Malik dropped into the seat beside me. “This is awkward,” he murmured.
Awkward was an understatement when it came to how things were between my father and me after learning what my parents knew when it came to Isbeth. But this? This was something else. Poppy continued staring at him.
Malik leaned toward me, his voice low. “I don’t think now is a good time to bring up the Ascended.”
“Figured,” I replied, watching our father. He still hadn’t moved.
Then Malik cleared his throat. “Father?”
As if coming out of a trance, he blinked rapidly and shifted his gaze to his daughter-in-law. “I apologize. Was a little caught off guard.”
“No need to apologize,” I assured him. “It’s understandable.”
“It’s good to see you,” he replied, his stare darting back to me. “Both of you.”
Those three words were loaded.
Emil cleared his throat. “Would anyone like something to drink?”
Several hands lifted as Sven looked at him and said, “If there is wine, then the answer is yes—always yes.”
“There is wine,” Emil replied, turning to the serving table. Playing host, he quickly handed my still-standing father a glass and then served Sven.
“Water,” I called, glancing at Poppy. She nodded. “Three of them,” I said.
My father seemed to recover and began walking toward the seat beside Malik. “I hope I didn’t keep everyone waiting too long.”
“Not at all,” I said as he sat.
“What does everyone know so far about the…situation in Pensdurth?” my father asked as Emil placed water in front of Poppy, Kieran, and then me.
“We know you encountered a sizable force outside the city that Thad was sent to assist with. I would’ve thought he’d make quick work of the opposition, but we were told he was injured.”
“Nearly half the forces were dealt with when Thad showed,” Father answered. Poppy cringed, knowingdealt withmeant they’d been burned alive. “The remaining army fled toward Pensdurth.”
Surprise flickered across La’Sere’s face as Emil placed what appeared to be wine in front of Netta without her asking. “You allowed that?”
“Trust me when I say that was not our plan, but we didn’t have a choice,” Father replied. “Should have expected what happened, but hindsight is twenty-twenty, or so they say.”
“Exactly what happened?” Murin asked.
“You need to know something first to understand why we didn’t expect it,” Father said, reaching for his glass. “Myregiment was tasked with making sure Bram’s division crossed the Blood Forest without any losses. That turned out to be easier than expected.”
Surprised, I raised a brow. “Really?”
My father nodded. “We encountered less than a dozen Craven, and they were…well, they had clearly been turned quite some time ago. It was no issue to deal with them.”
“That is a surprise,” Poppy stated slowly. “I know parts of the Blood Forest are thinner, like the section we traveled through when we left Masadonia,” she said, glancing toward me. “But the section between Carsodonia and Pensdurth is thick.”
“Most of it is,” Father confirmed. “But the southernmost point closest to the coast is thinner. That is the route we took.”
“Really?” She sat back. “I was always told…” She trailed off and pressed her lips together. “I see that was another lie.”
“The lies regarding the Blood Forest served a purpose,” Malik stated. “If people believed that there was no easy avenue of escape, they’d be less likely to attempt such a thing.”
“It was a successful lie,” Poppy said, sipping her water. “How did you all discover the route?”
“We spent much time scouting the Blood Forest,” Kieran answered. “Fun times.”
