Page 82 of The Seeker

He nodded before climbing back up on his horse, “It’s my sister.” He told the man on the nearest horse, starting a chain of whispers among the group as I moved to remount my horse, which had found a patch of grass she was happily munching on.

Once the entire group was moving, Milo spoke again. “What happened to the man who was with you before?”

I felt Sullie’s gaze move to me. He’d also remained toward the back of the group, though I was curious why he hadn’t turned around to journey home to Frieran.

“It’s a long story.” I told my brother with a sigh before raising my voice. “Sullie, you can go now. This is my brother, Milo.” Milo dipped his chin at the orange-haired Sullie.

He shrugged. “I’m off anyway. Decided I wouldn’t mind seeing Heimland.”

I frowned, hoping he didn’t have some ulterior motive. I turned my attention back to my brother. “We . . . we had a falling out.”

“About what? He was quite enamored.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, my heart twisting, though the pain was less than I thought it would be. “He lied to me, Milo . . . about a lot of things.” I sighed, mad how easy it was for me to talk to my twin about my emotions, even though I was still mad at him. We’d always shared everything, out of necessity, and it felt natural to open up to him again. “He was the son of the king.”

Milo choked. “What? You mean . . . he . . . he was the prince?”

I still wasn’t comfortable with that title connected with Otho’s name, and it made me cringe. “I guess. I found out and ran.”

“Why?” Genuine confusion filtered from him.

“I . . .” I trailed off, realizing that other than the utter betrayal I was feeling, the main reason I’d run was because I was embarrassed to be caught unaware. I blushed. “It made me realize he lied about more than that. He also said his parents were dead and that he was Seid . . .”

Milo frowned. “Why can’t those things still be true?”

My brows furrowed. “Because he’s the son of a living king? Meaning he can’t possibly be an orphan?”

My brother shrugged. “Maybe his mother married the king as a second husband after her first died, then she died as well.”

I didn’t like his reasoning, as it caused a pulling sensation in my chest, regret blooming. “Still. If he’s Seid, that would mean the king is as well, and he allowed the purge to happen. It’s been the same King our whole lives, Milo.”

He sighed. “I’m not sure that’s the case anymore Runa. I’m starting to think Adis’s father went rogue. You saw Shianp, how nice everything was, and how happy all the people were. I can’t imagine the ruler of that city allowing a viscount to execute a quarter of his citizens.”

It was my turn to frown, remembering the line in front of the palace where all citizens could ask their king for help directly. “I don’t know, Milo,. I still don’t think he was truthful about everything. He looked . . . bored when I came in for my request. As if he allows these audiences merely to . . . placate the people.”

Sullie glanced over his shoulder at Milo and I, his gaze darting between us. Before I could ask what he wanted to know, he’d turned his horse back forward, nudging it faster to leave my twin and I alone at the rear of the group.

“Well, what’s your plan now?” Milo prodded, his hands fidgeting with his horse’s bridle in a way that reminded me so much of myself.

I truly hadn’t thought about my plan going forward. In my anger at his betrayal, I’d run, neglecting the fact that I have a life to go back to. “I don’t know, Milo. I know you feel strongly about what you want but I . . . I don’t know what I want out of life yet.”

He didn’t say anything for a while, and I thought maybe the conversation was over, but I was wrong. “I didn’t always know, Runa. And sometimes I wonder if I’m meant . . . for something more. But this is the reality I live now and I’m taking life one day at a time. Right now, I have a babe to provide for, so that is what I’m focusing on.”

I mentally smacked myself for forgetting my brother’s plight. “Did you manage to find work in Ralheim? Is that why you quit suddenly?” I asked, grimacing, “I didn’t have a chance to ask the king for anything, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. And I didn’t. But I didn’t want to be away from Helene any longer, so I decided to head home and try again.” His voice lowered through the course of the sentence, the last word a whisper.

My gaze settled on the back of Sullie’s head. “Sullie is a merchant on this road, but maybe he might know something you could do?”

Her brother’s mood brightened. “Maybe, I’ll ask when we stop.” He looked over at me, and I could feel his shame. “For what it’s worth, Runa, I’m sorry.” I raised my eyebrows. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask about how things were with you.”

“It’s okay.” I replied, even though I knew I still didn’t trust my brother fully to always make the right decision.

“You can stay with Helene and I when we arrive back in Ralheim. Until you can decide what you want.”

I pictured the woman who had answered the door of my childhood home the season before. Remembering the small bedroom Milo and I had shared, I wondered what it looked like now, if it was already prepared for their new child. I shook my head, clearing the image and giving my answer. “Thanks, Milo, but I don’t think I will stay in the city.”

His surprise filtered through me. “Where will you go then?”