Ryne shifts uncomfortably and it’s Kyor who answers. ‘Nothing to worry over, just something my father has been looking for.’
‘He doesn’t like losing his things,’ Ryne jokes, making the king sound like a tantrumming toddler.
They’re clearly not going to tell me, so I let it go. ‘You were saying something about someone in Galreck?’ I prompt instead.
Ryne’s easy smile drops as she glances at me.
‘Yes. He’s been a huge name in the rebellion for years now. Too smart to be among those puppets who attacked at the ball, but rumour has it he fled here all the same. And if we get him?—’
‘We have a chance to find whoever’s funding them,’ Kyor finishes for her.
My gut twists with unease.
I know who’s funding them, and I’m seven types of conflicted over it.
I want to warn Benny, but there’s nothing I can do now – apart from maybe keeping Kyor distracted long enough to hope that this Arle slips from his mind.
A flash of pain wipes across his face.
‘Are you hurt, Commander?’
He meets her eye. ‘I had an encounter with a dark one.’ He keeps his voice low. ‘It didn’t end well for me,’ he admits.
He’s avoiding using the termMyrkrin the busy inn, I realise. And she … she understands instantly what Kyor means.
‘Did his blade—?’ she begins, panic in her gaze.
‘No,’ he interrupts. ‘No, not his. It’s a long story. Luckily, the injury was clear of the rot.’
‘Thank the Gods. Do you need a healer? I can arrange to get one we trust here within a week.’
He grimaces. ‘Thank you, but I don’t have time to wait. I had a healer’s attention already; I just need some rest.’
‘Yes,’ Ryne snorts, ‘because you’re so good at that.’
He grins suddenly. ‘Right.’ The smile promptly fades, and Ryne is quick to continue the conversation.
‘I heard rumours that Fen went north to lay himself to rest,’ she says. ‘Back to Zelle’s hometown of Rowell.’ The name is clearly added for my benefit.
‘Zelle was from Rowell?’ I can’t help but express my shock. ‘But … he was so nice!’
Kyor laughs aloud. ‘Not everyone from Rowell is like Zara Duarte.’
A likely story.
We still haven’t decided what route we’re taking north fromhere, but the thought of heading to Rowell, where there’s even the slightest possibility of bumping into one of Zara’s family members, isn’t something I want to do.
‘Thank the Gods,’ Ryne mutters.
I only knew Zelle for a matter of moons before he was taken by Mortidem, but I would have assumed there would’ve been signs of his city, like favouring Zara and her crew. But Zelle never gave me the cutthroat Rowell vibe. Not once.
Then again, that wasn’t the sort of man Zelle was. He was fair, honourable and wise. And it’s not likeeverysingle person from the city can be an arsehole.
‘He left Rowell young,’ Kyor admits. ‘Found his dire wolf Fen shortly after – on the trip down to Wrohelm, if the tales are to be believed. It would make sense for Fen to have gone there to pass.’ His voice fades.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ryne says. She looks with sympathy at Kyor. ‘I know that losing them both must have been hard for you and Elska.’
Kyor nods. ‘Yeah.’
