With a gentle nudge, Edvin urged his boy forward. Next to Damir, the child looked thin and fragile. “There were monsters.”
“Boy’s first encounter with a true warrior.” Damir chuckled and bent forward. “Sometimes, while in the throes of battle, a warrior may seem monstrous.”
“He went for Súlka Bien and the other monster helped save her.”
King Damir looked to Edvin for clarification.
“My son believes he saw the Draven assassin who leads the ravagers, sire.”
“Skul Drek. The wraith of Dravenmoor.” Damir’s movements were stiff as he descended the steps of the dais. “And why, exactly, was my melder near a Draven assassin?”
“Bad seed, that one,” King Hundur grumbled. “Talented, but bad seed, Damir.”
I curled a fist around the hilt of my blade.
“Easy, cousin.” Emi spoke from the corner of her mouth. “No need to have everyone question your loyalties.”
“You consider my melder your kin, Darkwin.” The king clasped his hands behind his back and squared his shoulders to Kael. “What do you know of it?”
“I spoke with Lyra in the healer’s wing,” Kael said. “She was unharmed, but from what I understand, Berserkir Ake had succumbed to the berserksgangur. However, instead of the strength of his melded bones guiding him toward ravagers, the bloodlust was aimed at the boy and the melder.”
The king hummed, a cruel sneer on his mouth. “And why was my melder beyond the palace gates?”
Kael hesitated. “She admitted it was foolish. The Sentry saw her safely in her chamber, but she left shortly after. She told me the thought of…those she cared for being at risk spurred her to act, my king.”
King Damir huffed. “Foolish indeed. What do you know of her interactions with the assassin?”
“Marvel that she came out alive,” Queen Ingir muttered with a touch of disappointment.
Perhaps the queen lived for a good tale; perhaps she despised soul bones as much as the ravagers.
“I do not know much, sire,” Kael said. “From what young Krisjan has said, it seems the Berserkir was entangled with the assassin, and both the boy and melder used it as an opportunity to escape.”
“Father.” Thane stepped beside Kael. He walked with a limp, but no visible wounds were on his skin. “This is not a council to question the melder’s motives. Every soul she values was fighting, and she believed she could protect them. Simple as that. What weought to be asking is, Who betrayed us and opened the gates for ravagers?”
“The Berserkir no longer had the melded bone,” said Hundur. “You think such a thing could be done by anyone but a melder? She is not to be trusted.”
Emi’s touch was the only hint that I’d shifted at all. One step had been taken toward the dais. Gods, what was I planning to do? Attack a king?
“Keep your head,” Emi said through her teeth.
“You are still angry over your dead seneschal’s son, Hundur,” Thane shot back to the Myrdan king. “But if we’re going to continue leveling accusations, all right, let us make accusations. Strange how the gates opened after your arrival. Could it be you are displeased with your daughter’s betrothal?”
“Enough.” Damir held up a hand, stalling the arguments. “Myrda and Jorvandal will be united as bonded allies sooner rather than later. By tomorrow’s moon you will wed the princess, Thane.”
Thane shifted, uneasy, but gave a nod.
“But”—Damir’s lip curled into something vicious—“to see the ceremony safely concluded, I am instating mandatory rank melding come morning. Every Stav.”
My blood went cold. Baldur’s eyes gleamed with delight, but Emi shrunk back.
King Damir lifted his gaze to me. “Including you, Sentry.”
“Father. Ashwood answers to me.”
“Andyouanswer to me!” King Damir roared. “If he serves Jorvandal, then he serves me. My Stav Guard will be melded with every last soul bone. We will show the Dravens what becomes of fierce warriors when they are made fiercer. We will take thepower of the gods until the ravines of Dravenmoor run with blood.”
“You plan to empty your stores of soul bones?” Ingir said, a quiver to her voice.
