Arrows Of Change (Book 1) by Honor Raconteur

understanding of how to get back.
    On the way there, they’d spoken briefly about how things
would be set up and where they’d stay when they arrived, but Ash had not
mentioned anything more than You’ll stay with me and my sister, of course. Broden now realized that answer left much wanting. Where, exactly, did the two wizards
stay? Surely not… His gaze traveled up the tall stone walls, and his mind
refused to wrap its way around the notion that he’d live in a castle.
    No. What Tennon said had scared Ash into finding the new
king first. Aye, that be it. He’d get them sorted once he figured out what his
sister and king had been up to.
    They barely breached the iron gates, which looked to be more
for decoration than protection, before a voice boomed out, “ASH!”
    Ash stopped dead, head whipping about. “Edvard! What have
you been doing while I’ve been gone?”
    A man of an age with Ash stepped out from behind a knot of
uniformed guards and toward them. He, too, wore a uniform of dark grey, looking
sharp and pristine. His hair was dark, eyes a penetrating dark blue, skin
tanned from many hours in the sun. He had the looks of a player, that one,
although his smile was genuine and not at all haughty. So. This was the new
king, eh?
    Broden watched him as the man approached, weighing him. He
certainly knew how to carry the sword on his hip, so he was no pushover. Better
still, he was courteous to the people around him. Several times, as people
crossed his path, he’d stop to let them go or step around them, instead of
making anyone stop for him. That silent kindness spoke well of the man.
    The new king took note of Ash’s hand on Riana’s, which made
Ash flush slightly and abruptly drop it. Broden found that bit interesting as
well. So, the man was not used to being in a woman’s company? Considering his
looks and occupation, Broden would have thought the man had women beating down
his door.
    But no one remarked on Ash’s blush. As soon as he was within
proper hearing distance, Edvard said, “ Something had to be done about
the crime rate, Ash. It was totally out of hand.”
    “I agree, but what did you do?” Ash demanded.
    “Well, after due consideration, I appointed Ashlynn as
temporary Sheriff of Estole.”
    “You appointed Ashlynn as Sheriff?” Ash demanded
incredulously.
    “Why are you so surprised?” Edvard laughed, not at all
worried. “She adores beating people up on justice’s behalf. The job suits her
admirably.”
    “Yes, but Edvard, she has no mercy! She’s ruthless with
people that are in the wrong.”
    “I know. Crime’s dropped fifty percent since yesterday. Our
sister is amazingly efficient. People are starting to tremble just from the
sound of her name.” Edvard took pride in this as well as amusement. “Now, who’s
standing behind you?”
    Belatedly remembering his manners, Ash reluctantly tabled
the discussion of his twin for now and turned. “This is Riana Ravenscroft and her
da, Broden Ravenscroft. I found them in Cloud’s Rest. Riana, Broden, this is
Edvard Knolton, King of Estole.”
    Edvard held out a hand to him as if it were a natural thing.
“Broden Ravenscroft, I greet you.”
    Broden took the man’s hand in a firm grip, pleased with the
calluses he could feel on the other man’s palm. This was a man that knew how to
work hard. “Edvard Knolton, I greet ye. May harmony find ye.”
    “Riana Ravenscroft, I greet you.”
    “Edvard Knolton, may harmony find ye.”
    Ash barely contained himself until the pleasantries were out
of the way before blurting, “Edvard.” His tone vibrated with renewed
excitement. “They can both be wizard-partners.”
    Edvard went from polite to intensely interested in a split
beat. “Is that right? Then, you are both very welcome. I’ve worried about my wizards’
safety, what with everything going on. It occurred to me after Ash left that he
was too vulnerable to normal attacks. If Iysh thought to send assassins after
my wizards,