The balls scattered across the table, clacking against each other and the table walls.

“Not bad, sis,” Malef said.

Gabriella smirked. “Always so understated.”

Rudiger stared at the positions of the balls and tried to work out what distinguished them from any other opening shot. He understood the basics of the game, but he hadn’t figured out the nuance.

“No, no,” Malef said. “Not on this occasion. You’ll need to do much better than that to make up for Rudiger’s lack of skill. No offence, Rudiger.”

“None taken.” Rudiger had been partnered with Gabby as a handicap since she was apparently so much better than the others. This was the first time he had seen her play though—not that he could recognise the skill difference anyway. Nedwin was also a beginner, but when he played, Rudiger could see no difference between his and Malef’s playing—not until Malef started winning, at any rate.

Malef took a shot and frowned.

Gabby walked behind him, patting his shoulder as she passed. “What was that about lack of skill?” She came up beside Rudiger. “Your turn.”

He nodded and stared at the table. Unfortunately, Malef and Pastrin had forbidden Gabriella from giving him any advice. He found a shot he was reasonably certain he could make, lined up his cue, took the shot…

And missed.

Pastrin and Ned chuckled.

Rudiger looked at Gabby. “Sorry.”

Gabby shrugged.

Pastrin moved in for his turn. “I think we might actually have a chance of beating her this time.”

Gabby grinned across the table at him. “You wish.”

“We have to beat you one day,” Pastrin said.

“Maybe,” she replied. “But not today.”

“Frankly,” Barnol Friaz said from where he was seated on one of the many benches along the walls of the room, “this ongoing competition you have shouldn’t—”

Gabby held up a finger in his direction. “Don’t even go there, Barnol.”

“I’m just saying that there are far more appropriate activities for a lady of refinement such as yourself. You should be with your sister and my daughter. They’re—”

“Fuck you, Barnol.”

“And such language! I—”

“You can either shut the fuck up, or get the fuck out.” Gabby turned her attention back to the table. “Take your shot, Pastrin.”

Barnol huffed, pulled out a chocolate from the box he had in his lap, and stuffed it in his face.

“Really, cousin,” Ned said. “Must you be like this every time?”

Pastrin took his shot while Malef walked around the table towards Barnol Friaz. “I’m afraid I have to agree with Gabby and Ned. It does get very tiring. Gabriella is senior here. If she wants you out, we’ll throw you out.”

Barnol just nodded as he chewed.

“What did everyone think of the funeral yesterday?” Pastrin said.

“It was a funeral,” Gabby said.

Barnol spoke up. “I thought it was quite a fine funeral. Very dignified. Only the brief odd moment when Quilla nearly walked into that priest fellow. No idea what she was thinking there.”

“She was distraught, cousin,” Ned said. “She just got confused for a moment.”

“Yes, but why him?”

“He happened to be in a straight line in front of her. She kept walking too far, nearly bumped into him, and realised what she’d done. Simple as that. As usual, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Oh, I wasn’t making a big deal, just a simple comment.”

“You’re always so free with those,” Gabby said.

Barnol huffed and stood up. “If I’m going to receive this treatment, then I will go. Annai and Tianna’s concert is starting soon anyway. I should get ready.” He tucked his box of chocolates under his arm and stormed over to the door. The servant there opened it for him and closed it behind him.

Gabby laughed.

“You shouldn’t antagonise him so, sis,” Malef said.

“Oh, don’t you start.”

“He has the Queen’s ear is all I’m saying.”

Gabby waved a hand dismissively. “Like I care what her Bitchiness thinks. Now, my turn, yes?”

The topic of conversation turned away from the funeral after that and back to the gentle competition between Gabby and her brothers. Rudiger was glad for that. He was reasonably certain none of them had noticed he and Zandrue—as well as the priest Quilla had approached—had taken off after that moment, but he didn’t want to risk being questioned too closely.

Despite his lack of skill at the billiards game, he and Gabby—just Gabby, really; he didn’t contribute much—still beat Malef and Pastrin handily. Pastrin was not much more skilled than Rudiger, and while Malef was very skilled at the game, he wasn’t skilled enough to match his sister. Pastrin was as much a handicap to him as Rudiger was to Gabby.

“Here’s a suggestion,” Ned said as they were setting up the next game. “Malef and Gabby against Pastrin and Rudiger. That’s a match I’d very much enjoy seeing.”

Pastrin elbowed him. “Hey! You’re supposed to be my support. Why don’t you play them?”

Ned held up his hands. “Oh no, I’m worse than Rudiger.” He laughed.

The doors opened and an older man in Palace livery hurried in. Rudiger had seen the man a few times. He was a courtier or senior servant or something.

The man bowed. “Apologies, your Highnesses. I’ve been sent to inform you that the Lady Lidda Plavin of Plavin-Tyl will be arriving soon. Their Majesties ask that you join them in the throne room.”

Lidda Plavin.

Rudiger’s heart dropped. That was a name he hadn’t heard in some time.

“Thank you,” Malef said. “Inform their Majesties we will be there shortly.”

The man bowed again and backed out of the room.

“Did you know she was coming?” Gabby asked.

Malef nodded. “She was one of the few provincial lords to respond that she was coming to the funeral. She didn’t make it in time though, it seems.”

“I’m surprised she even thought she could make it,” Gabby said. “I only got here in time because I was already on my way. I didn’t even know about Garet’s death for most of my journey. Oh well, better go get ready. And I was hoping for a relaxing day.”

“It’s just a standard greeting. It’ll be a little boring and then we can come back and finish our game.” Malef smiled.

Gabby smirked. “You’ve never met Lidda Plavin, have you?”

Malef shook his head.

“I have. Trust me, things won’t be as simple as you think.”

“I met her once when we were both children,” Ned said. “I think we were ten, so I can’t really comment on what she might be like now.”

They placed their cues on the table and headed for the doors.

“Join us, Rudiger,” Malef said. “It’s high time you saw a bit of court life.”

“Oh, don’t put him through that torture,” Gabby said.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Rudiger hesitated and stood back a moment. Lidda Plavin’s arrival here couldn’t be good, but surely she couldn’t know he and Zandrue were here. Would she recognise him? She had ordered his death last year, but had she ever actually seen him? He didn’t think so, but she was bound to learn who he was if she stuck around for any length of time.

“Hurry up, Rudiger!” Pastrin called back to him. “There’s not much time to change and get to the throne room.”

He needed to talk to Zandrue.

* * * * *

Zandrue stood beside Barnol Friaz and his wife and daughter. She looked calm and serene, but her eyes were moving about, taking everything in. She was dressed in a purple gown much like the one she’d worn yesterday at the funeral—as were Princess Annai and Tianna Friaz. Apparently, the three of them had been about to give a concert in honour of Garet.

“At least I don’t have to sing,” Zandrue had said about the concert being cancelled.

Rudiger had only gotten a few seconds to talk to her before they’d been dragged to opposite sides of the room, and that had been her only comment about Lidda Plavin’s arrival. He’d hoped for something a little more insightful, but he supposed he would have to wait to talk to her later.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Ned whispered.

Rudiger glanced down at him. “What makes you think I’m nervous?” The two of them were standing in a line of lesser nobles. By the thrones, Princes Malef, Pastrin, and Thilin stood to one side of the King and Queen, with Princesses Gabriella and Annai on the other side.

“You’re fidgeting.”

Rudiger tried to stand straighter and stiller. “Nonsense.”

Ned snorted.

The doors at the far end of the room opened and a herald announced, “Her Ladyship, Lidda Plavin, ruler of the conjoined province of Plavin-Tyl, speaker of both House Plavin and House Tyl, and her mother, the Lady Debran Plavin.”

Before the named people, however, two warriors in pinkish plate and mail armour with red capes and red shields marched into the room.

Red Knights.

Bloods.

Rudiger bit his lip and glanced at Zandrue. Her eyes were focused on the people who entered after the Red Knights.

Two women entered side by side. One was tall and thin with pale blonde hair and even paler skin. She moved with slow precision, seeming to almost float towards the Bear Throne, her feet completely obscured under the skirts of her gown. Beside her was an older woman. Not quite as tall as the younger woman, she had a similar bearing with a similar long face. Her longer, fuller blonde hair was adorned with flowers that must have been difficult to grow at this time of year.

Behind the Ladies Plavin came four more Red Knights.

At the halfway point across the throne room, the two lead Bloods stopped and turned to face each other. They each took a step back and then stood to attention as Lidda Plavin and her mother passed between them. The other four Bloods also stopped, turned, and took positions beside the first two.

The Queen rose from her throne and strode past the princes and princesses to the bottom of the steps in front of the throne. She was no longer in the purple of mourning, but had donned a deep blue and silver gown. On her head, she swore a tall, blue chaperon with a tail that reached almost to the floor. She waited at the base of the steps for the two Plavin women.

Rudiger took another glance at Zandrue, but her expression hadn’t changed. Her eyes remained locked on Lidda Plavin.

When the Ladies Plavin had almost reached the Queen, they stopped and curtsied low.

The Queen spread her arms and took a step forward. “Debran, how wonderful to see you again.”

Lidda Plavin’s mother rose and approached the Queen. “It is wonderful to see you again, too, Annai. It has been much too long, cousin.” They embraced.

The elder Plavin stepped aside and Lidda Plavin came forward. She and the Queen embraced.

“You have grown into quite a fine young woman, Lidda,” the Queen said.

“Thank you, your Majesty.”

“I was so saddened to hear of your father’s death. Harrol was a good man.”

“He was, your Majesty,” Lidda Plavin said. “I miss him a great deal.”

The Queen gave a sympathetic smile. “I have no doubt, my dear.” She turned and climbed back up the steps to her throne. “Though I have heard some very interesting things about what you’ve been doing in Plavin-Tyl since you took over.”

“I can never hope to replace my father, but I can hope to do him proud.”

The Queen sat down. “To be completely honest, my dear, I don’t think he would approve of your Red Knights, but he was always one to leave behind the honoured ways of the past—forward-thinking he would call it. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be proud of you, of course. If you keep Plavin-Tyl prosperous, I’m sure he might overlook whatever methods you might employ.”

Lidda Plavin curtsied again. “As you say, your Majesty, I…”

The Queen held up a hand to silence Lidda. “I do not mean to make you uncomfortable, my dear, but I do not wish to dishonour your departed father by misrepresenting him. I think you know as well as I do that he would never have created an organisation like your Red Knights.”

Lidda Plavin bowed her head. “Perhaps, your Majesty. I am not my father as I said, and I do have my own ways of doing things.”

Rudiger tried not to grin. He never expected he would ever approve of anything the Queen did, but he couldn’t deny liking how uncomfortable Lidda Plavin looked now.

“As well you should,” the Queen said. “I am not in any way saying what you are doing is wrong or bad. Indeed, I am eager to learn more of your Red Knights. Just because your father would not support such an organisation doesn’t mean I would not. Perhaps you will join the King and I or dinner this evening. You can tell me about them then.”

Now Rudiger wanted to frown.

Lidda smiled and curtsied once more. “I would be honoured, your Majesty.”

“You are invited as well, of course, Debran,” the Queen added.

“And I, too, would be honoured,” Debran Plavin replied.

The Queen smiled. “Excellent.” She looked over at the King. “My dear?”

The King nodded and leaned forward in the Bear Throne. “I welcome you to our humble home. May your stay be a pleasant one. I look forward to seeing you both at dinner.”

Both Plavins curtsied again and said in unison, “Thank you, your Majesty.” Then they turned and moved slowly back across the room, the Red Knights falling back into formation as they reached them.

Ned nudged Rudiger’s arm. “That was short and painless. Told you there was nothing to be nervous about.”

Rudiger shrugged. “Those Red Knights. Have you heard of them?”

Ned sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“And you still think there’s nothing to be nervous about?”

“I was referring to specifically here and now, but I take your point.” He shifted his feet. “If you’ll excuse me, Rudiger.” He went over to where Pastrin, Malef, and Gabriella were conferring with each other. Thilin stood near them, frowning.

Rudiger looked over to Zandrue, but she was already gone.

* * * * *

He found her in the salon in their apartments—Felitïa’s technically, but over the last couple weeks, Rudiger had grown to think of them as his and Zandrue’s. It wasn’t like Felitïa was there anyway.

Zandrue was lounging on the couch sipping at some wine. She looked up as he came in, but said nothing, just motioned to one of the handmaids to bring him some wine.

He took the cup and sat beside her. “I thought we were supposed to avoid drinking wine.”

“Avoid? Yes. Cut out entirely? No.” She smiled and leaned her head against his arm, jostling his wine a little.

He switched his cup to his other hand, then put his arm around her. “So...Lidda Plavin.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I’ve been trying to think what to do. Our enemies seem to have decided it’s time to start walking in the open. First Dyle yesterday. Now Lidda Plavin. On the plus side, I doubt she’ll just try to openly kill us.”

“What about not openly?”

Zandrue smirked. “That’s entirely possible. She might not know we’re here yet, of course, though she’ll certainly find out eventually. That is, if she even cares about our fate.”

“Why wouldn’t she? She wants us dead, remember?”

“Probably.” Zandrue put her cup of wine aside and snuggled up closer to him. “But there is a possibility we haven’t really considered. We were attacked by Bloods who had been ordered to kill us. But while Lidda Plavin’s name might have been on the order, we don’t actually know for sure she wrote those orders.”

“You think somebody else did? Forged her seal or something?”

Zandrue shrugged. “Wouldn’t even have to go that far. Some rulers will put their stamp on anything their court officials put in front of them. They can’t be bothered to read most of them. Not saying that happened here. It’s just a possibility.”

“We should still be prepared, though.”

Zandrue pulled away from him a little and turned her head to look up at him. “Obviously. Give me a little credit, Rudiger.”

“Sorry.”

She laughed and snuggled against his chest again. “We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing. If we can get even a few members of the Royal Family to like us, we can hopefully use them to offset any attempts Lidda Plavin makes to vilify us. We can’t forget our other problems, either. There’s still Dyle to think about.”

“Any further ideas about what happened yesterday?”

She shrugged. “Magic maybe. It’s possible he’s a wizard and we never knew. Or there’s some other way out of the Cathedral we don’t know about. Or he just somehow blended in with the crowd. I wish I knew which. You’re doing well with the princes.”

“Malef and Pastrin anyway,” Rudiger said. “Thilin’s a hard one to get time with. Hang’s tried, but it never seems to work out.”

“Two out of three ain’t bad.” Zandrue grinned.

“It’s not like I get much time away from Malef and Pastrin anyway.”

“Too busy playing billiards?”

Rudiger sighed. “Seems to be all they do. I’m winning now though.”

Zandrue looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

“Okay, Gabby’s winning, but they put me on her team.”

“Oh, it’s Gabby now, is it?”

Rudiger blushed. “Gabriella.”

Zandrue laughed.

Rudiger decided to change the topic. “How’s Quilla doing?”

“Not well, I suspect, though I haven’t seen her today.”

“She wasn’t in the room for Lidda Plavin’s arrival.”

“Probably wasn’t even told about it,” Zandrue said. “We’ll have to let her know. I’ll go see her first thing in the morning.”

“Maybe we should go see her now.”

Zandrue rolled over in his arms and looked up at him. She ran her fingers along his chest. “I have other plans for right now.”

This time, he just dropped his wine.