Another message had arrived from Noumin. This one spoke of Lord Dhravan’s illness. He had also been absent at the wedding, but Cheran knew of him. He was the reason why Noumin hadn’t crumbled in front of Daivia like other small nations, the reason that they’d had to make concessions and negotiate. The message they received said that Lord Dhravan had not woken from a sleep, and been found nearly dead the next morning by his valet. He was not dead, but everyone expected him to be within a few weeks. The emperor had asked their Nouminese source, and the source revealed that while the physicians were so far successful in keeping him alive, he was elderly and not showing signs of improvement.

  Someone was targeting Noumin, and they were not missing. His father was speaking to the members of the war council. It appeared that they were planning an attempt completely conquer the small nation while it was in chaos. Vayu was constantly invited in to listen, but she stayed silent as the emperor spoke about who could be the one behind the deaths. Cheran knew it was in part to assure Vayu that Daivia was not behind the odd events happening in Noumin.

  His father was cunning and was not above assassination, but he would not lie to family. Vayu, despite the newness of their marriage, was still part of the family. Cheran hoped, at least, that his father was being honest with both of them. He seemed honest, but he also seemed almost pleased with the way things were going.

  Vayu had retreated into her rooms, spending her time reading. She still came out to take a stroll with him, had dinner with him, but she was not freely herself. He was always the second thing on her mind, even when they were right next to each other. He knew she was thinking of her younger brother, now alone and defenseless in Noumin. He wished there was something he could do, but so far they had received no negative news.

  He wished he could take her to Noumin, that he could bring the young king to Daivia. It wasn’t so simple. Their two nations were both depleted from the war. Anything they did could result in unwanted consequences, in attacks from other surrounding countries. Hastiness could cause harm to her brother.

  “Do you want to go into the city?” he asked. They were outside the library, in one of the parlors nearby. It was a bright and sunny room, and there was a table filled with food and drinks in front of them. Vayu, he’d noticed, had lost weight since she came to the castle. It was strange, knowing she’d eaten better in the monastery than she did at her new home.

  “Can we?” she asked.

  It wasn’t the safest time for them to roam the city, but if they took reasonable precautions they would be safe.

  “I think if we go in disguise, we should be fine,” Cheran said. “We can go to the market, see a few bookstores, have lunch, and come back by sunset.”

  “In disguise?”

  “Better for the people around us to think we are just travelers exploring the city. It’s the only way to travel in peace.”

  They outfitted themselves in plainer clothes and met each other in front of the main entrance. People saw what they wanted to see. A person wearing a crown was a royal, a person in rich clothes was a lord, lady, or merchant, someone in uniform was a soldier, and someone wearing poorer, hardier clothing was peasantry.

  “Who are we?” Cheran asked.

  “You’re a merchant from Vasthi, and I’m your wife,” Vayu said dutifully. “We’re traveling through the continent for pleasure.”

  “It’s an odd time to travel for pleasure, but let’s say I’m an merchant who likes living on the edge,” Cheran joked, trying to cheer her up. Vayu smiled lightly, humoring him but not finding the joke funny. She fixed the hat atop her hair with a hat pin and took his hand. She was more comfortable with him than others in the castle, and even tolerated Obal’s presence occasionally if she was by Cheran’s side.

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  The guards who came around them were dressed like they were. They would say that they were a group of couples traveling together, and it was believable. Vayu’s old maids had left for Noumin the moment they heard of Lrod Dhravan’s illness. Losing Queen Raval was one thing, but Lord Dhravan was a pillar that had kept the country together for many years. If he was also gone, there was no saying what the conditions would be like in Noumin, and who would be safe. Now, she had hired hired local maids from the city.

  Out in Yerna, they pretended to be exiting from one of the castle tours. In the city, Cheran saw her tense up. She had been cooped up in the castle for weeks, but he’d forgotten that she had unused to the mass of people that moved about in the capital city. Monasteries moved at slow paces, with every movement intentional instead of rushed. The city of Yerna could not be more different. It was the capital of Daivia, and in many ways, it was the capital of the continent. It was the center of culture and commerce, with people flowing in and out of it like a roaring river. The city never slept or rested.

  It was invigorating to join the throng, for him. For her, it must be overwhelming. He placed his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer towards himself.

  “It’s easy to get lost in the streets,” he explained, removing his arm and instead lacing his fingers through hers. He made sure to keep his grip strong. They waited for one of the city’s many public carriages to pass through. The carriages had no doors, and were long, able to hold up to ten people at once. They were pulled by half a dozen well-trained, stocky horses. When the carriage arrived, they boarded, with one of the guards paying the coach driver extra to not take any more passengers.

  Cheran wondered if their ruse was truly successful. No matter how much he played at being normal, it was just acting, and he was not a good actor. Vayu took a seat by the edge, looking out at the various stores and stalls lining the streets. Seated a few feet above the chaos, it looked like she was relaxing and taking it in. When the carriage stopped due to traffic, vendors approached the carriage with little baskets of food to sell. He bought a few pastries, and Vayu took a bite as they rode further away from the castle. As they rode, the streets grew wider and the rough dirt gave way to cobbled stone. They were in one of the wealthier streets, where the richer merchants and tradesmen frequented. The streets were filled with nicer restaurants and tea shops. They got down from the carriage and entered a tea shop that was half filled with patrons.

  Inside, Vayu and he took the corner booth while the rest of the party took other tables around the shop. The waitress paused at the new group of people, and plastered on a huge smile before approaching their table. She slid two menus onto the booth table.

  “Would you like some time to decide what you want?” she asked.

  “What do you like?” Vayu asked. The girl didn’t respond immediately.

  “The pomegranate and blackberry tea,” the girl said, after thinking for a minute. “It’s really very good.”

  “A cup of that for me, then,” Vayu said, sliding the menu back.

  “Make it two, and a selection of macaroons,” Cheran said. Vayu had ignored the way the waitress bent over as she slid the menus towards them, the low cut of her blouse, her obvious focused attention on Cheran. He was used to such attention as a prince, but it was surprising that the attention did not disappear with his status. Perhaps the waitress saw the weight of the money pouch at his belt, or the glint of his gold rings. Whatever the reason, she was interested, and Vayu was unbothered.

  “She was pretty,” Vayu said. She looked at him, her hands folded on her lap. It was surprising the simple ways that her monastic mannerisms came across elegant and unintentionally royal. Her gaze was level when she looked at him. “I’m perfectly fine if you want to seek out other womens’ company. I know that you must have had lovers before the wedding.”

  It looked like she was preparing herself for the worst response. He knew that if it were another woman in front of him, someone less interesting, someone who knew more how much he liked her, he might have been tempted to stray. He might have been tempted to give up on understanding her and found someone simpler, whose desires and motivations might have been selfish but straightforward.

  Instead, he was hooked on her. He would wait, because the eventual payoff would be worth the wait. He would wait, because it was like his life could be split into a life before marriage, and a life with Vayu.

  “I don’t want to be with anyone else, but I will offer you the same freedom. If you fall in love with someone else, or if you have someone else, I won’t stop you,” he said. He was lying, and he knew it, but he would try. On the off-chance that she was already in love with someone, he didn’t want to become the villain in her life. He might remove the obstacle without her knowing, but that was another story.

  They got their tea, and Vayu took her first sip. Before Cheran could join her, she covered his cup with her hand. Her face was going pale, and she swallowed and took a deep breath before speaking.

  “Don’t drink it,” she said. “I think it’s poisoned.”