by minding your own business?"
"Strange. I thought Lukan was my business. You had no problem spending most of the evening ogling him."
"And we both know what business that is," Kestrel shot back. "To find out what's behind the gemstones."
Lynx rocked back. "How do you know that?"
"I have ears, Lynx, and after hours of listening to your tedious fiddle playing, I finally came to tell you to shut up." Kestrel gave her a smug smile. "I'm so glad I did, given the fascinating discussion I overheard between you and Father. Even he believes I should have been the one to get Lukan. He said I would make a wonderful empress! But, as usual, you always get the best, leaving me with meager pickings." Kestrel stomped into her bedroom. "I finally have a chance to make a life for myself, even if it is with Tao, and I'm not going to let you mess it up. Forget about the gemstones, Lynx, because you'll find no support from me if you jeopardize our safety here." She slammed the door.
So much for Kestrel being an ally.
Angry with herself for how she'd handled that, Lynx's legs gave out, and she slid down the wall, landing her bustled backside on the deep-pile carpet.
She had her answer: Kestrel would most certainly not watch her back while she scouted for information. The question now was: would her sister actively work against her?
Chapter 17
Lukan drained his chenna and slammed the goblet down onto the table. His father should have called an end to this interminable evening hours ago. He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. Why was the old man taking so long? Even the dogs that scrapped for bones under the table had given up their vigil.
He glanced at Tao. His brother's eyes drooped, and his chin rested on his hand. Like the dogs, all Tao needed was to start dribbling-or snoring. Either would liven up the evening. Lukan smiled despite his frustration.
The sound of shattering glass split the air, prompting Tao to jolt upright. The signal to leave.
His father had finally drained his chenna and thrown the goblet against the wall. Before any other chair squeaked, Lukan jerked back from the dining table and shot to his feet. Tao followed, relief blazing on his face. His brother tried to catch his eye, but Lukan elbowed past him and out into the passageway. It took all his self-control not to break into a sprint for the stairs leading to his apartment.
Keep calm. People are watching. You have to be regal. Remember.
Tao caught up to him and grabbed his arm. "Want to play dice? Anything to drown out the horror of this night. We can get Axel to join us."
Lukan shook his brother's hand off his arm. "He's the last person I need right now." He hated Axel-the brilliant soldier, everyone's golden boy-almost as much as he did his father, and Tao knew that. It had always grieved him that Tao's loyalty veered toward Axel.
His brother sighed. "Okay, not Axel then, but not just the two of us, either. No offense, but I'm in need of decent company."
Lukan shoved Tao's chest. "What's gotten into you? I told you, I'm not taking the blame for your marriage, so you can stop flirting with Lynx and shoving your resentment at me. And how many times must I tell you to show some respect for the Dragon? If we don't, how can we expect loyalty from our subjects?"
"A game of dice, Lukan, that's it. I'm not interested in dragons, or Lynx, or Kestrel, or marriage, or resentment, or anything else. Not right now."