Indenuel walked inside, hardly taking a step when Inessa was there, smiling as she hugged him. He held her, closing his eyes. He had taken a long bath, scrubbed off the evidence of the dungeon. He was dressed as a nobleman, and he did his best to act as though he had a solid night’s sleep for at least a week.
Indenuel barely broke away from Inessa when Martin was there, hugging him tightly. “Welcome to my home.”
“Thank you, Martin,” Indenuel said.
Martin released him, barely giving him time to breathe before Sara wrapped him in a hug, which startled him. “You are practically my son through marriage. I’m allowed to hug you now.”
Indenuel smiled, hugging her back. “I did not realize Inessa was your daughter.”
“Oh, she is,” Sara said, no hesitation in her voice as she broke away. “You are far too skinny to meet the Empress tomorrow. We must fatten you up. I’ve made some of that special Dengrian pasta to add a pound at least to you tonight.”
Indenuel sighed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“That’s a dear. I’ll go make sure dinner is ready.”
Sara moved away and Indenuel saw Nathaniel. He couldn’t help but drop his gaze. He hadn’t seen Nathaniel since the trial, and there was still a lingering regret at the choice he made with the Kiam army. Nathaniel smiled before hugging him. “It’s good to see you. You look better.”
“Do I?” Indenuel asked.
“There’s finally some color back in your face.” Nathaniel let him go, still smiling. “As a captain, I’ll be on duty at the palace while you’re talking with the Empress. If you need me. I’m sure Tolomon will get there far faster than I ever could if you’re in any actual danger.”
“Just knowing you’re there gives me comfort.”
Nathaniel smiled, yet for some reason it seemed sad. “I’m happy to give you that.” He then turned his smile to Tolomon. “Welcome, my friend.” Tolomon hugged Nathaniel, and Indenuel realized Nathaniel was the only man Tolomon hugged without hesitation, without needing any other reason other than to say hi. Nathaniel hugged him back before breaking away. “Rosa couldn’t make it. She is feeling stressed, and isn’t prepared for guests, but she wanted to say hello,” Nathaniel said, not looking at Tolomon.
“Send her my regards,” Tolomon said.
“I will. Now, come on. My mother will want to start filling Indenuel full of pasta, and he’s going to need time to eat it all.”
Tolomon laughed as they made their way to the dining hall. Adosina greeted Indenuel, looking relieved and offering Inessa her usual spot next to Indenuel. Inessa started to object, but Adosina would not hear another word. She took Inessa’s spot by Sara. The children, it seemed, had already eaten.
Indenuel said the prayer, then a huge plate of pasta was set down in front of him. He smiled at Sara, who beamed back. “Take your time, dear.”
“Thank you, Sara,” Indenuel said as he picked up his fork.
“I hope you know we’re all praying for your success, Indenuel,” Ana said.
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Indenuel said, trying not to think about how the Gods were dead. “Martin has tried to teach me everything he knows about diplomacy, which makes me feel a bit better how this might turn out.”
“Reminds me of that time in Krivono,” Tolomon said almost too quietly, considering the abrupt response it created in Nathaniel.
Nathaniel’s eyes shot up at Tolomon, his utensils sliding across his plate before he turned his attention toward Indenuel. “Did you swear Tolomon to secrecy?”
Indenuel furrowed his brows. “What? What are you talking about.”
Nathaniel turned to Martin. “Did the High Elders swear Tolomon to secrecy?”
Martin lowered his wine glass, just as confused. “Not to my knowledge.”
“Well, someone did. Was it Tolomon’s suggestion to have this dinner?” Nathaniel asked.
Indenuel paused, thinking it through. “Yes. It was.”
Nathaniel’s demeanor completely changed. Where he was somewhat relaxed before, he was alert now as he set his utensils down, focused on Tolomon. “How much can you say?”
“Everything I say about last night and today should be trusted completely,” Tolomon said, his eyes staring at his plate and not at anyone else.
“Someone swore him to secrecy last night,” Nathaniel said.
“Not many people knew I was…” Indenuel trailed off, not entirely sure how many people in this dining hall knew he was in the dungeon.
“It must have been a High Elder then,” Nathaniel said. Martin glanced between Nathaniel and Tolomon, a troubled look on his face.
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“Was it Dalius?” Indenuel asked.
Tolomon reacted to nothing as he took a bite of his pasta.
“Navir?” Nathaniel asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tolomon said.
Nathaniel turned toward Martin. Martin’s frown deepened. “It is well within his bounds to do so, but he has not let me know what the secret might be.”
“Does it have to do with the Empress coming tomorrow?” Adosina asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tolomon said.
“Yes, it does. Something specific.” Nathaniel focused on Martin again. “Is there anything you mentioned in your meetings that would give you a clue as to what Navir could have told Tolomon to do?”
Martin looked as though he was mentally going through the agenda in his mind. “We have talked a lot about the Empress and what we need to prepare for her visit tomorrow. I don’t remember anything odd about our meetings the past couple days.”
“But you know High Elder Navir. You’ve worked with him for decades. What do you think he wants with Tolomon?” Sara asked.
Martin studied Tolomon as though that alone would help him figure it out. Tolomon continued to eat his pasta as though the conversation wasn’t entirely about him and his situation.
“She’s not… in any physical danger, is she?” Martin asked.
“I would never kill anyone in secret.” Tolomon picked up his wine glass. “That is something the High Elders know I would never do.”
“Alright, so the Empress and Indenuel are both safe,” Nathaniel said.
“Physically safe. There’s still a lot that could happen otherwise,” Ana said.
“Navir wouldn’t be stupid enough to kill them during the negotiations,” Nathaniel said.
“But he is arrogant enough to meddle in it,” Martin said.
“I will not speak ill of the High Elders,” Tolomon said before taking another bite.
Indenuel had been so distracted with it all that he forgot he needed to start eating. He picked up some pasta, eating it as he watched the entire table figure out this puzzle.
“Does it deal with Indenuel’s negotiations with the Empress?” Nathaniel asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tolomon said.
“Alright, so it does, but neither Indenuel nor the Empress are in any physical danger,” Nathaniel said.
Tolomon again said nothing, staring at his plate.
“Navir doesn’t like that it is only Indenuel and the Empress. As his bodyguard, you would be there in the negotiation room,” Martin said, looking like he was catching on to something.
“I would never, ever leave his side,” Tolomon said before taking a drink.
“He wants you to tell him,” Nathaniel said.
“Navir is using you to stay informed about what they say,” Martin said at the same time.
Tolomon smiled, finally looking up at the two men. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Indenuel felt his heart pounding in his chest as Nathaniel leaned back, somehow both satisfied and worried. “What does that mean, exactly?” Indenuel asked.
“It means if the negotiations take a week, Navir will know exactly what you are saying and will do everything he can to turn it toward Santollia’s favor,” Martin said.
“He’s not allowed to do that. It’s just supposed to be me and the Empress,” Indenuel said.
“And me. And her bodyguard,” Tolomon said.
Indenuel stared at Tolomon, his eyes widening. “You want me to… not have you there?” He was starting to panic just at the thought of it.
“He wants you to be aware he cannot be trusted,” Nathaniel said, returning to his pasta. “You can use that information how you wish in the negotiations you and Tolomon will both attend.”
Indenuel nodded, starting to feel nauseous. Inessa squeezed his hand. “This feels impossible.”
“Anything is impossible when you look at the entire picture. Breaking it into smaller tasks is what makes it manageable,” Nathaniel said.
“Much like that pasta,” Sara said with a smile. “Which I cannot help but notice you aren’t eating.”
Indenuel tried to smile as he picked up his fork. He thought about everything expected of him and his stomach shrank, but he still smiled as he stuffed a larger portion of pasta in his mouth. Sara beamed.
***
Inessa and Indenuel walked through the gardens to help Indenuel walk off the pasta. Tolomon was there, as was Nathaniel, Martin, and Sara, but Indenuel was mainly focused on how Inessa was holding his hand, and no one was getting angry.
“Martin?” Indenuel asked as Nathaniel and Sara struck up a conversation.
“Yes, my boy?” Martin asked.
“With everything we discovered at dinner, what would you do tomorrow?” Indenuel asked.
Martin nodded, looking at the sky as he sorted through his thoughts. “I would go along as planned. I would try to keep the meetings short, but not stress if they go for longer. There is, of course, the danger of the Empress finding out about this infraction, and the way she might react if she found out. The longer the negotiations last, the more Navir will know, and someone might find out that you and the Empress aren’t the only ones knowing what is happening in these negotiations.”
The relaxed feeling he hoped would come after a lovely dinner at Martin’s home did not happen. Martin patted his back. “You know what’s going on. That’s the best thing Tolomon could have given you. You have been granted a rare opportunity here. Find the common goal. You both want to end the killings. You both want what’s good for your people. Build on that foundation.” Indenuel nodded. Martin gave him a smile. “You are a good man, Indenuel. I have full faith that you will surprise us all.”
Inessa squeezed his hand, smiling up at him. Indenuel didn’t feel it.
“It’s getting late. We should head back,” Tolomon said.
“Right,” Indenuel said, almost believing that they would go back to his home instead of the dungeon. Tolomon assured him the safest place for him to sleep right now was chained to a table. There was no knowing what he would do while he slept.
They walked to the front of the house, and Inessa turned to give him another hug. He hugged her back, a part of him scared he would never hold her again. Terrified that the negotiations would go wrong. That someone would still try to kill them both. They had the welcome dinner tomorrow night, then the negotiations would start first thing the day after. Dalius was already planning on cleansing as much as he could of the mark tomorrow. All the way until the welcome dinner.
Indenuel kissed Inessa. It didn’t seem for too long, but it was enough that Tolomon gave another clearing of his throat. Indenuel broke away, giving a pained smile in Tolomon’s direction. “You must tell Rosa we missed her,” Indenuel said, turning toward Nathaniel.
“I will pass the message along,” Nathaniel said, looking at a tree just past Indenuel’s shoulder.
“Is she alright? You said she was stressed?” Tolomon asked.
“Yeah,” Nathaniel said, closing his eyes. “She… doesn’t handle stress well and what with everything going on she simply wasn’t ready to be in front of guests.”
Tolomon paused, and Indenuel would not have noticed it if he didn’t know his bodyguard by now, but there was a slight line of worry in his brow. Clearly there was more about Rosa he wanted to ask but didn’t dare. “Let me know if I can be of service in any way.”
“Yes,” Nathaniel said, still not looking at Tolomon. “I’ll let her know.”
“The invitation extends to both of you,” Tolomon said.
Nathaniel said nothing, meeting Tolomon’s gaze before giving a small bow. Tolomon opened the door to the carriage, checking inside. Indenuel gave a final kiss to Inessa before climbing in, resigning himself to his fate of being chained to a table to try and get some sleep.