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When Brokk closed the pouches again, Roark opened one palm in question.

“What say you, Brokk?” Gammal asked. She spoke to the man with a bite of disgust. The way most of the Unfettered clan avoided Brokk’s side of the table, it did not take much to guess that they did not favor the man.

Brokk rose, smoothing his tunic. “We have an agreement. Though out of respect for visiting royalty, I have many items you may wish to trade for this amount instead. I understand you feel some sort of debt to the boy’s father, but how will he know if you do not fulfill it? He is dead.”

Roark’s fist clenched under the table, but his smirk did not fade.

“No? Suit yourself.” Brokk went to Jordis. He brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “Farewell, Jordis. The sight of your body will be missed. Your mouth will not.”

Roark knocked his knuckles on the table. Do not touch what I have rightfully purchased.

Brokk held up his palms in surrender when Thane repeated the warning. “Apologies. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall be counting my new royal coin.”

The barter was nothing but a conquest for Brokk. A man who took pleasure in the humiliation of others. What did it matter? Relief, heady and bright, gleamed in Jordis’s eyes. She embraced Sindri, holding the boy’s face and kissing his brow.

Then she went to Roark and Thane. “I will never know how to repay you.”

“You have allies in two kingdoms…well, we must dethrone my mother first.” Thane sighed with a touch of theatrics. “It is bound to be messy business. But if I keep my arm and my head, you will have allies in two kingdoms.”

“Three.” Yrsa frowned at the prince. “Do we not have a claim in Myrda?”

“Forgive me.” Thane dipped his chin. “It would seem you have the protection of all kingdoms. Again, if our bones are not harvested for a rather villainous melder.”

Sindri laughed softly. Even Jordis grinned, slow and cautious, like she was not entirely certain how it was done anymore.

Roark stood from the table and lifted my palm, his fingers brushing lightly over the surface. Will you see that their belongings are loaded? We should be off soon.

“Where are you going?”

Roark grinned. There’s one more thing I must do before we leave.

Trepidation stacked in my chest. I’d seen that look in my husband’s eyes before, something callous, a little merciless. He left no room for questions before stalking away down the road.

I led Jordis toward the charges, allowing Sindri to tell me all he’d learned of the creatures since working in Brokk’s stables.

Now that the chains were removed from his life, the boy chattered a great deal. He had a deep fascination with the fara wolves. Kyrre approached the boy, ears flat at first, but soon enough, the pup nuzzled the boy’s hand and panted in delight when Sindri found Kyrre’s favorite place on his neck to be scratched.

“He likes you.” I chuckled.

Sindri knelt next to Kyrre’s belly, using both his hands to scratch the wolf. “I have heard tales of the great wolves of my father’s clan. Did he have one?”

“I don’t think so. Not every Draven bonds to a fara, but it seems that Kyrre senses the connection to you and your uncle. I expect he will guard you as fiercely as he guards me and Roark.”

Sindri hesitated. “Will they…accept me, my lady?”

I let out a sigh and knelt by the boy. “My bond with your uncle was meant to be forbidden, much like Nivek believed with your mother. But most have accepted me. I know it is…frightening, but you are the firstborn of the heir of Dravenmoor. You are the blood of the clan, and your folk will stand with you.”

I peered over my shoulder to the place where Gammal stood in a huddle with Keela and some watchmen. She beamed at me, like she could hear every word spoken.

“Your folk will stand with you, Sindri,” I repeated. “On both sides of the Night Ledges.”

The boy had unruly hair that waved around his ears. He dressed like the Unfettered, with fur hems and bright stitching. The toes of his leather shoes curled slightly. But the ferociousness of the brilliant Draven eyes and spirit burned in his features.

“I have always felt close to my father,” he said. “Even though I do not remember him. Sometimes, well, sometimes I speak to him. I like to think he can hear me.”

“He has been close to you. I’ve seen it, the bond he holds to you, how you are in his thoughts even in Salur.”

Sindri twisted one finger in his ear, scratching an itch. “I want to make him proud. I’ve tried to stand for my mother, protect her, but I don’t know how to enter a royal house, Lady. I don’t know how to be part of a royal house.”