Chapter 10
W hy do you think they picked Sester for their auction?” Tanis carefully dismounted Dash’s back and rubbed her arms.
Dash returned to being human. He looked around from the shadows where they were hidden on an icy shelf from the small city that rested atop a hill. “Neutral territory, I guess. The revenants don’t usually involve themselves in politics. Pagos is the one kingdom I’ve never had to worry about scheming against me.”
“How do you mean?”
“They don’t care. They can’t have children and they’re immortal. All they do is sit around, debate, have contests, and play chess, or some such. Those who join them with ambitions of conquest are usually culled before they can gather an army.”
She gaped at his bleak description of their existence. “You’re kidding?”
“Not really. They don’t want anyone to disturb their hard-won peace.” He gestured toward the castle that appeared to be made of solid ice. “King Ambrose has been the ruler here since he was brought back by a necromancer almost a thousand years ago. No one has ever challenged him for his throne because most of the dead have no ambition. They’re content with what they have, and they don’t want the stress that comes with wanting more. Their lands are virtually inhospitable for the living. That’s why I gave you the band when I sent you here to get your brother’s skull. It’ll help you breathe as a human in their atmosphere that’s not as rich in oxygen as what you’re used to.”
She blew her breath against her freezing hands to warm them, wishing he’d also given her heat. “Why was Ambrose brought back?”
Dash created a thicker fur coat and gloves for her, along with fur boots and a hat. He held them out to her. “Land dispute.”
She paused while pulling them on. “Wait. What?”
He wrapped a thick wool scarf around his head and neck. “As stupid and unbelievable as it sounds, it’s true. Centuries ago, there was a simple land dispute between Ambrose’s heirs. When they couldn’t settle it, the judge wanted to be fair, so he had a necromancer raise Ambrose from the dead to tell him how he wanted his lands divided. Problem was, no one knew how to send Ambrose back to the dead once it was settled.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. How do you kill a dead man?”
He had a point. She braided her hair and put it under her fur hat. “No one ever figured it out?”
“Not for Ambrose’s kind.” Dash pulled on his own gloves. “Worse. Other necromancers kept bringing the dead back for all manner of reasons until Queen Morvana finally had the good sense to outlaw zombies, liches and the like, eight hundred or so years ago in her kingdom, and it caught on in the rest. Since no one knew what to do with a walking, talking corpse, they carved out a kingdom for them here so they could live in peace.”
She laughed nervously. “I thought that was just a myth. Are all the Pagosians really dead?”
“Absolutely.”
“But don’t they rot or decompose?”
“I honestly don’t know. What I’m told is that the climate here is unlike any other climate in the world, and they have their own magick system they’ve developed that isn’t anything we know or that they share with outsiders. Some of them are exceptionally powerful.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m glad they stay isolated and don’t come off their ice island. Why they’re allowing this auction to be held here, I have no idea. But I plan to find out.”
And she was definitely glad she wasn’t in her dragon body. She’d never experienced cold like this. As a dragon, she’d be inert from the freezing temperature. No wonder her people had never even thought of coming this far north. Or fighting with them.
Brr...
She had no idea anyone could shiver this much and continue living. Every part of her body felt brittle and stiff.
“Are you all right, Dragon?”
“No.” She let out a puff of breath to marvel at the cloud it formed around her face. “Have you ever seen cold like this?”
“Not quite this cold, but close to it.”
“Why?”
He laughed. “Our winter months can get rather nippy.”
“Again, why?”
“We’re born with fur coats, not scales. Although, I’d think you’d be more tolerant of the cold given the degree of fire you can make with a single belch.”
“I’d like to be burping that heat right about now, too. Especially, feeling it in my belly.”
He paused on the narrow trail. “Here.” He took her hands in his.
Tanis gasped as she felt warmth spread from his touch to every inch of her body. “What are you doing?”
“Tiny bit of magick to warm you.”
It was doing a bit more than that as she met his gaze. Really, she didn’t need his magick when he looked at her like that. His presence made her feel rather hot all over.
“Why are you always so nice to me?” she asked.
“I’m not nice.”
She arched a brow. “What would you call it, then?”
He shrugged. “Nice is when you derive pleasure from something.”
“Nice is when you show kindness to someone, beast.”
He scoffed. “There’s nothing kind about me.”
She reached up and cupped his whiskered cheek in her hand. “Dash... You’ve been nothing save kind since I met you. Please tell me that you know that.”
Dash didn’t know what to say. He’d been called every type of name he could think of. Insulted with a great deal of creativity.
But kind...
That was one epitaph no one had attached to his name.
Not even Renata.
He didn’t know how to respond.
And before he realized it, she was pulling his lips to hers. Dash closed his eyes as he tasted the most amazing thing in his life. But what amazed him most was the innocence of it. This wasn’t a demanding kiss.
It was sweet. Hesitant. And delicious.
He could tell that she’d never had a real kiss before. Never known real passion. That she was afraid of her own emotions and of his reaction.
And that made him furious at the ones who’d hurt her. Even madder at the ones who should have protected her and failed. This was why he couldn’t afford to lose his throne. Why he had to keep fighting. Because of those like her who had no one else to stand for them.
They deserved better.
Her heroes had let her down. And here he was, a demon life had done its best to destroy, and he only wanted to keep her safe. It made no sense.
But then life seldom did.
Tanis fisted her hand in Dash’s soft hair. She still couldn’t believe she was doing this. She’d never in her life been so forward. Never even wanted to kiss someone.
But there had just been something inside him that reached out to her. That shadow of inner loathing that she understood more than she wanted to.
She just wanted to comfort him and let him know that while she wasn’t much, she was here.
Embarrassed, she pulled back from his lips. “Sorry. I slipped.”
He smiled down at her. “Feel free to slip and fall against my lips anytime you want.” Leaning down, he gave her another quick kiss before he stepped back.
Oddly enough, that warmed her more than his magick had.
As they started forward, up the narrow pass, Dash kept her by his side. Both to shield her from the harsh winds and to help her with the climb up the icy path to the castle.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to fly in?” she asked.
“We don’t know who’s there or how friendly they’ll be. I’d rather not draw attention until we see if we have allies.”
That made a lot of sense. “You’re right. There I go again, not thinking ahead.”
He tightened his hand on hers. “Don’t fret about it. What you said is correct. It would be a lot easier.”
“Again, you’re being kind, Lord Unicorn. Very charitable.”
“Then perhaps our flaws are not as bad as we both perceive them to be.”
Tanis liked that thought. Maybe he was right. Or maybe they didn’t judge each other as harshly as others did because of what they’d been through. Either way, it was nice to be around someone who didn’t snap at her for her shortcomings constantly. She wasn’t nearly as nervous or uncomfortable around him as she was other beings because of it.
Unfathomable, given who he was and his reputation for cruelty. But she didn’t know that side of him. She only saw a friend who watched out for her.
Another stiff wind blew past them. “Is it possible to freeze to death before we reach the castle?”
“It is... but...” He stopped and knocked on the side of the hill.
“What are you doing?”
Before he could answer, a huge, blue eye slid open to stare at them.
Tanis gasped.
“Who are you and why do you come?” The voice was loud and thunderous.
Dash winked at her. “A pilgrim to pay homage to King Ambrose. Tell him it’s the boy who sent him a pigeon rope.”
“Pigeon rope?” The eye squinted at him. “What kind of foolishness is that?”
“He’ll know.”
The eye blinked slowly. “Might order me to throw you down the hill.”
“He might,” Dash said. “Or he might let me in.”
“Hmph. Wait there.”The eye went away and the door turned to solid ice.
Tanis cocked her head as she tried to make sense of what he’d said. “Pigeon rope?”
“It’s a game we play in Licordia. The rope is long and tied in complicated knots that you have to figure out how to unknot.”
“Is it hard?”
“Can be.”
She thought about that. “How do you know you’re the only one who ever sent one to the king?”
“When I sent it to him, it had the head of the necromancer lich who’d awakened him attached to it.”
Tanis made a sound of extreme displeasure. “Tell me you’re joking.”
He shook his head.
And the door opened.
She was still squealing at the thought of a living head being gifted to the king when a frost giant led them inside the huge palace courtyard. Pressing her lips together, she suppressed the noise, but on the inside, she was still making it.
Not just over the severed head. No. Now it was because everywhere she looked there was something rather grisly.
This was definitely the land of the eternal corpses. All in various stages of rot and decay. Not to mention, it rather stank. Musty. Moldy. Like a nest that had been left out in the rain far too long. She was trying desperately not to curl her lip.
Don’t offend them. She assumed they still had feelings.
But it was really hard not to be offensive or to show her distaste.
“Good day,” a lady said as she passed by in a tattered red gown.
Dash politely returned the greeting while Tanis smiled and nodded as she swallowed bile. While the woman seemed nice enough, her flesh was mostly rotted off. Some of it still clung to the bone.
“Are they all human?” she asked him.
“No. Other species are here as well.”
Interesting.
Although once she became acclimated to their condition and smell, she supposed it wasn’t so bad. They all seemed happy to be here. They were all going about their business as if this was normal and to them, she supposed it was. Some strolled about with friends. Most sat about in groups, talking. Some played games while others groomed their undead pets.
All in all, they did appear happier than any inhabitants of any city or town she’d ever visited or known.
Friendlier, too.
Even though it was obvious she and Dash were strangers to this land... and still living... everyone they passed waved and said hello to them as if they were old friends, or family who’d returned to visit.
So much so that she began to feel self conscious. “Are they always so friendly?”
“They are. I think it might actually have something to do with being dead.”
Interesting thought. Perhaps because they were dead, they didn’t have to worry about betrayal? It made her wonder. “Have you visited here often?”
“Just a handful of times to speak to Ambrose.”
“To negotiate?” she asked.
“Mostly for wisdom.”
That surprised her. “Really?”
“He’s lived a long time, and he’s watched other kingdoms rise and fall. I value his insights and knowledge. He’s been invaluable to me over the years.”
Tanis slowed her steps as they neared the huge palace. It shimmered in the light and had ornate carvings of figures and scenes all along the walls. Some were of battles, and some seemed to be peaceful. “Does it tell a story?”
“It does. If you start at the bottom, it begins with Ambrose’s family in Alarium when they forged an alliance with Elves and continues on until his reanimation.”
“Incredible.”
“Stop!”
Tanis froze instantly as a she-centaur came rushing toward them. It wasn’t until the she-centaur was close that Tanis could tell she was dead as she hadn’t decomposed very much at all. She held a small ceramic pot out to Tanis. “You need this. Keep putting it on your skin, and in particular your lips.”
Tanis sniffed at the odd concoction. “Why?”
Dash took it from the centaur’s hand and thanked her. “It’ll keep them from cracking and bleeding. The air here is incredibly dry. It literally sucks the moisture out of your body.”
“It’s one of the reasons why we don’t have to use magick to keep from decaying.” The centaur smiled. “And why you can’t stay too long.”
“She’s right. Our time for being here started counting down the moment we arrived.”
“Oh.” Tanis took a second small container, removed her gloves, then duplicated Dash’s actions of smearing the cream across her face and hands.
As they entered the inside of the castle, she saw that it was every bit as impressive as the outside. The carved ice here reflected an eerie green similar to Dash’s eyes. It seemed alive and vibrant.
Yet what impressed her most was that fire didn’t burn in the chandeliers, it was a bouncing wizard’s light, unlike anything she’d ever seen before. Nor did they have fires burning for warmth.
It was then she realized something.
“They don’t feel the cold, do they?”
Dash shook his head. “They’re dead. They don’t feel anything physically, that I know of.”
Very interesting.
They entered a huge ballroom. Lively music played while couples danced all around. It was then she realized how many species lived here in harmony. There were dragrs and liches, along with every kind of revenant imaginable.
“Are we in the right place?” she asked.
Dash nodded. “Ambrose always holds court here.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
Because it was hard to concentrate with all the noise and movement. But it was interesting to watch all the corpses as they swept past. Especially since there was no rhyme or reason to how they danced. They really didn’t care what anyone thought. How refreshing it had to be.
The giant led them around the edge of the dance floor until they reached a dais on the far side of the room where a throne of carved ice was set.
And true to Dash’s words, there was a well-preserved head hanging from a rope next to the throne. Her unicorn companion definitely had a dark side to him.
But the worst part was that it seemed Ambrose had his final revenge on the necromancer who’d brought him back to life.
The head was alive and alert and singing to the song that was playing.
Shivering at the very thought, Tanis wasn’t sure what she was expecting for the king of this land, but this wasn’t it. For one thing, Ambrose was very tiny. Probably no more than five feet or so. And exceptionally skinny. He had a long, thin, white beard that trailed to his knees and a gaunt, pointed face. He reminded her of a gnome. A well dressed gnome, but a gnome nonetheless.
And his bony face lit up the moment he saw Dash. “My boy,” he said excitedly as he pushed himself off his seat in a way that reminded her more of a child than a respected king.
No one seemed to notice.
Giddy as he could be, he moved to embrace Dash who welcomed him like family. “Long time, Sire.”
“Indeed. Too long and not long enough.” Ambrose looked toward her with an interested arch to his brow. “And who is your most lovely guest?”
“Princess Tanis Dragomir.”
Instant recognition widened the king’s eyes. Clearing his throat, he motioned for them to follow him.
She exchanged a frown with Dash before they allowed the king to lead them to an antechamber behind the dais. Once they were alone, Ambrose turned to face them, and his entire demeanor changed. He actually seemed angry now.
“Are you out of your mind?” he asked Dash.
“Most of the time, but to what are you referring?”
Ambrose gestured to Tanis. “You kidnapped Iagan’s daughter and turned her human? What were you thinking?”
Tanis smiled at his assumption. “Forgive me, Sire. But I kidnapped Dash and asked him to make me human.”
Ambrose’s jaw worked like a fish out of water.
“She actually did. Not so much a kidnapping as a trapping. But she did ask me to make her human.”
The king rolled his light gray eyes, then cursed. “You’re both insane.”
“I won’t argue that.” Dash gave the king a charming grin.
Ambrose pressed two fingers to his temple as if he were having a migraine. “Tell me what’s happened.”
“I need my sister’s horn and Tanis wants her brother’s skull. We saw a poster that said the ones who’d taken them would be here to auction them off.”
Ambrose gaped. “Wait... here, you say?”
Dash pulled the poster from his pouch and handed it to the king. “You don’t know about it?”
Unfolding the paper, Ambrose scowled as he read it. “No. No one’s said a word about this. You know I would never allow such a thing in my kingdom, and I would have killed anyone who came here with Renata’s wand. Dear God, she’s really dead?”
Tanis saw the pain in Dash’s eyes. “She is.”
Sadness darkened the pale gray of Ambrose’s eyes as he looked up at Tanis. “And your brother, too?”
“He is.”
“I’m so sorry for both of you. And for your father, Tanis, please give him my condolences. It’s an awful thing to lose a child.”
“Thank you, Sire. I will tell him.”
He handed the poster back to Dash. “This makes no sense. You two are the only livings in Pagos. No one’s visited us in almost a year. And even when they do, no one stays long. Mostly because certain citizens want to start using the livings for sacrifices. And even if they didn’t, livings can’t survive here for long.”
“Then you haven’t heard about the revolt?” Dash asked.
Ambrose scowled. “What revolt?”
“There are actually two of them. One against Queen Meara in Thassalia, and since word went out that I left Licordia, seven kingdoms are trying to overthrow me.”
The Pagosian king laughed. “Well, that’s just stupid. Who thinks they can hold your throne?”
“I’m sure it’s the same line-up as always. Someone close to me that I don’t suspect. Plus six greedy idiots they recruited.”
Ambrose made a sound of supreme disgust. “Morons! Peace isn’t a simple thing. Never has been. Never will be.” He clapped Dash on his arm. “Have no fear of us. Pagos will always back you. If you need soldiers, I will send them. We have some of the best, and I know they’d be willing to fight for you.”
“Thank you. I just need to find out if I still have an army.”
“Why would you doubt that?”
“We met a group of my veterans on the way here, and they were definitely not willing to fight for me.” Dash let out a tired sigh. “It occurs to me that I’ve asked a lot of ’corns to die and bleed for me. Perhaps I didn’t show as much gratitude as I should have.”
Ambrose winced. “That’s the hardest part of leadership. Too many focus so much on the goal that they forget the means and the cost. By the time they get what they want, they feel like they’ve earned it, or that they’re even owed it. They forget that they didn’t do it on their own. That there are many they relied on. Many they need to thank. And some they need to thank a lot. But I’ve never seen you forget those around you. It’s how you picked your advisors.”
Dash shook his head. “Maybe. But you didn’t see the hatred in those unicorns when they attacked us.”
“Was it something you actually did... or was it something someone fostered in them?”
“How so?” Dash asked.
Ambrose let out a long sigh. “Hatred grows one of two ways. It’s something you do that is either deserved or not, or a well-planted lie that’s cultivated by an enemy known or unknown.”
Tanis frowned as she considered his words. “What do you mean deserved or not?”
Ambrose passed a sad look to her. “Sometimes our actions or intentions cause us to be hated for a reason that is justified.” He glanced to Dash. “Such as cutting the head off an enemy who might have family members that take issue with such actions. Or chopping down certain trees.”
Tanis understood that.
He turned back toward her. “Other times, our actions are misconstrued by others. If it’s by accident, we can rectify it by explaining to another that we didn’t mean to cause them harm or that we didn’t intend malice. In those cases, all can be forgiven.”
Ambrose’s tone turned dark. “But then there are times when others are seeking any justification to hate us for reasons only they know. They crave that hatred. They want that hatred, and they will twist and manipulate anything we say or do as a reason to justify it. It’s sad but true. It’s nothing we do, just something they want, and they will feed their hatred, regardless of how much we try to heal it. No amount of apology will ever be enough to cure it. And nothing will appease them. They are after the life of the ones they feel did them wrong or the ones they hate for jealous reasons, and until the ones they hate are all dead, they will not rest or be placated. You cannot bargain with them. They are beyond all compassion and rational thought.”
That she understood. “Like me with my brother’s killer. I will never forgive them for what they took.”
“Exactly, my lady. Except you have a concrete, justifiable reason for wanting that killer dead. He did you and your family wrong, personally. It’s not imaginary and it left a scar in your heart that will never heal.” Ambrose turned to Dash. “You, on the other hand... well, it’s you. You might have actually done something wrong to the one who hates you.”
“Thanks.”
Ambrose chuckled. “But it’s just as likely that you are the High King. You have what your enemy covets and cannot have so long as you live. Jealousy is a wicked, terrible thing. It is the root of all evil. The best way to take what they want is to knock down the one who holds it. If they don’t have the skills to achieve their goal on their own, then they spread lies about the one who holds it. Turn others against them and build a jealous, hate-filled army to topple them. Who cares about the truth? Words are far more powerful than spears and travel twice as far, twice as fast. Many times, they’re even deadlier. Words are sharpened weapons, and they can and do kill. Either by suicide from the one who cannot endure them, or from murder by one who is influenced having heard them. Wordfare can be far more destructive than warfare and have even longer lasting consequences.”
Tanis was awed by Ambrose. No wonder Dash listened to him. He was extremely wise.
Dash snorted at Ambrose. “They’ll have a hard time toppling me. I didn’t get to the top simply by killing my father... which wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Bastard did fight back, and I had ten armies trying to lay me low and enemies clawing at my back and going for my throat every single step of the way. It took me years to get to where I am. And while they might think I’m down for the moment, never, ever underestimate someone who learned to fight in the streets. We don’t go down without a vicious body count.”
“True,” Ambrose agreed. “But while you were busy running your kingdom, Lord Dash, you weren’t paying attention to the ones you trusted. Those standing at your back, or at your side. One of them was spreading lies and betraying your trust. Who among your advisors feels that he or she is the most capable to take your place? The one who feels you should be most indebted to them?”
He scowled as he considered it. “I don’t know. Kronnel leads my army. Yasha oversees the workers. Serran and Anyana manage the nobles. Dersha handles the navy. Renata was the one I leaned on the most, and sadly, I know it’s not her.”
“What of Ryper?” Ambrose asked.
He shook his head. “Ryper is an entity unto himself.”
“But an advisor, nonetheless.”
And one who didn’t hesitate to kill at his command. “I trust him implicitly. If he wanted a throne, he could have one from another kingdom. Yet he chooses to stay with me.” Dash couldn’t imagine his advisors daring to turn on him, especially given the fact that Ryper would cut their throats just on principle. It was why he’d put them in their positions. Anytime anyone had shown the least bit of disloyalty, he’d booted them.
More to the point, Ryper had gutted them, which tended to cut down on mutiny.
One hint. One whisper.
Ryper had never taken that chance. Dash’s was the one court where no one played political games or vied for power. They knew better. It wouldn’t get them anywhere except a shallow grave. He didn’t play favorites.
Well, except for Ryper. But he wasn’t a favorite. He was family. More than than, Ryper had proven himself loyal when no one else had.
His advisors were competent and when they weren’t, they were replaced or killed.
Hmmm...
Maybe Halla had been right. Maybe fear had been the wrong way to lead.
“What are you thinking?” Tanis asked.
“That they were all so afraid of my killing them that the moment I left, they pulled together to get rid of me.”
Tanis’s jaw dropped.
Ambrose laughed. “When was the last time you gutted an advisor?”
“I don’t know. One... maybe two years ago.”
“And tell the princess why.”
“He annoyed me.”
“Dash,” Ambrose said, chidingly.
He let out an irritated sigh. “He was embezzling funds and trafficking.”
“Trafficking?” she asked. “What’s that?”
Ambrose cleared his throat. “Kidnapping and selling children for untoward things.”
And it still infuriated Dash. He wished he could dig him up and stab his corpse again. And again, just for good measure. “I slit him wide open the moment I found out and dragged his carcass to the high wall by his entrails for the buzzards to feast on. In retrospect, I should have prolonged his death by a few more days. Wish I’d impaled him. Maybe gelded him first.”
She sucked her breath in sharply. “Little more detail than I needed... or wanted, beast.”
Ambrose nodded in agreement. “But it made a powerful statement to others, and it cut down on anyone else thinking of doing it. Basically, stopped it cold.”
Dash glanced at Tanis. “Someone has to stand up for those who can’t fight for themselves.”
Ambrose nodded. “That is why you are High King. And why those of us with a brain and who are not corrupt, support you and will always do so.” He patted him on the arm. “In spite of what you think, Dash, we know you’re a fair king. You don’t ride into our kingdoms and demand tribute. You don’t tell us how to run our kingdoms so long as we treat our citizens well and they’re thriving. The only ones who are unhappy with your reign are the ones who want to abuse others, those who want to be in charge of everyone else, and those who are afraid of what will happen if the day comes when you are no longer in charge. We’re aware of the power vacuum your death will cause and the wars that will follow. No one else has the ability to rule the Thirteen Kingdoms. You’re the only one in history who has ever held your title for more than a few months without major wars striking up between kingdoms.”
True.
And Dash knew which kingdoms wanted to rule in his stead. Dythnal where the humans congregated and where Auderley was located. The centaurs in Thassalia. Elves in Alarium. Indara with her dragons, wyverns and gryphons. Kernan, Vaskalia, Umara, Sagaria, and lastly Cosaria where the Marauders made their home. All powerful. All technically capable of overthrowing him.
If they could only get their shit together.
But none of them would ever tolerate the other kingdoms to exist, unless they fell under their rule.
And those kingdoms included Pagos, Ningyo, and Tenmaru. Tenmaru would never, ever submit to anyone other than Dash as the High King. Makkuro Naomi who led the Tenmaruns had a vast army that was made up of oni, yokai, and renegade demons... and other species the rest of the kingdoms didn’t even know existed. She had almost wiped out his father.
Until they made a truce that stood to this day.
Naomi would never make the same truce with anyone else, and Dash knew that for an absolute fact. If anyone overthrew him, Naomi wouldn’t rest until she’d enslaved or annihilated all the other kingdoms.
She would fight them to the bitter end.
The same went for Meara.
That was the one lesson he’d learned in Meara’s court. Just how deep her intolerance ran for the other Thirteen Kingdoms.
It wasn’t just hatred centaurs bore unicorns. They wanted them exterminated. He and those who’d been sent with him had been punished for their mere existence. There was no negotiation possible with Meara.
With Naomi, it was about power. She wanted to subjugate and rule the others.
With Meara, it was about hatred and annihilation.
All the years he’d spent with the centaurs, he still couldn’t understand their mindset where unicorns were concerned. Their unrelenting hatred. Granted their two races had fought wars against each other for centuries, but this went beyond that.
It was systemic, unreasoning and unfounded, and it terrified him. They were both equine and had more in common than not, but it wasn’t enough. The centaurs didn’t think the unicorns were fit to live. All they focused on was the fact that centaurs had human torsos, and therefore human hearts which somehow made them better.
Meara had gleefully starved or worked to death more than half the hostages his father had sent with him to her kingdom. Dash still wasn’t sure how he’d made it through. Other than Ryper and the other members of the Outlaws. Somehow, they had leaned on each other and forged a bond so tight that it had allowed them to survive that nightmare.
Sometimes those years seemed like a faint dream from long ago.
Most of the time, they were a vivid nightmare that still didn’t let him sleep through the night.
The only thing he knew for sure, he hadn’t emerged sane from it. None of them had.
And it wasn’t just centaur against unicorn. It was the dragons against his people and gryphons. Nereids against the mermaids. Stonemen against trolls. Everyone against humanity and humans against them all. On and on it went into madness.
The only ones who didn’t seem to hold grudges were the Pagosians. Anyone who could survive in their inhospitable climate was welcomed. They didn’t care about species.
Why everyone couldn’t take a lesson from Ambrose and his kingdom and just live in peace, he’d never understand.
But the others couldn’t seem to let those old grudges go.
All Dash could do was help maintain borders and keep as much civility between the kingdoms as he could.
And pray a war didn’t break out between everyone before he stopped it.
That was where their fear of him came in handy. Because he was psychotic, no one tested his temper. They were too afraid to do so as they had no idea how he’d unleash his fury against them. A lesson he’d learned from his mother.
Make them terrified.
Once you kill your own father for power, they realize that you have no value for their lives.
So, none of them had wanted to test his temper.
Granted he had no great love of dragons, but after he’d become king, he’d never sought to wipe them out or fight with them. He’d come to terms with Iagan and left them alone.
Same with Meara. As much as he hated that bitter, intolerant bitch, and had very personal reasons for wanting to wipe every centaur out of existence and have her head planted on a pole beside his throne, he’d set their terms for coexistence and tolerated her kingdom, even though it galled him.
So long as she abided by the terms they’d set, he allowed her to reign in peace for the sake of his people and hers. Better to grind his teeth in aggravation than watch the children of their races suffer and die in an endless cycle of hate and war.
But if he didn’t get home with Renata’s horn, no one would have peace again. All he’d worked for would end.
“How do I find my sister’s horn and her brother’s skull?”
Ambrose sighed heavily. “That is the question, Lord Dash. All we know is that they didn’t bring them here, but they wanted you to think that. The question is why?”
He had no idea.
Tanis screwed her face up. “I don’t know what either of you is thinking, but the dragons wouldn’t have turned on you, Dash. Granted, my father didn’t want me to search for my brother’s skull, but I know he would never have sacrificed Davin. Not for anything. Even to end your life. While he’s been no friend to your reign, he would never give up his heir to challenge you. I know he wasn’t part of this.”
Dash believed her. Granted, his own father would have gladly slit his throat, he knew others weren’t like that. And he’d seen for himself the love Iagan bore his son.
No, this was something else.
Something he was missing...
And as he was thinking, sudden clarity slammed into him like a fist to his jaw. It was staggering and it took him a moment to accept the only truth it could be.
How had he missed it?
The traitor wasn’t the snake in his garden that he’d been looking for.
It was the one who’d been whispering hatred in Renata’s ears... The one vile unicorn who had kept pitting her against him. I am blinder than a Stoneman...
And dumber than the boots on his feet.
Because he’d been so distracted by his duties, he’d ignored those off-hand comments that should have made him send the bitch at his sister’s righthand packing.
“Keryna,” he growled the name with all the fury flowing through him.
Tanis exchanged a confused scowl with Ambrose. “What?”
“A friend of Renata’s. She showed up out of nowhere a couple of years ago and ingratiated herself to my sister. She wasn’t one of my advisors. She was Renata’s. Keryna had to be the one who started all this.”
Tanis cocked her head and looked completely baffled. “If she’s your sister’s friend, how could she lead a rebellion against you?”
Dash rubbed his forehead as he saw everything so clearly now. “She was always running her mouth and stirring dissention between my staff and advisors. She even tried to turn Ryper with her maliciousness. Thankfully, he was smarter than that and knew me better.”
Even now, he could hear Ryper laughing about her malignant lies as he told Dash about one of his encounters with her. She actually tried to make me think that you control and manipulate me. That you gaslight me, brother.
As ludicrous an accusation as had ever been made. What did you tell her?
What else? Go fuck herself.
Ryper wasn’t one who held back his thoughts or emotions. Which was why he was invaluable to Dash. Everyone knew where they stood with Ryper.
Shaking his head, he met Tanis’s dark gaze. “I told Renata to get rid of her. Repeatedly. Instead, my sister attacked me for being heartless and unkind where Keryna was concerned.”
You don’t understand, Dash. She has no one else in this world. She was run out of the last three homes she’s had. They were so cruel to her. She’s known nothing save abuse. You need to show her kindness. Of all people, you know what it’s like to be hated.
He’d been so furious at his sister and her unfounded support of that trouble making unicorn no one else could stand. Thrown out for a reason, Ren. Listen to her. She treats everyone around her like shit. She’s a nasty dart donkey.
Renata had just glared at him. That’s not fair. You hate everyone.
I hate assholes. I can’t help it if she’s the reigning queen of them.
And so had gone almost every conversation they’d had about Keryna. From the moment he’d first met her, he’d disliked her to such an extent that he’d gone out of his way to avoid her. Just the way she smirked instead of smiled. The way she curled her lip as if she were forever smelling something foul.
She talked down to their servants and his sister and had tried to do the same with him until she realized he had a tongue that could let more blood than his dagger. Not to mention her backhanded compliments that had set his teeth on edge.
The only thing about Keryna that he’d liked was her absence.
In fact, one of the last conversations they’d had, Renata had sworn to him that she’d send Keryna packing.
She’ll be gone by morning, Dash. I’ll take care of it.
Instead of leaving, Keryna had come to his study to tell him that Renata had runaway after their fight.
But what if the fight they’d had over the centaur rebellion hadn’t caused Renata to leave? What if Renata had told Keryna to get out and that bitch had murdered Renata instead?
No...
She wouldn’t have dared.
Would she?
As much as he wanted to believe otherwise, it was entirely possible. Keryna had been one ballsy nag. She had convinced his sister that they were the best of friends. “Soul sisters.” Closer than blood.
You can trust me with anything. I’m here for you, princess. Whatever you need. I can do it all.
And unlike him, Renata had believed those kinds of lies. Because she’d always been so sheltered and pampered, Renata had no idea just how brutal, conniving and backbiting others could be.
I don’t want to live my life like you, Dash. Mistrusting everyone around me. It must be awful to live in your skin and be so paranoid all the time. Just give them a chance and you’ll see how beautiful they are.
He’d never been able to make Renata understand the brutality he’d seen.
And if his sister had ever mentioned her powers to Keryna or that spell...
Damn it.
Surely, she wouldn’t have been so stupid as to tell Keryna about them. Would she?
Then again, Renata had foolishly believed every lie Keryna had ever told her. Even when they’d been preposterous and he’d pointed them out, Renata had swallowed them whole.
Keryna would never hurt me, Dash. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Stop being so suspicious all the time. She’s a sister to me and I’ve always wanted a sister.
Why hadn’t he sent that trouble making troll packing?
Because Renata had loved her.
I need her, Dash. I rely on her. She does so much for me. You have your people and I have her. Why can’t you ever trust me, brother? I’m not a child. I know what I’m doing. Just please, have some faith in me.
And so, he’d allowed Keryna to stay. Even against his common sense and his own intuition.
I’m such a fool.
Of course, Renata, in her innocence, would have told Keryna everything. His sister had never kept a secret. Because of her innocence, she couldn’t imagine anyone using something like that against her or anyone she loved.
Why would she?
Keryna was still in his palace. No doubt still making mischief and turning his people against him.
Damn me!
This had her name written all over it. Who else would have dared something like this?
He met Ambrose’s gaze. “She had access to everything, courtesy of my sister. I even caught her sending missives in my name.”
“And you let her live?”
“Not by choice. She told Renata it was a mistake, and Renata’s tears weakened me. This is why I don’t believe in mercy. The one time I showed it, you see what happened? My sister’s dead and my kingdom’s under fire. I should have choked the life out of Keryna the day I met her.”
Tanis cleared her throat. “I really think we need to work on your relationship skills, beast. Just a little.”
He arched a brow at her. “I think they’re fine.”
“Sure. Sure.” She coughed and nodded. Then, she shrugged at Ambrose who laughed.
“I like your princess, Dash. I think she’s good for you.”
Honestly? He did, too. More than he should. But was she another Keryna?
Would she lull him into trust only so that she could betray him, too? That thought haunted him.
The door behind Ambrose opened to admit the older king’s senior advisor. Only slightly taller than Ambrose, the human held a sloping pot - belly and one sunken eye. “My lord? I’m sorry to disturb you, but there’s a beautiful sunset you don’t want to miss. We all know how much you enjoy sitting in your garden with your friends. We’d hate for you to miss it.”
“I’ll be along, Sam. Thank you for the reminder.”
As Sam left them, Ambrose turned to face them. “I don’t envy you what’s ahead. But I know you can overcome this small hill. You’ve traversed much larger mountains. Just remember that Pagos is with you. Always.” He removed a ring from his finger and held it out to Dash. “This is enchanted. Use it to contact me should you need my army. We will come.”
Dash took the ring and inclined his head to the much smaller king. “Thank you for all your help.”
Ambrose patted his arm then left them.
Turning toward Tanis, Dash handed the ring to her.
She arched a brow at him. “You’re trusting me with this?”
“Not by choice. Unicorns don’t have pockets.”
“Ah. The real reason you gave me that sack.”
Even though he knew she was teasing, he quirked a brow at her. “You know, I do carry you on my back, Dragon.”
“Teamwork. I like it.” She slid the ring on her finger. “So where to now? Your kingdom?”
“No. First we need to see a wizard.”