Page 247 of The Sun He Buried

The hurt remains, but it’s no longer aimed at me.

For now, that’s enough.

Snowpetal enters the trees.

I follow.

Baldr takes my right side, the place he held when we were boys and our father still believed two sons might become one weapon.

The bond pulls toward the black pines.

The men who took her have mistaken distance for safety.

I am going to correct them.

Chapter Twenty-Six

General Varrik’s explained my value four times.

This is three more than I needed and four more than my wrists can tolerate.

The rope around them is rough, wet, and tied behind the chair. Every time I move a finger, the knot bites higher. My hands went numb before the first explanation. They’ve now progressed to burning, which seems unfair. Numb was unpleasant but quiet.

The chair’s unpleasant too.

It has three sound legs and one short one. Varrik paces in front of me, and each turn of his boots makes me shift enough for the chair to rock. The back rail digs under my shoulder blades. My ankles are bound to the front legs. The whole arrangement feels designed by somebody who hated furniture and people equally.

The old weigh house has gaps between half the wall boards. Wind comes through all of them. A brazier burns near Varrik, well beyond reach, while my purple cloak lies across a crate beside it.

He took the warmest thing I own and put it next to the fire.

I dislike him.

“Your father will pay,” Varrik says.

“You said that already.”

His boots stop.

The red cord at his shoulder is the cleanest thing he’s wearing. Snow has melted across his coat, and old mud darkens both boots.

I didn’t know about this general.

Today’s been full of introductions.

“You should listen when your life is being discussed.”

“I’ve been listening. My father pays you, Baldr pressures the treaty courts, and Eirik gives you access to the eastern vein-silver stores. Then you let me go.”

Varrik studies me.

Both his eyes are dark brown. His mouth tightens beneath them.

“You do listen.”

“I’d listen better in my cloak.”

He starts walking again.