Chapter 35 #2
Then we were silent. Horrible visions raced through my head like a midsummer storm back home—hot, sudden, and deadly.
Both Fig and I were able to comprehend how bad this was.
Could I—could we—defy this polite summons?
Bile climbed up my throat just thinking about it, and for a moment, I was back to being the helpless youngling on the day I’d been told that my father had been convicted of my mother’s assassination.
Squinting my eyes and massaging my temples, I pushed the sensation away and concentrated on the here and now.
“Do the others already know about this?”
“No, you’re the first.”
“How long still until we’ll reach Amalach?”
“A little under a fortnight. And that’s only if we keep the stops to an absolute minimum. What’s your estimation of how long it’ll take before he sends soldiers?”
“Hard to tell. I’ve never defied him before. So anything from zero fucking minutes to a few days or weeks while he’s preparing the punishment. Plus the time they need to locate us, considering how long it took for this letter to arrive.”
“We need to talk to the others. At first, without Nayana and her friends present.”
“If you assemble the others, I’ll make sure we won’t be disturbed.”
Fig nodded, and I got up, striding back into the room where I’d left the sleeping females while trying to digest the clusterfuck of a situation that was at hand.
Nayana was sitting on the bed, still in her nightgown and nursing the canteen. She looked like she was at death’s door, and even so, she was absolutely stunning. For the first time since I’d read the letter, I was able to take a full breath again, thanks to that woman.
“You’re up.”
“Barely.”
“Where’s your friend?”
“Talking to Bryon. Giving me time to decide if I’ll live or die.”
Despite all the turmoil, I had to smile. “Drink some more water. Nap another hour.”
“We’ll have to leave soon, don’t we?”
I nodded, contemplating the best course of action.
Binding her to the bed would have been the easiest option, but I dismissed the thought outright.
The situation had become dire, and we had to avoid in-fighting between all of us—it was more vital than before.
So I stalked over to her and gently took her hands in mine.
“Nayana, I need you to stay in here for another hour.” Even I was surprised at how serious I sounded.
“Why, Dion?”
“Do you trust me?”
I watched the gears in her head turn, and my heart was about to crack open at the possibility she’d say no when she nodded. “I suppose I do.”
“Then I’ll need you to stay here until I come back. Can I also count on you?”
Again, she contemplated before nodding once more. “Under one condition.”
“What condition?”
“That we’ll soon have a serious talk about the Rite of Binding, where you don’t run away or deflect.”
Gods, what had I done wrong to deserve that every single problem in existence was piled on me today?
“We’ll have that talk. It’s a promise.” I’d have vowed almost anything to keep her in the room, but of course, she’d found one of the things I’d rather not have to commit to.
“Good, then you have yourself a deal.”
I nodded and turned to the door.
“And Dion?”
“Yes, Nayana?”
“Be safe.”
This female would be my undoing one of these days.
By the time I returned downstairs, everyone had already gathered around one of the tables.
The room had been fully cleared out, and not even the staff were anywhere in sight.
I sat down in a chair, stared at the offending parchment lying in the middle of the table, and snarled at it.
Only then did I feel four pairs of eyes burning into me.
“Why are you all looking at me?”
“Because the potential consequences will affect you the most.”
“I disagree. The letter is addressed to you, Fig, not to me.”
“Stop lying to yourself, Dion. You know better than that.”
I felt a muscle in my jaw tick. “Still, this affects us all.”
Antas’ expression was serious. “For me, it’s not even a question. I don’t care about the threats my dear half-brother spouts. Do you?”
My jaw worked, and even though I wasn’t sure of my answer, I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
“Neither do I.”
“Or me.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, Dion, but I don’t give a rat’s ass about punishment.”
As he spoke, I stared open-mouthed at Thain and canted my head in surprise. “What—”
“Don’t look at me as if I’d just destroyed your whole worldview. You may be a self-centered bastard, and we have our issues, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to turn my back on what’s right just to spite you.”
Shit, why had Thain decided to be the bigger man? I couldn’t even direct my anger at him if he agreed with me.
“You have to consider telling Nayana the truth.”
I narrowed my eyes at Antas. “It’s better for her if she doesn’t know.”
“She will find out, anyway. Should it not be on your terms?”
“I’ll think about it. For now, nobody says a word, and we’ll proceed as if nothing has happened.
We’ll continue to travel toward Amalach as fast as we can and ignore this piece of trash dear grandfather has sent to us.
” I sat up straight, determination in my eyes and heart, and realized that the ever-present invisible chains around me were loosening—just like that.
Or maybe I hadn’t noticed they had already been doing this for weeks.
Seeing Antas smile at me, I slowly began to understand. This was exactly what he had hoped to achieve when he tricked me into accompanying him. I threw him a dirty look, then addressed everyone again.
“Are we all in agreement?”
As one, my comrades nodded. “As you wish, Your Highness.”