Lerek was impressed with Xoran’s stoicism. Of course, the man would have learned to keep his thoughts and feelings in check around a mercurial egomaniac like Emperor Solon.
“Fine,” Lerek muttered, waving a hand. “This is not a trap. I need your help. I am not trying to trick you in any way. If I wanted you executed as a traitor, I could’ve spoken with my father and you’d already be in the dungeons. Listen for a moment, and consider what I am about to propose, and I swear I will let you leave with your secret intact. Agreed?”
Xoran stared at him with eyes barely dilated, unnerving in their cool regard.
Lerek sighed. “I’ll take that as assent. Look, my father is up to something. He’s been up to something before I… well, before. I know you know this, but I suspect it has something to do with his obsessive hatred of the gods.”
Lerek stabbed a hand through his hair, grunting and wincing as his fingers stuck on some matted locks. “This is where you come in. I need two things from you. First, send a message to Ren, asking her—no, demanding her—to come to Metilai. I wish to receive her in private. While you’re awaiting her response, stay as close as possible to my father without rousing suspicion. I want to know everything he’s doing. Who he speaks with—especially if he’s meeting with anyone from the cleric’s guild. Any conversation he has with High Cleric Christos, I want to know about it.”
Lerek stared at Xoran, waiting for the man to say something. When he didn’t, Lerek turned and swiped the stack of towels sitting on a stool near the tub.
“Fuck! Why can’t anyone just fucking listen to me? Am I that big of a joke? Look at stupid fucking Prince Lerek, everyone!No brains, no balls, and—and…” Lerek kicked at the towels now littering the marble floor with such viciousness, one flew up and hit Xoran in the legs.
“And no fucking brother! Because I came up with the most ridiculous plan in the history of planning and got my twin killed!”
Lerek dropped onto the edge of the tub, cradling his head in his shaking hands. His heart thrashed in his chest, and for a horrible moment, Lerek’s eyes and nose stung from holding back tears.
Quiet settled around him and he closed his eyes, swallowing past the lump in his throat.
The shuffling sound of hesitant steps made him jerk his head up. He frowned as Xoran opened and closed his mouth several times.
“Go ahead,” Lerek said with a sigh. Dropping his head back, he closed his eyes. His lips wobbled when he tried to smile. “Say whatever you wish to say. Whatever it is will not be worse than what I’ve already said.”
A shadow caught his eye when he brought his head back upright and he opened his eyes to see Xoran’s dark eyes watching him with something resembling cautious optimism.
Lerek knew that look. He’d seen it many times in the mirror right before his father tore him down for whatever grand idea he’d come up with that his father had laughed at.
“What, Xoran?”
Xoran’s scarred hand lifted to rest over the pommel of his sword. He inclined his head.
“I will do as you ask.”
Someone was livingin Orry’s old room.
“I told you!” Croak hissed, smacking Orry in the back of the head. As his friend grumbled and hit back, Croak looked up at the feeble light from the second-story window.
“Fine. You were right.”
“No, no.” Croak tsked and wagged his finger at Orry. “Say it the way I told you.”
Orry dropped his head back and groaned. Croak whisper shouted for him to be quiet.
With his fingers digging into his eyeballs, Orry swore. “You were right, oh handsome one. There is no smarter or,” Orry swallowed, “virile man alive, and I should’ve known better than to contradict someone of your superior intellect.”
“Better.”
“Now what?”
“Let’s head to the apothecary. Ren should be there by now.”
“Fine. But we should?—”
“What have we here, boys?”
Croak froze. Low chuckles and the sound of metal clanging came from behind them. Turning slowly, both Croak and Orry looked wide-eyed at the trio of guards leering at them. One had his sword out, idly tapping the blade against the side of his leg as he grinned maliciously at them.
“Sorry, Your… Watchfulness,” Croak said with a smile. “We are weary travelers who seem to have gotten lost. We’ll just goand find our big group of very large and dangerous friends and leave you to your… City Watching.”
