The Wounded Whelp tavern was set with one half of its building in Sagaria and the other half in Vaskalia. Their border ran right through the center of it. As a result, it was a haven for both kingdoms and for other creatures who were passing by.
Of all the places in the Thirteen Kingdoms for Xaydin to have taken up residence, it had to be this one.
A filthy hole in the mud, with some of deadliest patrons imaginable.
Of course, Xaydin would be renting here.
Why would Ronan expect anything else from a former crown prince whose father had been murdered?
And he saw his target the minute he lowered his hood.
In the farthest corner, with his back to the wall. Xaydin was impossible to miss. His jetblack hair held a bluish tint in the dim light, and it matched the ornate leather armor he wore.Those stern wellchiseled features usually caused any woman, and some men, to gravitate toward him and lose their senses.
Until they realized that he didn’t have much of a sense of humor nor did he ever want company.
At least not the company of strangers.
And the instant he looked up and saw Ronan, his eyes turned vibrant red.
“What do you want, Ro?”
No preamble. All business. That was Xaydin.
“Something you’re going to enjoy.”
Xaydin scoffed. “That is a mighty small list and conversation isn’t on it.”
Ronan laughed as he sat down across from him. “I know. But Dash has a favor to ask.”
Xaydin drained his cup then sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.”
“He has anaþaswerehe wants you to kill.”
One jetblack eyebrow shot north. “Now I’m really listening.”
“Dash wants to go after Meara. He needs you to execute theaþaswerewith their treaty on it.”
A slow, evil smile spread across his face. “Done.”
“Don’t you need any more information?”
Xaydin shook his head. “Killingaþaswereis what I live for. It’s at the top of my very short fun list.” And with that, he stood up, tossed coins on the table and headed for the door.
“Is that it?”
Xaydin turned around at the door and lifted the hood of his black cloak. “I’ll send him the head once I finish.”
Epilogue
Meara paced her office as she tried to think of what to do. She’d gambled and lost.
And they’d be coming for her.
Not just Dash, but all of the survivors of her first attempt to take Licordia.
Damn.
But first, she had to find theaþasweredemon who held her treaty with Dash. So long as that demon lived, Dash couldn’t enter her lands with an army or without an invitation from her.
