“Thank you, Your Majesty. I accept this duty and honor, and I’ll make sure Aster’s kept safe. I swear it.”
The king was weeping, tears streaking down his cheeks, but his voice didn’t waver when he spoke.
“I put my trust in you, Lord Palliako. I will… I will make the announcement at the close of court. I’ll see you’re seated appropriately for your new station. This is a brighter day for the kingdom. And I thank you for that.”
Geder bowed. He wanted to run out in the streets, capering and singing. He wanted to go brag to all of his friends, starting with Jorey Kalliam and…
“Can I borrow the prince?” Geder asked. “Just for a few minutes? There’s someone I want him to meet.”
In the sitting room, Basrahip had moved to Geder’s chair. The huge hands turned the pages slowly, the broad face twisted with disdain. Geder cleared his throat. The priest looked up, his eyes shifting from Geder to the prince standing at his side.
“Basrahip, high priest of the goddess, may I introduce my new ward Prince Aster. Prince Aster, this is Basrahip.”
The prince walked forward, stopped the appropriate distance away, and bowed his small head. He looked like a kitten greeting a bull.
“I am very pleased to meet you, sir,” the prince said.
Basrahip smiled.
“No,” he said, softly. “You aren’t. But give it time, young prince. Give it time.”