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Because Renton’s life depended on it. The safety of her friends and Denoden and all the shadows on her isle depended on it. For once, she needed to take responsibility for her power and for her mistakes.
“And your plans after?” Hakkan pressed.
Chin high, she replied, “I’ll head to Firesteep to handle my father.”
Hakkan mulled this over, his expression unreadable. “You handle that rift, and you have the strength of my army, cousin. It’s time we forge a new path for our family.”
Shock twisted her face. “You’re…you’re offering to help me?”
“I was born to a common Firesteep woman. It’s as much my home as any other Vozarian, even if they see me as nothing more than a barbarian.”
The pride in his voice had Tenah softening. However, she wasn’t so foolish as to jump into a bargain without a care anymore.
“What will Gadreel think about our alliance?” she asked. “I don’t claim ties to any Ruzgorn banners.”
Hakkan scoffed. “My father wanted you to kill me. You know he believes me a stain on this world. Yet he was the one that sidestepped your father on his warpath to Firesteep. Gadreel could have at least tried to stop him.”
Tenah picked apart his words for deception. Hakkan didn’t seem the type to play games. “You would desert your culture?”
“I’m not deserting. I’m making much-needed changes formyarmy.”
“But the blood rite—”
“I don’t give a shit about the blood rite. Neither of us feel any sort of magical pressure to finish the job, right? Here we are, face-to-face, and I haven’t felt the urge to cut you down.”
He had a point.
“Is it real or just a motivator to kill?” she asked.
“The blood rite does grant the victor a boost in power. That’s not a lie,” Hakkan said, eyes flashing with remorse. If her cousin had been power hungry at one time, he’d purged himself of the addiction. Hakkan glanced over at Vesara. “In exchange for our aid, we want land. Access to resources within the kingdoms just like all the other natives on this isle. No more barren desert foraging. I tire of it.”
Vesara scoffed, but Tenah put her back in line with a firm look.
“You said you owe me a debt twice over, right?” Tenah asked. “Or were those hollow words?”
The assassin went rigid. Tenah was aware she waded murky waters, but surely they could mend their kingdoms with a bit of civil discussion. After all, war hadn’t worked for anyone over the last several centuries.
“Could some sort of deal be made with Izral if the Ruzgorn prove their loyalty at Firesteep?” Tenah asked.
Vesara rolled her eyes in dramatic fashion. “This day! You’re asking me to get a party boy king to agree to a peace treaty with pillagers? The land they demand is soaked with blood they’ve spilled.”
Hakkan took a step toward her, his tone sharp as a whip. “Tell your king my clan has spilled no blood in Vristar.”
Vesara waved a hand as if to shush him. Smoky tendrils coiled around his body as his temperature spiked.
Tenah rested a calming hand on his arm. “I will speak with Izral.”
“No,” Vesara snapped, tugging at her hair as if she might rip it out. “I’ll manage the king on my own.”
With that final agreement, Tenah surveyed the room, awaiting opposition. A sliver of unease worked its way under her skin. No one else had spoken up, seemingly content with the direction of their conversation.
Renton gave her an approving nod, his bright eyes sparking with admiration that had her cheeks flushing. “Then we all head south.”
As the others funneled out of the meeting room, Hakkan kept his eyes on Tenah. He offered a hand. Feeling a renewed sense of hope, she clasped it. She might have lost her family, but she was working to reforge a new one.
“You should consider a profession in negotiations when all this is said and done,” Hakkan said. “You’re much better at it than committing murder.”
Chapter37
