Lane took her seat at the end of the row. The barons had probably stuck her there as an insult, but Lane refused to let it bother her. She had a job to do and petty tricks wouldn’t stop her. She felt completely at ease knowing Damien stood behind her. Though she wouldn’t deny having the young sorcerer along had annoyed her at first, he’d proven himself a skilled protector and pleasant companion. He might be the first sorcerer whose company she’d allowed herself to enjoy, outside her mother.

Across from her Baron Marris couldn’t take his eyes off her chest. She smiled at him. “Baron Marris, how’s your lovely wife?”

He grimaced and his face went white. “Fine.” His voice sounded more strained than she’d expected.

Beside her Barron Trasker chuckled. “Well struck, my dear. I’m afraid we’re all missing our wives. Given the tense situation with the kingdom we thought it best to leave them at home. It’s been a lonely few weeks.”

He didn’t sound like a traitor. Did the barons really fear the king would target their families? Even if they voted to leave the kingdom, Lane didn’t believe King Andrew would do anything to innocent women and children. She’d met the king several times and found him to be kind and decent.

“Rest assured, Baron Trasker, that the king would never do anything to bring harm to an innocent.”

He patted her hand in a fatherly sort of way. “It’s sweet that you believe something so naive, but in war there are no innocents and no one is off limits. The king will do what he must to keep his nobles in line.” Trasker’s voice turned hard. “And we will do what we must to protect our families.”

Lane reconsidered her initial assumption. Maybe Trasker had betrayed the kingdom. If he truly believed his family was in danger he might not consider it treason, but rather a desperate attempt at self-preservation. If that were true, what else might these desperate men be driven to? Hopefully nothing too drastic. Nevertheless she found herself doubly glad to have Damien watching her back.

Baron Kannon made a toast and the first course arrived. Lane smiled, she loved pâté. She wasn’t alone and soon everyone had polished off their appetizer.

“I don’t suppose you’d care to give us a preview of the king’s demands,” Trasker said.

“You already know what he expects: the border secure and your taxes paid on time. I’m here to listen to your concerns and work out the details of a final agreement. I’m sure tomorrow’s meeting will be productive and this ugly matter will be put behind us.”

Trasker’s smile seemed forced. “Of course, tomorrow.”

The rest of the meal passed with little more than casual chitchat. None of the nobles pressed her for information. In fact no one seemed especially interested in the meeting tomorrow. The only interesting thing beyond the delicious meal was twice she would have sworn her food moved on its own. Lane must have drunk more wine than she thought.

When the servants had cleared the remains of dessert Lane felt full to bursting. Kannon rose again and said, “Gentlemen and lady, I hope you enjoyed tonight’s meal. Sleep well, for tomorrow we have much to do. If any of the bodyguards are hungry feel free to help yourselves to any leftovers in the kitchen.”

The gathering broke up, and most of the barons headed toward their rooms. Several bodyguards jogged into the kitchen. Lane expected to see Damien among them, but he simply stood, hands behind his back, waiting for her.

She went over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“I don’t have much of an appetite this evening. Are you ready to head back?”

She’d planned to offer to wait while he went for something from the kitchen, but if he wasn’t hungry there wasn’t much point. “Sure. It doesn’t look like they plan to do anything important tonight.”

She headed for the door and Damien followed at the appropriate distance, his gaze darting around the room, trying to look everywhere at once. He looked more nervous than when they’d arrived. Had something happened she wasn’t aware of?

Lane paused and looked back. “What’s wrong?”

“Not a thing. Please keep going.”

Lane knew a lie when she heard it, but clearly Damien didn’t want the barons to hear what he had to say. Curious and a little anxious, Lane set as brisk a pace as she could and not look like she was fleeing back to her room. They arrived at their rooms and she reached for the door.

Damien grabbed her wrist and looked up and down the empty hall. He leaned in close and for a second she thought he meant to kiss her.

“Someone’s been in our rooms,” he whispered in her ear. “They’re gone now, but they may have left a surprise. Let me go first.”

Lane tried to swallow, but found her throat dry. Her over-full stomach churned. She nodded and he released her wrist.

The door to her side of the suite opened slowly. Damien still stood in front of her, shielding her from anything that might wait inside. Lane found herself glad to have a sorcerer for a bodyguard. She expected him to move, but Damien never even twitched. His body remained taut and his eyes alert as he examined the room with senses other than sight.

After five tense minutes he said, “It’s safe.”

Damien went through the door to her side of the room and waved her in. The moment she crossed the threshold he shut the door and threw the bolt. He concentrated for a moment then sighed. “I warded the room against eavesdropping so we can speak freely.”

“How did you know someone had been in our room?” Lane sat on the edge of the bed.

“I put an invisible thread of soul force across the doorway. Someone snapped it halfway through dinner. It might have been a servant coming to see if the room needed cleaning, but I didn’t want to take chances.”

She smiled. “You’re taking your role as bodyguard pretty seriously.”

“It seemed prudent, especially considering someone tried to poison you at dinner.”

Lane choked and burst into a coughing fit. She had to have misheard. Damien sat beside her and patted her back. When she could breathe again she said, “Poison?”

He nodded. “In the soup and dessert. Don’t worry, I removed it and disposed of it safely.”

She stared at him. “I thought my soup stirred on its own. That was you?”

“Yes. I didn’t recognize the poison, but I wanted to be sure I removed it before you had a taste. Did any of the barons seem suspicious to you?”

“I only spoke to Trasker and Marris and they seemed tense, but no more than you might expect considering the circumstances. Perhaps the barons didn’t know about the poison.”

“Perhaps. If they’re surprised when you walk into that meeting tomorrow you’ll know for sure. Just make sure you don’t eat or drink anything they offer.”

No kidding.