Page 76 of The Prince's Sacrifice

Tor stroked a finger down Cala’s cheek. “No, she wouldn’t do that. She’s saving all the spit-up for her mommy, isn’t she? Yes, that’s a good girl.”

Pel had to wonder how frequently Tor expressed sentiments like that, which could hardly endear him to the Queen—and yet watching him coo them at a baby wasstillthe most adorable thing Pel had ever seen.

He held Cala out. “Here. Clearly, you need more time with her.”

Tor happily snatched her up, bouncing her in his arms, and she shrieked with glee.

“Come look out the window.”

Tor leaned up against one edge and looked out, and Pel joined him on the other side. The windows were open to catch the morning breeze. Pel could see across the courtyard to the tree that he was pretty sure was hiding the secret entrance. This was definitely the window that Tor had been pointing out earlier.

Cala yanked on Tor’s ear, making him wince, but he disentangled himself with a smile. She shoved one of his fingers into her mouth and seemed to be slobbering all over it, but Tor was still smiling contentedly.

“This was our nursery when we were boys,” he said, still looking into the courtyard. “We used to escape out the window when the nurse fell asleep.”

Pel peered out. It looked like a sheer drop down three stories. He eyed Tor incredulously.

“We hung a rope,” Tor explained. “And then once we were older and showing off, we used our magic. You can swing from here to the window on the second level right there.”

He pointed. Pel tried to imagine being suspended by pure magic, swinging over that drop. Apparently, his horror was clear on his face, because Tor laughed.

“It was a challenge,” he said, shrugging. “We liked challenges, and we liked to see what our magic could do. Mother preferred that we come up with ideas that were non-destructive.” He flashed Pel a smile. “And our magic is pretty strong.”

And really, Pel supposed that the weight of two teenaged boys was nothing compared to the boulders that Tor’s magic had shielded everyone from up the mountain.

“Out of curiosity,” Pel said, still eyeing the distance, “when was the last time you climbed up here that way?”

“Ages ago.”

Pamuna snorted very loudly.

“Months and months?” Tor tried.

Pel couldn’t help but laugh. “You are so ridiculous.”

“That’s why you love me,” Tor said, sounding supremely satisfied.

“Yeah, it is,” Pel agreed softly.

He loved everything about the man, goddess help him.

There was another knock at the door, and Tor turned away from the window with a sigh.

“And there goes the pleasant aspect of today.”

Sure enough, it was a guard who’d come specifically for Tor.

“Prince Torex, the High King would like to see you. Immediately.”

Tor looked as though he wanted to object, but he didn’t actually try.

Instead, Tor handed Cala back to Pamuna after giving her a big kiss on the nose that made her shriek with laughter and reach for him. Pel wanted to be the one to insist that they have just a few more minutes together, but he knew that no number of minutes would be enough—plus Pel didn’t have the standing to argue with the High King.

Tor straightened and turned away from his niece. His expression had altered completely to the one that Pel remembered from just before they’d gone up the mountain, when he’d been facing the guards who’d stayed behind. This was the High Prince once again, assured and a bit arrogant. Pel was delighted that the man had so rarely felt the need to assume this persona with Pel, but it meant that it was a little bit like looking at a stranger now, remembering that awful moment before the mountain and those early, terrible days when Tor had first arrived in Tond.

Only then Tor caught his eye and winked, and Pel swallowed and nodded. He realized that his shoulders had hunched and made a conscious effort to relax them.

Here went nothing.