Chapter 18
Rykr
Seren barely looked at me in the morning.
The temptation to allow her to act on her thoughts in the middle of the night had been strong. So strong that I’d had to put a stop to it, before I let myself get carried away by the lust I’d felt consuming her.
In the Regulation, sex had been a pastime, just like any other.
Find a warm body for the night, forget the day’s troubles, and wake up to brutal training.
I’d kept to myself more than my friends had, but that only made them curious.
They’d started sending young men to my room, new recruits, thinking that my preference had held me back.
After that, I made my interest in women much clearer.
But care about one?
That wasn’t something I’d allowed myself. Who I married wasn’t up to me. I was one of my father’s many political bargaining tools.
My father. Even if I’d left him on bitter terms, the loss of him—of my brothers—burned me alive. Why had they been slaughtered so mercilessly?
And now … I had no tether to any place.
If I wanted a beautiful Viori wife, it’d be so easy—especially when the lust between us seemed to be growing.
I’d better stop thinking about it. I could only blame the bulge in my trousers on the early morning for so long. We dressed in silence until Seren crossed her arms by the tent flap. “Ready to go?”
I glanced at my chains, still on the rug where she’d left them. “What about the irons?”
“Throw them in my pack for now. Considering we don’t know what’s out there, I’d rather take my chances angering Seth than run into another skinwraith while you’re unable to run.”
Fair enough.
She grabbed a leather knife bandolier and tossed it to me. “Take anything you like from there. I’ll see about getting you a sword later.”
“Your sister said she’d help with that.”
She slipped a sword holster over her shoulders with a grimace. Her ribs still hurt.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” The thought of Seth’s men watching me wander without iron nagged me, but Seren was right. And the walk to her mother’s tent was short.
Lucia was nowhere in sight as we entered, but Tara waited inside, drinking a cup of mulled morning wine.
The scent of cloves hit me as it simmered on the stove, making my mouth water.
I was hungrier than I realized. Seren poured us each a cup before settling beside her sister on the floor.
The hint of purple under Tara’s eyes hinted at a long night of little sleep.
“Well?” Seren asked her.
“I found Giulia’s head and turned it over to the Vangar so that her mother would know she’s dead. Then I went hunting for skinwraiths.” Tara sipped her wine. “I didn’t find any or any sign that our encampment had been breached.”
“Did you tell the Vangar about the skinwraith?” I asked.
Tara rolled her shoulders back, her expression darkening. “No. Silence might be wiser. For both of your sakes.”
I swallowed a gulp of wine. “I had that same thought.”
Seren shook her head. “But I don’t understand. I killed the skinwraith.”
“One of our own is dead, Seren. You’re the only one who saw the skinwraith. The tribe won’t believe it unless there’s proof, and if they don’t believe it, they’ll need someone to blame for Giulia’s death. We can’t risk them thinking it was a certain mysterious Lirien.”
“But her body …”
Her body had vanished. All that remained was a severed head—just as dead as it would have been if she hadn’t been turned. Seren must have come to the same conclusion, her face paling.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. I drained my cup and placed it beside the stove.
Tara stood, her stance protective, wary.
“I didn’t do it for you. Frankly, I don’t know who the fuck you are, Rykr.
You show up, and suddenly a vuk attacks, my sister makes a blood oath, and a skinwraith wanders into our territory?
Who’s to say that it’s not you? For all I know, you bewitched Seren. ”
Seren’s eyes widened.
“How have I never considered that?”
Her thoughts traveled down our bond, loud in my head.
I scowled at her. “You don’t believe that, do you?”
“You just thanked me for saving your life.” I sent the thought the same way it had come to me.
The doubt in her face only increased.
A bitter chuckle left my lips. “Fantastic. Not even you believe in me. Ironic, considering you’re the daughter of a murderer and traitor.”
Tara’s expression grew frosty. “Don’t you dare speak badly of my father in his own home.”
“Unlike your people, who take no issue with liars and criminals in their midst, I hold myself to a different standard, Tara. I won’t shy away from the truth just to make you feel better about your origins.”
Tara set her cup down. She took a menacing step toward me. “Say that again, you hagspawn.”
I had to admire her. She wasn’t afraid to threaten a man nearly a foot taller than her, someone she had to know was far better trained than she’d ever be.
I crossed my arms, managing a look of boredom. “I’m terrified.”
Tara’s face darkened and she took another step forward. Then her eyes focused on my wrists. “Where are his irons, Seren?”
Curpiss.
“I took them off. Just for a little bit,” she added hastily.
“Fucking hell.” Tara looked from me, back to Seren, her face dark, then she stormed out of the tent.
Tense silence descended between us. Tara had dredged up a host of fear inside Seren.
I scrubbed my face with my palms, trying to think clearly. “I’m not the source of all this evil, Seren. You can feel it, can’t you? That’s part of this bond, isn’t it? If I meant you harm, wouldn’t you know by now?”
“Will you tell me why you came into the territory?” Her voice sounded empty. “He can’t be what Tara claims. I feel it in my core.”
At least that thought had come through loud and clear, providing a shred of consolation.
I held her gaze, unblinking. “I was lost.”
Her voice intruded again. “He’s lying.”
So much for consolation.
“You know I swore to protect you, right? It’s part of the oath.
And even if I wanted to break that, I can’t.
So you better start believing you can trust me, Rykr.
I’d prefer to defend you against falsehoods, including from my family, but you make it hard when you won’t defend yourself by telling me the most basic information. ”
“You have the most basic information.” My unyielding stance continued, the muscles in my arms flexing. “Including that I’ve despised Brogan Ragnall my whole life. You can’t expect that to change just because you ask.”
She tore her gaze from mine. “Why do you hate my father so much? What difference does it make to you that he’s viewed as a traitor?”
I hesitated, searching for a reasonable answer.
“I met the princes and the princess when I went to Ederyn to be Sealed. I know”—my voice cracked—“knew them well. They were friends. The death of their mother crushed them. King Magnus could be cruel at times, but the queen … she was beloved. Known for her kindness. She didn’t deserve what your father did to her. ”
Before Seren could respond, Tara strode back inside, brushing past me on her way to a bookcase. She yanked one from the weathered wooden top, then marched back and thrust it into my face. “This book is sacred. Swear on it you didn’t bewitch Seren.”
I flinched, a slow frown tugging my lips. “And then you’ll believe me?”
“I may not be able to kill you without risking Seren, Rykr, but that doesn’t mean I won’t break every bone in your body if you hurt her. Swear you’re an honest man.”
My eyes narrowed. “I don’t think I can go that far.” Still, I set my hand on the book. “But I swear on all the deities—real or fake—of Eldris and Skaldra, I did not bewitch Seren.” Leaning toward her, I added, “Also, if you break every bone, she’ll feel it, so you’ll still be hurting her.”
Tara scowled and lowered the book. “You’re not taking this seriously.”
“I am.” I took the book and kissed it. “I seal my solemn oath with a kiss. That’s a bigger pledge than I was able to give this delightful marriage of mine.”
Seren groaned and Tara knocked the book back against my jaw. “You’re a real swiver,” she seethed.
But she also appeared satisfied, for the moment.
As she put the book back, I scrutinized her. “What, exactly, would you expect to happen to me if I lied? Burst into flames? Drop dead?”
“We could only be so lucky. Honestly, it’s your lack of reverence that’s more convincing. Someone evil would fear making an oath on a sacred book. You’re just a skeptic who doesn’t even think about the consequences in the first place.” Tara’s glare didn’t lessen.
“Just so we’re clear, do you still want me to consummate my marriage to your sister or not? I’m having a hard time keeping straight the requests you make in the name of being a protective sibling.”
Seren’s face flamed red, her eyes flying to her sister. “Tara!”
Tara shrugged. “Now that I reluctantly believe you, feel free.”
“Glad to know I have your blessing once again.” Sarcasm dripped from my voice.
“Will you two stop? My gods, you argue like siblings.” Seren crossed her arms, stepping between us.
“Since we’re starting training today, and I’m still in pain from the skinwraith’s attack, I was thinking it might be better for you”—she gestured at Tara—“to work with Rykr, while I do some reading on the Skorn. And I need to learn how to better control this bond with Rykr. It might be to our benefit to go to Emberstone a day or two early. The most powerful sorcerers and priests in our territory are there, so we may as well take advantage of it.”
“What exactly is Emberstone?” I asked. My lack of knowledge about the Viori territory frustrated me. That they’d managed to keep their secrets so well was a serious flaw in Lirien military intelligence.
“The seat of our government in the Viori territory, where our leader lives. A city, but it’s built into a mountain and warded.” Seren didn’t bother looking at me as she spoke.
Tara huffed. “You can’t go poking around Emberstone asking about how to break the bond that’s keeping you both alive at this point. Rykr could be killed, and then where would we be?”
“All I’ll ask about is how to control it.”
Tara crossed her arms, disbelief on her face.
“Your best bet to surviving is staying here and training as much as you can. Most people have much longer to prepare, and they still die. The Skorn will test you to your limits, Seren. You’ll need to play to your strengths, including any the bond has given you.
Instead of seeing it as a weakness, you need to start figuring out how to use it. ”
Seren scowled. “Right now, it’s a liability, Tara.”
Tara smirked, shaking her head. “Of course you see it that way. You’ve always been shortsighted, little sister. Mother says you can use it for mind speak, is that true?”
Seren’s face reddened. “Well, yes, but—”
“That’s a huge advantage right there. Two people able to communicate like that? That’s an enormous gift while fighting elite warriors.”
I didn’t want to say it aloud, but Tara had a point. She clearly had a sharp mind for strategy.
Though a hint of sympathy softened her hardened features, Tara’s lips pursed.
A few seconds of tense silence passed between the sisters.
“We train today, Seren. Physical skills and with your books, even if you’re in pain.
The Skorn won’t take it easy on you and neither will I.
My squadron will help.” She smiled. “Mostly because they don’t get a choice.
And I can probably get Madoc’s squadron to help too, since they’ve been running drills with me while he’s gone. ”
There was that name again.
“Madoc?” I raised a brow.
“Madoc is our brother,” Tara said flatly.
“The twin?” I met Tara’s eyes over the top of Seren’s head. “Would that be the evil one or the good one? Right now, my money is on you for the former.”
Tara’s brown eyes grew frosty. “Thanks for telling him, Ser.”
“It’s not like it’s not common knowledge.” Worry flashed in her face. “Has Mother heard anything? I don’t understand what’s taking Madoc and Father so long. Something might have happened.”
“She hasn’t heard anything, but she’s worried, too—hasn’t been sleeping. She left a few hours ago, probably to see what magic she can use to track them.” Tara glanced at me. From the change in her demeanor, she didn’t want to talk about this in front of me.
The conversation raised questions, though. Just where is Brogan Ragnall and his son? And why hadn’t Seren mentioned them much? Now that I thought about it, it was as though she was avoiding the topic.
Tara’s expression closed off. “I’m going to order my squadron to ride to the training field.
Grab some extra supplies and bedrolls—we might camp out there the next few nights, rather than coming back here.
And your husband needs some clothes that fit him.
Get him outfitted in Vangar leathers for training. That’s an order.”
Seren’s shoulders slumped. She might be formidable on her own, but in her family, she was lowest in the pecking order. “Can Ciaran and Amahle come with us? I asked them last night if they’d help, and they were going to meet me at the stables.”
“If they’re not on duty, they’re welcome to join us.”
“And what about the skinwraith and Giulia’s murder? We’re just not going to tell anyone what happened?”
Tara bent to gather her pack. “In the absence of another attack and any other evidence, the Vangar will investigate it as a murder. I’ll do my best to make sure no one is falsely accused. Is there anything else that’s helpful that I should tell them?”
“Should I mention the glowing eyes of the skinwraith and the vuk?” Seren’s voice came through my head.
“Do that and she’ll think I’m to blame for certain,” I answered.
Seren shook her head. “Not that I can think of.”
“Hopefully, it’s just a horrific accident.
Giulia liked to wander in places she ought not to have.
If there’s another incident, we’ll have to reassess.
” Tara threw her pack over her shoulder, then jerked her chin at me.
“Put your damn irons back on. We don’t know if they’ll let you out of them for the Skorn, so you’ll need to learn to fight with them.
And don’t let her allow you out of them again. ”
I scowled at Tara. “Do you know how to successfully control what she does?”
“No, but—”
“Then how in the fuck do you expect me to?”
Tara shook her head. “You two fucking deserve each other.”
For the first time that morning, I smiled.