Page 113 of The Prince's Sacrifice

Bavil nodded. “She and Lara came up with the plan to prevent the bonding. Because I wasn’t who Marwa liked at all.”

And finally, all the pieces slotted into place, like a blaze of light where there’d been only darkness. Pel felt like a fool.

“Marwila and Larexa! Andthat’s why she’s been going on for years about needing someone Extraordinary, so Father wouldn’t try to marry her to anyone else.”

Bavil nodded.

Pel sat there for a moment, trying to take it all in. He’d spent more than three years angry on Princess Marwila’s behalf… and she’d been the one who’d wanted them to do this.

It made a lot more sense now, how she’d always interceded and tried to ensure that Gornexi didn’t go too far, just kept the relations frosty enough that no one would ever try again.

It had fleetingly occurred to Pel weeks ago that maybe Bavil had been trying to get out of the courtship, but it had never crossed his mind that Bavil had been trying to help others. He’d put up with more than three years of Pel being scornful and dismissive.

The truth was, it hadn’t occurred to Pel that there might be a good reason for any of this. And sure, it hadn’t looked good, but Pel could have asked more questions, could have demanded answers.

But he’d been hurt and embarrassed and all too ready to see disdain.

“I’m sorry I didn’t do better,” he told his brother.

But Bavil shook his head. “It wasn’t just you. Yes, you were angry and withdrawn after Vayrin. But we could have insisted on talking to you. The truth is, we were wrapped up in our own drama, and by the time it occurred to us to question why you’d reacted so badly, it felt like too much time had passed. Your back was up, and we were at the height of our performances, trying to cement for Father that neither of us should be married off because there were no appropriate candidates. I apologize—and I’m sure Lara will, too, once we catch her up on all of this. She’ll be sad that she missed it.”

Pel wished Lara was here, too, so it could have been resolved in one fell swoop, but the fact remained that this wasn’t necessarily a safe place to be, and Pel had just been reminded of the importance of being truthful with his siblings.

“It’s really complicated right now with Tor.”

He eyed the other man, still unconscious, but his chest rising and falling visibly now, which was a huge improvement.

Pel cleared his throat and looked back at his brother. “I’m not actually sure if they realize Tor is alive or not. But if they do, it’s still possible the High King will find that he committed treason—meaning that the rest of us probably have done so as well by aiding and abetting him.”

Bav gaped. “I know you said it didn’t go well, but that’s way more extreme than I expected. Explain!”

Pel walked his brother through what had happened at the High Court, how they’d clearly received a very biased version ofwhat had happened from King Forex, and how it had only gone from bad to worse as Tor tried to explain what had happened.

Pel hadn’t really thought about the fact that Tama was still there and what this might sound like to her.

“It’s like we’re not even people,” she said bitterly.

Pel shook his head and argued, “No. I don’t think most of us think that way. I don’t believe the High King really does, either. I think he was just presented with a version of the facts that twisted reality to make you seem like the enemy.”

Her dark eyes met his. “We’ve been treated like that from the beginning.”

“Being without Fealty is rather antithetical to our way of life,” Pel acknowledged.

The citizens pledged to the ruler, and the ruler protected the citizens.

“But does that mean we can’t be traded with?” Tama challenged. “Does it mean that we have to be hunted down? What if we were treated like the rest of the United Realms, if we were able to travel and trade and barter? What would be the danger in that?”

What happened if citizens of the United Realms didn’t want to follow the long-established structure? That’s what the exiles were, weren’t they? And people like Pel’s father were working extra hard to obliterate them.

“I assume the current rulers are worried that there would be a realms-wide revolt. In a worst-case scenario, it could lead to a breakdown of the peace and prosperity we currently enjoy. I imagine some are worried that it would lead to a weakening of the current power structure.”

Pel might generally feel like the least-desired prince in the United Realms, but the fact remained that hewasa prince. He wasn’t toiling daily in the fields, fearing for his livelihood if the embankments didn’t hold, or paying taxes to the Crown.

Tama deflated a little. “We left because we felt we had no choice. We thought it was the only way to protect ourselves.”

Pel knew that some considered them cowards for fleeing the war, but he didn’t blame anyone who’d wanted to get away from the death. If Queen Ralexa hadn’t managed to demand peace, how long might the fighting have gone on?

“And now?” Pel asked.