Something spasmed on Rathgarr’s mouth, but his eyes hadn’t moved from Grimarr’s face. “Ach, it has,” he said smoothly. “So now you keep your hoard secret, mayhap? Unseemly to boast, I ken.”
With that, his gaze had briefly, tellingly glanced toward Jule — implying that Grimarr waslyingto her, good gods — and that was unmistakably a growl, rumbling from Grimarr’s throat. “There is no secret,” he hissed. “I spent my father’s hoard.Allof it.”
Rathgarr blinked, once, though his mouth was already curving up again. “Youspentall this,” he repeated, the skepticism heavy in his voice. “Upon what?”
Grimarr growled again, but his eyes stayed heavy on Rathgarr’s, glittering with hard, intent purpose. “On aught that was needed,” he said flatly. “Grain. Salt. Seeds. Ore. Cloth. Boots. Pay for fair work. Meed for early deaths. Amends for past wrongs. Gifts to each clan’s heads, so they could again build their own trades, and gird their homes within the mountain.”
Rathgarr blinked again, and Grimarr kept glaring at him across the table, with unmistakable challenge in his glinting eyes. “I gained the place of captain not by my trove-room,” he hissed, “but by my strength, and my deeds, and my fealty to my kin. By feeding and housing all my brothers, and keeping themsafe!”
The last word echoed through the room, ringing with certainty, with conviction. Until it was broken by — laughter. Rathgarr’s laughter, the sound deep and rich, and almost, almost real.
“Ach, keeping your brotherssafe,” he repeated, his voice a dragging drawl. “I have heard how well you have kept Kesst safe,Captain. Now, in calling me here, mayhap you seek to further this for him? Tofinishthis?”
Curse it, Rathgarr was surely not supposed to be risking this right now, and Geva flinched at the all-too-palpable rage, flashing up fierce and vicious in Grimarr’s glinting eyes. “I have done all within my power for Kesst,” he snarled. “Ach, even bearingyouhere. Swearing your safety. Yourwelcome.”
He gave a furious wave at the table, at the elaborate meal before them — but Rathgarr laughed again, the sound brittle and cold. “You truly dare to claim this?!” he demanded across the table. “When Kesst says he has borne a hundred orcs he did not wish for? When he says he had no surety, and no safety? When he says he was kepttrapped, terrified and alone, without any protection, in a mountain full of ravenous orcs?”
He’d again spoken in a perfect echo of Kesst’s voice, down to the exact lilt of his accent, and Geva could see Grimarr blinking, his brows furrowing low. His mouth opening, as if to make some kind of explanation, but Rathgarr barked a growl, his hand sharply sweeping through the air.
“No,” he hissed. “No more lies, Ash-Kai. You failed my brother. You failedme.”
Grimarr was still frowning, though it was different now, perhaps almost defensive, or even confused. “I have done naught to you, Rathgarr,” he said slowly. “And I should never harm Kesst, orfailhim. I have —”
But beside Geva, Rathgarr let out another deep, angry growl, loud enough that the hairs on her neck stood on end. “No — more — Ash-Kai —lies!” he hollered, and he leapt up to his feet, his cloak swirling out around him. “I shall mayhap hear you, Captain, when you offer us yourmeedandamends, from this trove-room you have so helpfullyforgotten!”
With that, he spun around, and swept for the door — but when Geva jerked to follow, he thrust out his hand toward her. Stopping her. Not — wanting her?
“No, poppet,” he said, his voice harsh. “Stay. Eat. I shall meet you later.”
And without another glance, he strode out the door, and was gone.
24
For a horrible, hurtling moment, Geva sat there numb and unmoving, staring at the door, while her thoughts screeched in a dozen directions at once.
Why had Rathgarr told her to stay? Was he angry that she’d brought up the trove-room, and set off yet another disastrous scene? Or did he truly want her to stay, and perhaps spy for him? To try to learn what Grimarr had done?
And whathadGrimarr done? Why hadn’t he protected Kesst? And why had Rathgarr seemed to believe that it had been Grimarr’s obligation to do so, while he himself had stayed so intently away, for sixteen years?
No, he’d said, when Geva had asked about him visiting Kesst.No.I could not.
And why hadn’t Rathgarr just told her what had happened? How the hell did he expect her to be a good mate — a good helpmate, damn it — if she still didn’t know why he’d made the most devastating decision of his damnedlife?
And worse — Geva grimaced as she looked back at the table’s occupants again — how did Rathgarr expect her to follow a departure like that? What was she supposed to say, without betraying his confidence? He’d wanted to impress them, right? To show himself settled? Harmless? To never let the Skai or their foul usurper captain see what he truly thought of them?
“Um,” Geva said into the stillness, her voice wavering. “I’m sure Rathgarr just needs — a few moments. I know it’s been quite — difficult, for him, coming back here, after so long. Kesst was very” — she grimaced again — “eloquent, in his initial reception yesterday. Understandably so, of course.”
She glanced uneasily around the table, bracing for their responses — Jule had called Kesst adear friend, hadn’t she? — and she was vaguely startled by Jule’s answering laugh, the wry shake of her head. “I can only imagine Kesst’seloquenceon the subject,” she said. “I would have loved to see it. Almost as much as I would have loved to see Grimarr strutting around boasting of his vile father’s ill-gotten hoard!Really, Grimarr?”
To Geva’s increasing astonishment, Grimarr was looking decidedly shamefaced, or perhaps even contrite. “I was young, and sullen, and easily vexed,” he said, with a sigh. “And Rathgarr isdeeplyvexing, ach?”
Jule laughed aloud, even as she shot a brief, regretful glance toward Geva. “I’m sure you’re right, and he just needs some time,” she said firmly. “And I’m sure Kesst will come around with time, too. Now” — her eyes angled toward Grimarr again, holding there for an instant too long — “why don’t we finish eating, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the mountain, Geva? Let these three reminisce for a while, perhaps?”
Her eyes had flicked toward Drafli, who was very casually picking at his food, and Geva realized that both Grimarr and Baldr were eyeing him, too, the room gone unnaturally silent. So she accordingly finished eating as quickly as she could, and then followed Jule out into the corridor.
“Well, I’m sure we’re all glad that’s over,” Jule said brightly, hoisting Tengil up onto one hip. “Now, what would you like to see first?”
Geva was still feeling decidedly off-kilter, but she drew in breath, and attempted a smile. “I’d love to see it all, of course,” she said. “Everything I’ve seen so far has already been so fascinating.”
