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He waved a dismissive hand. “Never mind that. Tell me, have they talked of returning to Braxia?”
My stomach knotted. Something in his tone held an undeniable menace. I shifted uneasily in my seat, a million different thoughts going off in my mind.
“Wouldn’t they be welcomed if they did?” I asked instead. “Your father’s new laws—”
“I asked you a question,” he interrupted in a clipped tone.
“Vintor—one of the most vocal hybrids—mentioned it was a possibility, among other things. But the security guard positions for merchants and nobles seemed like their main interest,” I said, hating the nervousness seeping into my voice.
Keran remained quiet for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. The intensity with which he examined my features sent my anxiety into overdrive. I’d known finding out about the Guldans would upset him, but not to this extent. The muscle palpitating on his temple and the slight clenching of his jaw were seriously triggering my flight instincts.
“Do you know where the Guldans are located, and what they are doing?” he asked at last.
“Yes. They have rented the Sulvan Ranch located five kilometers from here,” I replied, eager to show that I had indeed done my homework, and not just randomly dismissed their presence as coincidental. “It is a three-month lease, non-renewable. They have a frigate in orbit, big enough to transport every hybrid who signs up with them and who they decide to hire. While it possesses some advanced weaponry, it is not a battleship but a merchant vessel.”
To my dismay, Keran’s tension only seemed to increase further. Confused as to what I was missing, I displayed on the giant screen the satellite imagery of the Guldan’s lair.
“As you can see, they have turned the ranch into a training camp where the interested candidates are going through an intensive program. Those who perform well will be hired,” I explained. “Most of the training occurs outside, in plain view of any satellite surveillance. Trust me, I have looked for any sign that the Guldans were up to no good and failed to find any. But you clearly think otherwise.”
He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he seemed to reflect on how he wished to respond.
“Do you know what is scheduled to happen in three months?” he asked.
“Aside from the Guldans’ planned departure? No, I don’t,” I said, shaking my head.
“My father will step down from the throne of Braxia so that I may become its new Magnar,” he said matter-of-factly. “After multiple failed attempts to make Braxians bow to their will, Guldans will stop at nothing to see someone other than a Xeldar ascend the throne. Preferably someone they can manipulate and control.”
I swallowed hard and nodded slowly as I reflected on his words. “Okay, I can see that. But how would a few hundred hybrids help them achieve that?”
“The best way to control someone is to surround them with people whispering in their ear in a united voice. The Council and Royal Guards are extremely influential,” he said in a mysterious tone.
I recoiled. “The Council? What Braxian king would ever appoint a bunch of hybrid newcomers to his Council or Royal Guard?”
“A hybrid Magnar might,” he said.
My jaw dropped. For a second, I believed he was making fun of me, but his serious expression eliminated that possibility.
“Don’t Braxians select the strongest male as their Magnar? Doesn’t it come down to the last man standing in a bloody battle where some are known to die?” I exclaimed. “No hybrid can win.”
“Like I said, you’d be surprised what certain hybrids can do,” he countered dismissively, while rising to his feet. “Is there anything else you have deemed unrelated that you haven’t shared with me yet?”
I shook my head, feeling like a child getting reprimanded, and instinctively stood up as well. “No. That’s everything.”
“Very well. I need ten minutes to speak privately with my guards. Please, transfer all these files to me in the meantime.”
Without waiting for my response, he turned on his heels and headed for the door.
“Keran!” I called before he could reach the door. I cast a quick look outside through the large windows before facing him again. “The sun is getting quite low on the horizon. I haven’t asked what your sleeping arrangements are, if any. There are plenty of guest rooms here that you and your men are welcome to. They are humble, but clean and comfortable. Otherwise, I’ll be happy to have some rooms prepared for all of you in Jadirel. It is a fancy hotel in the capital city with free luxury rooms reserved for Ambassadors and other VIP guests and diplomatic envoys.”
“We don’t need fancy rooms. Here will be just fine. Thank you.”
With that, he stepped out of the room.
Chapter 6
Keran
Too many conflicting thoughts swirled in my head as I finished giving instructions to Tagar and Nowik. Besides the upsetting news Dawn had revealed, I couldn’t decide how much I trusted her. She seemed sincere in wanting to find the assassin. A genuine glimmer of hope had lit up in her green eyes when I told her of the pressure I’d put on Commander Ormloff. And yet, she wasn’t who she was pretending to be.
