Ussin jogged Halithe’s elbow, which broke her focus.He urged her forward, as if she was a prize to be handed over, like the velvet bag he held.
She tore her gaze from Caris then, to face the King and Queen, and sucked in a breath.
Guildmaster Forterran was standing beside the King’s throne, looking grim and foreboding as he stared at her.
Her heart jumped with hope.Her Guildmaster was here, and he would deal with this situation.Except when she tried to catch his eye, he looked away.
The unease in her stomach grew deeper as she, her father, and Ussin approached the throne and made their obeisance.
“Ah, Captain Ussin,” Xyrath leaned forward on his throne as he gestured them to stand up.“A successful journey?”
Tarwain coughed, but before he could say anything Ussin was on one knee before the King.His armor creaked as he knelt, his mace hitting the floor.
“Your Majesty,” Ussin said, bowing his head, “your commands were obeyed but I must report the loss of all the men who accompanied me.”
“All?”Xyrath was clearly shocked.
“As Your Majesty warned me, the rogue mage was there, masquerading as a scribe,” Ussin said.“He turned the men’s weapons on them before I stuck him in the head with my mace.”
Halithe was still staring at Forterran, willing him to look at her.She saw a flicker of doubt cross his face, gone in an instant.
“He collapsed at my feet,” Ussin continued.“Bleeding from nose and ears.At that moment, the Lord High Baron Orval was released from his illusions, horrified at the deception that had been perpetrated upon him.”
Forterran’s eye twitched.Halithe waited for him to protest, but he remained silent, still not meeting her eyes.
“He’s dead then?”the Queen asked.“The mage is dead?”
“A blow like that is nearly always fatal,” Xyrath observed.
“It will be,” Ussin said confidently.“I heard the crack of his skull as I struck.”
Halithe winced.
Ussin kept on.“He did still breathe when I departed, but the Lord High Baron decreed for him a slow, lingering death as punishment for his crimes against your Majesties.”
“So, not yet dead.”The Queen’s displeasure was clear.
“The Lord High Baron asked me to relay his regards to Your Majesties, and to assure you of his loyalty.He will send messages.There was no time to write if I was to return through the portal.In truth, I think the violence and the betrayal rattled him.”
“No surprise there,” Xyrath looked over at the Queen.“Orval was never one for a fight.”
“Upon a search of the mage’s chamber we found his chains,” Ussin held up the silken bag, his head still bowed.“And this, which the Lord High Baron bade me present to you, my King.”
He raised his other hand, displaying the Ring of Xy in his palm.
There was an audible gasp from one of the guards, but the rest of the room stared in silence.The blue stone seemed to glitter in the torchlight.
Xyrath rose, a slow pleased smile spreading over his face.“Well, well.”He took a step off the dias, toward Ussin.“Well done, Captain Ussin.”
Ussin lifted his head, letting out a slow breath.“My thanks, Majesty.
Xyrath reached for the ring and slid it on his finger.“A perfect fit.”He raised his hand, admiring—
No.Halithe frowned.Xyrath was waiting for something.She glanced at Satia and Forterran.All were staring at the Ring.
At the stone.
After the briefest of pauses, Xyrath lowered his hand.“It’s as if it was made for me,” he said again, taking the silken bag from Ussin.
