I held out my hands and tried not to show how nervous he was making me. “Of course.”
He set down three rings on the table. “Each of you takes one of these. They’re enchanted. Focus on them and you’ll be able to communicate with me directly. That way there is no chance that someone will notice me too early and do something rash. I guarantee that both Gadrith and Darzin know exactly what I look like. Sadly, I’ve never met…” His mouth tightened. “… Thurvishar.”
My hand shook as I picked up one of the rings.
You see, it was set with an intaglio-carved ruby.
I was aware that Tyentso made pleased noises, because communication had, after all, been one of the weak spots in our original plan. In the bar, people still drank and laughed and argued as prelude to duels. They clinked glasses and made toasts and threw insults at each other in varying degrees of venom. It all sounded muted, underwater, unimportant.
I thought about the vané whom Gadrith and Darzin had tortured and murdered, who had owned such a ring. I thought about my father Surdyeh, who owned such a ring. I thought about Caerowan, who had stolen Valathea from me, and owned such a ring.
I met Sandus’s eyes. “When we’re done here,” I said, “you and I are going to have a very long talk, Your Majesty.”
He smiled sadly. “Yes. I imagine we will.”
I picked up a second ring for Teraeth and left without another word.
So far everything had gone perfectly to plan.
Now came the hard part: going home.
* * *
Lady Miya flew down the marble steps and into my arms. “Kihrin!”
She hid her face in the cloth of my agolé, muffling the sound of her crying. I smoothed her hair and touched her cheek.
The crying stopped with a shocked sob and my mother pulled aside the cloth of my misha, to look at the star tear diamond necklace I wore underneath.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “I promise I’ll explain later.”
My mother tore her gaze from the necklace to focus on me. “Where have you been? We received a message you were safe, but we couldn’t be sure of its provenance.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I hope it was some comfort, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to return sooner. I think we should go inside, don’t you?” I looked up the steps of the First Court to see Therin standing there, watching me with an unreadable expression.
“Grandfather,” I lied, nodding my head at my father.
“Kihrin.” Therin nodded back. His voice sounded tight. “I expected them to bring you back in pieces.”
“Me too,” I said with a mocking grin. “But it’s nice to see your confidence in me hasn’t changed since I left.” I walked past Therin, my arm still wrapped around my mother.
Therin’s face flashed over with suppressed anger. “Were you kidnapped or did you run away?”
“I would have run away,” I admitted. “I won’t deny I was planning to, but the former happened before I could get around to the latter.”
I could tell there were questions my father wanted to ask. I could see it in Therin’s scowl and the sharpness of his blue eyes. I also saw that, as angry as Therin was, it was self-directed.
That didn’t mean I forgave him.
“Come to my office,” the High Lord ordered. “I’ll talk to you in private. Once word spreads you’re back, it will be nothing but celebrations and parties for the next week.”
“Therin,” Darzin said, entering the courtyard. “Kalovis said you were waiting for someone and I…” His eyes locked onto me like shackles.
“Good evening, Darzin,” I said. The smile was genuine enough, if only because I was very much looking forward to how I hoped the rest of the evening would go.
Well enough.
For a full two seconds, Darzin’s face was a frozen study in surprise. Then he broke into a full grin. “Why, you son of a bitch!” he said. “I just knew I’d see you again.” He actually seemed happy, which made a certain amount of twisted sense. With me back, plans could proceed, couldn’t they?
Darzin stepped toward me as if to hug me in sheer exuberance. I stepped back nonchalantly, falling just outside Darzin’s reach.
That smile faded in the onslaught of my cold, unreceptive stare. “Careful there, son. Keep up that expression and I’ll think you don’t love me anymore.”
“Anymore? That would imply I did once. Why would I start now?” I placed my hand on my sword hilt.
Darzin noticed the movement. “I bet you still don’t have a clue how to use one.”
I locked my eyes with his. “I’ll take that bet.”
The smug grin on Darzin’s face softened. The hatred in his eyes was naked and brutal as we stared at each other. After four years, it hadn’t subsided in the slightest. The Stone of Shackles chilled my neck.
I moved first.
Arguably, I moved fastest, but killing Darzin was not the goal.
Also, I’d forgotten about Lady Miya.
Even as I drew my sword and attacked my brother, even as he drew his sword and responded, a great wall of air rose up between us, driving us both back. My sword was snatched from my hands and clattered against the marble floor. His sword flew to the side and embedded itself into a wall.
Lady Miya lowered her hand. “If you are going to fight, you would be best served to do so when I am absent.”
I laughed. The gaesh. Of course. All manner of violence might be committed by one D’Mon against another in private, but if she was present, Miya was obligated to intervene.
And here I’d worried I wouldn’t be able to drive him off believably.
Darzin paced, sneering. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I must admit, I didn’t think you had the stones to actually attack me. Lucky for you, Miya’s here to protect you.”
“She wasn’t protecting me. Why don’t we send her away so we can finish this conversation properly?”
“Enough, from both of you,” Therin said. “I will not have you dueling in my House.”
Darzin never broke his stare with me. “It hasn’t been your House for a few years, old man.” He walked over to where his sword still quivered, embedded in the wall, and rescued it.
I realized Darzin was leaving. I wanted him to but I also had to make sure that Teraeth was in position. Since I couldn’t see Teraeth, I thought buying a little time would always be in good taste.
“Running so soon, big brother?”
That made him pause. “Big brother?” Darzin looked surprised. “Our father actually told you the truth? I’m amazed he had the spine.”
“I figured things out.” I held out my hand and my own sword sailed back into my grasp. Darzin saw the visible demonstration of spell use and frowned, probably not liking the idea that I’d picked up some magical training. “I figured out that you’re nothing but an over-preening fool, who isn’t smart enough to be more than a necromancer’s lackey. Tell me, what has Gadrith promised you? That you’ll be the head of House D’Mon? Head of the Council? Or are you just doing this because you know how much it will upset our father?”
He actually started to answer. Then Darzin smiled. “Better watch your baby boy, Therin. He seems to have lost his mind.”