Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“ S o. You are the disgraced demigod.” Desanne’s king, Nevari Eleinium circled his brother’s property in a predatory fashion.
“Further dishonoured and now my brother’s slave.
I didn’t think Jarryn was so morally corrupt as to take a talking, thinking creature and remove his liberties.
A few months in Saeren has certainly changed him. ”
“He saved me, protected me from others. We left Saeren so that he could free me.”
The tent, though hastily put together, was adorned with fine fabrics suited to the arid landscape of Eamore.
The floor was covered in animal pelts—wolf, tiger, bear, you name it…
it was probably there beneath their feet.
Sunlight shone through slits in the canvas, which was cream and bright, giving Leander the perfect view to examine the king.
Nevari was Jarryn made younger. With only a few years between them, they were so alike in voice and appearance that a casual observer might mistake one for the other.
Leander, of course, was not a casual observer, but he appreciated Nevari’s refined good looks for what they were, even if he despised the man for what he had seemingly become.
He supposed he needed to take credit for the man before him… or the blame.
“Did he, now?” Nevari clicked his tongue and came to stand in front of Leander again.
They were of a similar height, but that did not stop Nevari’s imposing presence from filling the tent.
In the same way Jarryn was able to command a space with just a look, Nevari was similarly blessed.
Leander was more than a little intimidated.
“Why else would he leave Saeren’s sanctuary?”
“Well, with the rabble he was with, it certainly wasn’t to claim my throne. I’m told they lasted minutes against my hired swords. A valiant attempt at resisting, I’m sure. But futile,” Nevari smiled. “Just like this. Tell me, are you alone?”
“Yes.”
Nevari scrutinised him and then laughed. “You know… for the God of Lies, you’re not very good at telling them. I can feel the hope bubbling in your heart. No one who walks into the enemy camp alone is that confident, unless they have allies.”
Leander inhaled. For all his planning, he had forgotten that others had use of Aesthesia.
Nevari smiled. “Your half-brothers, I think. Have they accompanied you? Yes, they’re out there, powerful enough to block me.
It must be them. And how many others? I would imagine they aren’t far, lest they risk the wrath of Leía for having her favourite son murdered in some ill-conceived attempt at a rescue. ”
Leander’s eye barely even twitched at being referred to as the favourite son . It was so far from the truth, his domain would be thriving.
Snapping his fingers, Nevari summoned one of his men and ordered him to bring his prisoner to the tent.
“And send out scouts. The Talius brothers are within range. Aesthesics won’t sense them, but they might guard against Venser’s power.
Have the… ah… two brother conspirators brought to me, alive and unharmed. Kill any others.”
The soldier saluted and left.
Minutes later, two soldiers returned with Jarryn, hands bound behind his back.
Leander quickly cast his eyes over his master, a cursory glance to check for obvious injuries. Jarryn was not limping, nor favouring a particular side. There were no bruises on his visible skin. His hair wasn’t even ruffled. They might as well have been in King Caisa’s court.
But they weren’t. Nevari’s presence was suffocating.
“Are you okay?” Leander asked.
“Of course he’s okay. Look at him.” Nevari took a moment to dismiss his guards, assured that his two guests were not going anywhere, not when they were deep within the campsite and his men covered every path and every exit.
Leander scowled. “Did you cut out his tongue? Jarryn can speak for himself.”
Nevari smiled and waved a hand in Jarryn’s direction.
“I’m fine, Leander. I’ve not been harmed.”
In Jarryn’s expression, Leander could see anger. A fury that Leander had ignored Jarryn’s command to evade capture, and he knew that look promised repercussions for his—in Jarryn’s eyes—disobedience and foolish actions in trying to rescue him.
What had he expected, though? That Leander would return to court life in Saeren?
Even if that were possible, he knew in his heart that his life would be meaningless without Jarryn in it.
It wasn’t a thing that could be articulated, his feelings for Jarryn.
It was just there. Like the existence of the moons.
“Let him go, Nevari. He is not the one you want,” Jarryn murmured.
“Let us both go,” Leander countered with an air of confidence that he didn’t feel.
Nevari laughed. “This one is loyal past the point of sense. Well done, Jarryn. You have caught a good one.”
“Nevari, please, you know this isn’t you?—”
“Not now, big brother. I’m busy.” Nevari’s attention was entirely on Leander, who shivered. “That’s it, my friend. Be afraid but don’t let it stop you. Fear is a good thing. It means you’re paying attention.”
Leander was afraid, there was no denying that fact. But he wasn’t afraid for himself. For his plan to work, he needed Nevari to see reason.
“I’ve never seen a slave brand before. Where is yours, Leander?”
The demigod glanced over at Jarryn, whose eyes were narrowed into slits, but he nodded all the same. Leander loosened his breeches and pulled down one side. The site still hadn’t healed. It was red and scabbed over, vivid in contrast against his pale skin .
Leander felt exposed as he stood in front of Nevari like this. The second he was given permission, he hitched back up and tightened his trousers around his waist once more.
“Looks painful. And larger than I expected,” Nevari muttered. There was pity in his gaze.
“I had to follow through with Saeren’s laws in order to protect him,” Jarryn said defensively.
“Well, I never knew my opinion mattered so much to you. How flattering. But sure, whatever helps you sleep at night, brother,” Nevari muttered, gaze flickering over to Jarryn before returning to look at the now covered site of the brand.
“Leander has just as much right to?—”
“Everyone thinks they have the right to a future, to peace, even. Happiness and health. They don’t.
They have the right to nothing except what they carve out for themselves.
From my understanding, Leander has spent his last few months in Cariun doing nothing for himself except drinking himself into a stupor each night.
Hardly worthy of the right to anything.”
Nevari was not what Leander expected. He had whispered his lie into the ear of a spoilt little boy. In front of them now was an intelligent and philosophical king with a hardened heart.
Someone was guiding him, because no boy-prince could change like this in the space of a few months.
Leander had the distinct impression that Machus had continued his machinations quietly, probably without the rest of the divine court’s knowledge.
It was frighting just how duplicitous the God of War could be when he wanted something done .
“But now you are losing my interest and that is very dangerous.”
Here, Leander and Jarryn were little better than the captives of the king, and they had no clue what was going to happen next. They stood at Nevari’s pleasure, at his mercy.
Something in Nevari’s gaze, so like Jarryn’s in some ways but in others so different, was… crazed, almost, wild and untameable. Frightening.
There was no reasoning with such a man.
The King of Desanne was beyond help, Leander thought.
He was utterly beyond reason as well, too far gone and this was not at all the picture he had in mind when he whispered the lie into the boy’s ear all those months ago.
He wanted to take it back, to go back in time and make it so it had never been.
But then Jarryn wouldn’t be his, at least not in the way he was now.
That was something far too precious, something he wasn’t willing to give up so easily.
Leander had meant what he said: he had no regrets.
But Machus’ words still reverberated around Leander’s mind, and he would not risk pissing off the god even more, because he had no doubt that he was watching, listening, waiting for Leander to fuck up.
He said nothing of his knowledge of Machus’ involvement.
“What are you going to do with us?” Leander eventually asked quietly, somehow managing to keep his voice even despite how his heart practically convulsed behind his ribs.
Nevari took a seat. “What I planned to do from the beginning. Jarryn is guilty of patricide and regicide; he will die for his crimes. And you... well you are property of the Eleinium family, and your ownership will pass over to me. Of course, our laws in Desanne are different, you will be an honoured guest, free to do as you will… within the confines of the palace. For your safety.”
“How many times, Nevari?” Jarryn immediately said, seething with frustration at a conversation that had clearly been repeated over and over again. “I didn’t do it. I was on a hunt the night father died, nowhere near him. I would tell you to ask my men, but you slaughtered them all.”
“How inconvenient…” Nevari mused.
“You expect me to be evil, to be some monstrous thing.” Jarryn spoke very calmly, as if he were merely discussing the weather with his brother.
“You need me to be the embodiment of hate and greed, because it kills you to be responsible for your own shortcomings. Tell me, brother, when I have been executed, will you breathe easier? Sleep better at night? Or will you find another enemy to chase, just to hide from the nightmares of what you have done? I have made peace with who I am and who I must become. Can you say the same? Go on, tell yourself another lie.”
Leander watched the two brothers as they argued. They could have been Verin and Venser, the way they moved around each other.