Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1)

I groan inwardly at his perceptiveness. He’s right. The truth only complicates matters. Two days ago I was certain finding the murderer would solve most of our problems. Now there is an entirely new set of obstacles to face.

How will we convince the high lord that the captain of the guard is guilty? There’s no chance the testimony of an unnamed man, told from the mouths of two escaped criminals, will stand against the evidence.

Someone knocks on Enat’s door.

A mouse could scurry across the floor and it’d sound like the padding of a bear for as quiet as we all become. Enat is the first to rise, pulling a blade into her hand.

“Relax. It’s just my girl.” Millner waves at the weapon Enat has pointed toward the door. “You won’t need that.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Enat sheaths the blade and welcomes in a girl with hair so dark, it looks like the blue-black of a moonless night sky. She is about my age, with blue eyes set against tawny skin and rosebud lips.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Lirra.” Enat pats the girl on the shoulder. “Could’ve warned me you were coming.”

The girl smiles, a gentle curve that levels when her eyes scan the room and stop on Cohen and me. “And miss surprising you?” she says to Enat. “Never.”

Enat grumbles a response, to which Lirra laughs. Curiosity and, if I’m being honest, a little jealousy seizes me. I’ve only just discovered Enat is my grandmother. But I want to have a relationship like the one Enat shares with Lirra. Suddenly, I feel like I’ve been pretending my entire life. Acting as though I don’t care when people say unkind things to me. Acting like it doesn’t matter that no one wants to be my friend. Acting as if I’m not lonely.

“Lirra, meet my granddaughter.” Enat points in my direction. “Speak freely around her and her friend, Cohen. They can be trusted.”

I try not to flush at the compliment. How silly I was for worrying that Enat wouldn’t want others to know of our connection. Hearing her say I’m her granddaughter fills me with a warmth of a completely non-Spiriter kind.

“Hello.” Lirra waves at me. Her eyes linger on my face long enough that I know she’s studying me, perhaps comparing me to Enat. Her attention makes me acutely aware of my knobbiness and dirty hair. Before we leave for Malam, perhaps there’ll be time for another bath.

“I didn’t know you had a granddaughter,” Lirra says. “I thought you said your daughter died years ago.”

“She did,” Enat answers, her tone turning abruptly cold. I spare her a glance.

“It’s nice to meet you, Britta.” Lirra extends her hand, and I reach out and take it.

“Lirra,” Millner interrupts, “did you see anything?”

She retreats. “Yes, Papa. The men dressed as soldiers for Shaerdan left today, and a rider on the road was carrying a black flag.”

For the first time since he entered this house, Millner’s expression takes a grave turn.

“What does the black flag mean?” Cohen asks.

“It means there must’ve been another skirmish at the front,” Millner explains. “The black flag is raised when men have died. Lirra, go on, what’ve you heard?”

“Thirty men from Shaerdan were killed. One troop left two days ago, but today the council decided one from Celize isn’t enough. They’re calling all able men to fight. I also heard that the chief judge is traveling to the front with members of the inner court. They’re asking for a meeting of our countries.”

“Interesting.” Millner taps a finger to his lips. “Still, the meeting won’t put an end to the war unless Shaerdan submits to King Aodren.”

“It could prolong the start of the war,” I say.

Everyone turns to me. Well, except for Lirra, whose eyes must be broken because they’re stuck on Cohen.

“Maybe once our countries have met,” I continue, and the bind is broken, “the king will see it’s better for both sides to withdraw.”

“Retreat?” Millner’s mouth pulls into a grim pinch. “Malam will never retreat, not until she has control of Shaerdan. Your king’s advisers are greedy bastards. They want our seaports, and they’re ruthless enough to murder a hundred thousand men to get what they want.”

Lirra puts a hand on her father’s arm, and his shoulders drop in acquiescence.

“So you don’t think a meeting between our two countries will matter.” I rub my temples. “Then what should we do?”

“Cut your losses and remain in Shaerdan.” Millner relaxes back into his chair and folds his arms over his belly. “It’d be a fool’s errand to return and try to prove your innocence. You’re up against the captain of the guard, who has witnesses and evidence. Who do you think the high lord will believe?”

Cohen, who’s been mostly silent this entire time, leans forward. “I cannot stay here. My brother will die if I don’t get to him before the war starts. Regardless of Captain Omar, I’ll be returning to Malam.”

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