“We can make sure he doesn’t have a choice,” Ivren said. “If we’re all in on it, he’ll have to be as well.”
“What are we talking about?” Viljan asked, a crease marring his forehead.
“Taking down the king.”
Viljan went ghostly white as he spun my way. “Did you… did you know about this?”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “Yes.”
As always, Viljan caught on quickly. “Because of him.” He waved toward Darcke.
“Not only,” I replied. “Because of them too. Lika and my father. Someone is coordinating these attacks as retaliation for everything we’ve done to these nations, Viljan. They would still be here—they would still be alive—if it wasn’t for the king forcing us on all these quests.”
Ivren bowed his head. “And because of Adrion, and everyone else who’s lost their life because of the king.”
Viljan’s face was still blanched, but he gestured for Ivren to go on.
“As I was saying, I couldn’t stop thinking about it after we spoke. I… There is one way we could take him down.” Ivren cleared his throat. “My mother told me that when she and your father received their runes—when they stood before the gods in their halls—magic didn’t work. The gods do not allow power beneath their roof, so for a brief moment before each heir has been given their rune, we will be on equal standing with the king and his men.” Ivren moved a branch for me. “It’s not foolproof. They will outnumber us. But there is a chance. Seconds are not allowed into the actual halls, but if we can find a way, Darcke will also…”
“Be free,” I finished, hope fluttering in my chest. “Right? Even if the shaman’s power is different, that’s how it’ll work? His magic hold on Darcke cannot exist there.”
I didn’t want to think about what could happen if the gods refused me a rune because of everything I’d done. They’d let me live so far, so there must be something I’d done right.
“It’s all divine magic,” Ivren confirmed. “In there, his mind should be his own.”
Viljan’s face went from mine to Ivren’s. “This all seems very risky.”
“So is living under a king who creates more enemies by the day,” Ivren replied.
And being bonded to someone leashed by him.
The planwasrisky, but if I wanted Darcke free, this might be my only chance. My eyes drew his way, and he turned his head at the same moment, seeking me out as well. When I smiled, he rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the ember of heat kindling in his chest, and that only made me grin wider.
“We’re going to need all the heirs on our side,” Ivren said as I tried to get my brooding second to smile back at me. “Rakkel shouldn’t be hard to convince—her family blames the king for everything happening to them. I will find a way to bend Geord to our will. Ottoh is the only one left.”
“I’ll try,” I said. “He was worried about it when I touched upon the subject yesterday, but if I take the time to explain, hopefully he’ll see our side.”
“What about Darcke?” Viljan asked. “The other seconds will follow their heir’s lead, but Darcke isn’t exactly… the most pliable. What if he disagrees? He doesn’t like you being at risk, and if you were doing it for him…”
I licked my lips, and my second’s eyes dipped down to watch.
“I’ll find a way,” I said.
I would. I had to.
“You’ll need to be careful. He’s still tied to the king,” Ivren warned.
“He hasn’t told him of our—” I snapped my lips shut, my pulse quickening.
Even with them—even here—it wasn’t safe to speak of what had happened in the room on Darcke’s ship. I didn’t think Ivren or Viljan would be surprised, but something within me told me to be quiet.
Ivren opened his mouth, and a branch snapped.
Darcke whirled a second before people fell from every tree towering over us, but it was too late. Fifty or more hooded people stormed the forest, blocking my second from view.
Forty-Four
They were everywhere.
