Chapter 34 #2
“Why?” Seren gripped her father’s arm. “Why did he take her?”
Brogan rubbed his bearded jaw. His shoulder-length brown hair was in disarray, as though he’d been living in the wilds for some time.
“To manipulate me. To force my hand into something he knew I’d never have agreed to otherwise.
He ordered me to plan and execute the assassination of King Magnus and his sons. ”
Thorne reacted faster than I could. The cold clang of metal rang as Thorne’s sword left the holster at his back, the edge of his blade stopping inches away from Brogan. “You son of a bitch,” Thorne growled, betrayal and rage on his dark, golden face.
But my own rage was silent, deeper. A slow, festering thing. It clawed up my throat, threatening to consume the logic I barely clung to.
My ears rang with a sharp sense-dulling scream, my heart numb and cold.
My pulse beat harder, and I blinked at Brogan, as the meaning of his declaration sank slowly through my skin.
I’d been blocking the connection between Seren and me since I’d come into the room, but I threw further effort into it now.
The truth would endanger everyone here.
My breath left me in a slow, shaking exhale, and my vision blurred at the edges. I wanted to drive my sword straight through Brogan’s throat. Not just for my mother.
But for my father. For my brothers.
My hand was already on my hilt, the leather warm beneath my grip.
Brogan met my stare with something unreadable.
“You don’t deserve to speak their names,” I said finally, voice tight with control.
Seren threw herself in front of her father. “No!” She breathed hard, her eyes meeting mine. “Wait, please. Please, Rykr, tell your friend to stand down.”
“Your blade is perilously close to my wife, Thorne,” I managed, noting the tension in both Amahle and Ciaran.
Their worry and confusion … and hands inching closer to their own weapons.
I took slow, deliberate steps toward Ragnall then set my hand on Thorne’s shoulder.
“If anyone executes Brogan Ragnall, it’s me. ”
Seren’s eyes widened. “Rykr, you don’t understand—”
“No, he understands.” Brogan’s voice had an edge of exhaustion to it.
“And I deserve it. What I did is unforgivable. Haldron threatened unspeakable consequences for Esme … he knew exactly how to manipulate me.” His gaze met mine over Seren’s head.
“But I made a vow to Queen Eldis to protect one of the princes and I wanted to honor that—spare him. Instead, I replaced him with an impostor, not knowing that Haldron had a means of detecting my failure. Now he’s hunting for me and Madoc. And the prince that escaped.”
Had Brogan come … to warn me?
Seren flinched.
I can barely breathe. He killed my family.
He.
Killed.
My.
Family.
At last, I forced out, “Does he know which prince escaped?”
“No.” Brogan’s eyes glittered. “If he did, the prince would already be dead.”
“Aye.” Heat radiated from Thorne’s furious form. “Then you’d better be willing to keep your oath to protect the prince at all costs, before we kill you for slaying the king.”
“You won’t be killing anyone,” Seren snapped, protective, and ready to fight. “Why are you here, Father? Isn’t it dangerous for you to have come to the Bellwether?”
“Why do you think, Seren? I went back to the encampment to try to hide the rest of my family away and found … you’d been pulled into all of this.
I don’t know what Haldron has planned for you in the Skorn—if he puts you through the trial at all—but I have no doubt he’s using you to bait me.
And, considering that I’m here, it worked.
But the Bellwether is safe. The innkeeper is a friend. ”
“What would Haldron bait you here for though? To learn which prince escaped?” Seren turned toward her father, her body tense.
“Yes, to use you and Esme to force me to track him down. Finish what I started. I don’t know how he knows I failed, but he needs the prince dead for whatever he’s planned.”
“War. He has war planned. He’s next in line for the throne, and you knew that before you did this.” I bored my eyes into his. “The question is, do you plan on killing the surviving prince to save your family?”
Brogan watched me closely, as though measuring how quickly and easily I could end him. His confession was the only thing staying my hand.
“I can’t,” he said lifting his chin.
If Lucia had told him about the bond, then Brogan knew Seren would die if he killed me.
Once again, the bond might be the only thing keeping me alive.
“And Madoc?” Seren’s hands trembled. “Where is he?”
Brogan’s eyes grew sadder. “I helped him escape to Lirien through the northern mountains. He’ll never be safe in the territory now. Then I came back for the rest of you.”
Seren lifted trembling fingertips to her mouth. “No—”
Brogan pulled Seren into a fierce hug, and I didn’t interfere, shooting Thorne a look to stay where he was. If Madoc had gone to Lirien, then he wasn’t coming back. Ever.
“Why?” Seren’s voice broke, muffled. “I don’t believe he would just leave so easily.”
“You’re right, he didn’t want to. I forced him to. It was only by Madoc’s help that I was able to save the prince who escaped. He shot him with a whistler quill then protected him until the effects wore off. But the cost was knowing his name. If Haldron catches Madoc, he’ll torture him for it.”
His words sickened me. Madoc had been there—when the Viori came after us. Thorne knew it too. His expression was dark, his thirst for vengeance unmistakable. Madoc had been involved with Dalric’s murder. Had he lifted a hand against him?
I couldn’t bring myself to be grateful for Madoc’s help in saving my life.
Stepping away, Seren pushed her braid back, her face drained of all color. “What can I do? Is Esme here in Emberstone?”
Brogan nodded. “I believe so.”
“Then find her. We’ll take care of Haldron—he’ll be at the Skorn trial. Between Rykr and me, we can find a way to kill him, right?” Seren shot me a look, waiting for my support. She glanced back at her father. “You find Esme and we’ll kill Haldron. End this once and for all.”
Kill Haldron?
Her determination, her honor sent warmth through me.
Even Thorne looked impressed. “You’d kill the leader of your people?” He raised a skeptical brow.
“He kidnapped my sister, manipulated my father, is hunting my family, and wants to lead my people to war. I owe him nothing. He’s not worthy of my deference, and I won’t submit to such a leader.”
“Your people won’t see it the same way, though.
They’ll kill you before you set foot out of Emberstone.
Your family will be exiled from the Viori, and your father is already an exile from Lirien.
There will be nowhere for your family to go.
” Thorne sheathed his sword, and some of my tension fizzled with the motion.
Amahle, who had been silently listening to every word, moved beside me. “Seren, it’s not just your family, either. Our entire tribe is in the House of the Veil—your mother and Tara. If something goes wrong, who do you think will suffer first?”
My gaze shifted to Ciaran. He may have concealed what had happened to the skinwraith, but his sister had suffered the consequences. I doubted he would take that risk again.
“Ciaran is a liability,” I told Seren.
He shifted under my hard stare, as though reading my thoughts. “I’m here, aren’t I?” he snarled. “Not in the House of the Veil.”
Seren’s eyes softened as she looked at him. “Your family—”
“You’re my family too, Ser.” Ciaran’s voice was thick with emotion.
The room was suddenly too crowded, the air rife with distrust.
Brogan drew out a slow sigh and looked at his daughter.
“Thorne is right. You can’t kill Haldron without risking your life and the safety of the tribe.
” He took Seren by the shoulders. “But you and your husband can escape. Right now. Give Haldron one less hold on our family. Go with Thorne through the mountains and don’t stop until you reach Pendara.
It’ll be dangerous and risky, but it’s the best choice.
Haldron may be furious, but the tribe may have time to leave Emberstone. I’ll keep trying to save Esme.”
“If I die, I die, but I’m not leaving here without doing my part, Father. You can’t ask me to run now,” Seren gritted out fiercely. “You didn’t raise me to run.”
Brogan dropped his hands from Seren’s shoulders. He met my gaze. “I’d like to speak to you alone.”
“No,” Seren and Thorne answered in unison.
Thorne crossed his arms and glared at Brogan. “Given what you just admitted, you can understand why I don’t trust you.”
Ragnall’s request intrigued me.
“I can handle myself.” I gestured back toward the door. “We can go to the other room.”
Thorne opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him down with a look. “Ragnall won’t kill me. He knows the consequences.” I pushed past them all, my footsteps hard against the floorboards.
A few moments later, Brogan followed. I opened the door, scanning the room that, minutes ago, felt like a private refuge.
I hadn’t cared that Ciaran or Amahle knew Seren and I had spent the night together—but Ragnall?
He might loathe me even more for it. He stank of sweat and unwashed clothing, and the sound of his breath filled the quiet.
The man who had murdered my mother was in my grasp.
And even if he was as innocent as Seren claimed—he had orchestrated my father’s and brothers’ deaths. Maybe even killed some of them himself.
Hatred wasn’t enough to describe what I felt toward him. And still. He hadn’t murdered me. He’d honored his oath to my mother and kept me alive.
“Do you regret not killing me when you had the chance?” My voice was low, flat as I turned to face him. I should be more wary of this man, yet I didn’t fear him in the slightest.
“Yes.” The word echoed in the room. Brogan’s eyes narrowed. “I should have. My family wouldn’t be in danger right now if I had.”