“No,” Alaryk replied. His thumb traced the edges of the forest on the map outlining Grymia. “We have searched the outer borders, but there is no sign of them. We can’t spare many riders to look for them, with all the work that needs to be done.”
I looked to Brune, a quick flash, but one that Alaryk caught.
“Did you know anything?” came the question, rasping from my lover’s throat. “About what they planned?”
My brows drew together. Something I wouldn’t have to lie about, thankfully. “Of course not.”
“Did you ever speak to Nevin?”
“I—” I cut myself off, thinking fast. The truth wasn’t enough to expose Brune or me. But I did hate the deception. “He did speak to me. He asked what would happen to Ryak. He knew I was…close to you.”
Alaryk’s eyes pinned me. “And what did you say?”
“Alaryk,” I said quietly, spreading my hands out, even as my gut churned. “I certainly didn’t suggest that he break Ryak out at the first opportunity he had.”
“I didn’t say that,” he murmured, not looking away from me.
I began to feel like I was under interrogation. My heart was pounding harder in my chest, a sensation that I was going to besick the longer Alaryk looked at me like that. With…caution. I hated it.
“I told him that I thought it was very likely Ryak would be executed,” I said, the truth tumbling from my lips. “But I didn’t think it was a secret. That was what Grymia wanted.”
I still couldn’t read Alaryk’s face.
“I think it’s more likely,” Sarkin said, cutting through the tension that had suddenly seeped into the circular room, “that this Nevin saw an opportunity to save his friend…and he took it. I don’t think it was planned. And I certainly don’t think these Dakkari were involved.”
I jerked, my eyes flashing to Alaryk’s, frowning. “You thought we had planned this with Nevin?”
Whatever Alaryk saw in my face, it made his shoulders loosen, but only slightly. “I wanted to be sure.”
Did I even have a right to be angry and hurt? When I was the one stepping gingerly onto a battlefield, afraid I’d misstep at any moment?
Ryak and Nevin were gone. Which meant Brune and I were no longer bound to fulfilling theDothikkar’s orders. Ryak had made a mess of this. It was he who would answer to his king…if he ever made it home.
My brow furrowed.
Howwouldthey make it back home?
“I had no idea that Nevin would do what he did. Or Ryak for that matter,” I answered, because, with the eyes of the Karag on me, I felt like I was on trial. I wondered if they had questioned Brune already. “Like I said, I hardly knew them.”
So why was my gut churning? I looked down at the table to avoid meeting Alaryk’s eyes, dragging in a deep breath. Because he would be able to see right through me. Panic was rising.
“Are you all right?” Brune asked, touching my shoulder when it slumped.
“Fine, just tired,” I replied, not meeting his eyes either.Because I didn’t know what he had told them. But judging by the way he had shaken his head subtly when I’d stepped foot inside the room…I thought nothing. I thought that maybe Ryak had also threatened him, perhaps concerning his own father. Like me, maybe he’d do anything to protect his family.
Even though the true threats were no longer here, westillhad to go back home. There might still be consequences.
And who knew what blame would fall on us when we returned…
I wondered if Brune had thought the same. Ihadto keep it together.
When I looked back to Alaryk, I felt more centered and in control. “You’ve found no sign of them?”
“They can only get so far in the Arsadia,” Vaedrin murmured, his gaze on the map. “There are steep valleys, mountain ranges, lots of perilous land that’s hard to navigate if you aren’t on Elthika-back. They’re hiding somewhere. A cave system, perhaps? Ny’am was searched?”
“Dresnar searched it this morning,” Alaryk said, nodding toward the rider who stood guard at the door.
“No sign of them,” Dresnar answered.
