Page 35 of His Realm

“Tell me about Decimus’s sons, because Sorin has a brand on him that they put there when Sorin was a child.”

“Both sons are younger than my father, but older than me.”

“Ødger and Balon, Zev said.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t know anything else about them?”

“Zev probably told you they’ve never left that holding.”

“Couldn’t your father have ordered them to court?”

“I don’t know. From what you’ve said about this pact between my father and Decimus, perhaps he has no power over Decimus’s sons.”

“But you will.”

“We’re going to go there and find out the truth. I have to speak to my father first, though, so he can give me the specifics before I run in there blind.”

“Your voice sounds odd.”

He grunted.

“Varic?”

“You’ve known me less time than all those around me, and yet can tell from merely a sound that something is wrong.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s not like my father to allow something ancient to remain in place. He’s purged so many antiquated laws, I have to wonder why this situation in Ophir has been allowed to continue.”

“And you think there’s some horrible reason.”

“Perhaps not horrible, merely regrettable, but either way, we will find out the truth.”

“Okay,” I said, exhaling deeply.

“You sound relieved.”

“I just… I knew that when you learned there was a problem there, you would go and investigate. I was certain no one had informed you.”

“You had that much faith, did you?”

“Always.”

Smug male grunt that I loved. “I’m glad you have so much trust in me.”

“How could I not?”

“That’s right,” he said, sounding so very arrogant. “How could you not?”

“What if Decimus won’t let us in when we arrive? What then?”

“He’ll let us in.”

“You seem very confident.”

“I’m the draugr. He’ll let me in.”