Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“I know where he’s from,” Zev assured me as two members of my personal guard, Eris and Brenna, joined us. Kamari and Sibel, the other two, stood with some of the king’s guard, twenty yards back, at the spot where the white marble gave way to black. Normally, if Varic were here, some of his dreki, his elite guard, would be present as well, but they were in Istanbul with Varic, protecting him as was their sworn duty. Before I had taken up residence in the palace, the king’s guards were allowed to cross into Varic’s area. But once I began living here with my prince, new rules were enacted. What used to be a place Varic didn’t care much about had become his sanctuary when I joined him. My safety was paramount to him, and no one but his guards and mine were allowed in his wing.
“You know where he’s from?” I asked, my voice going out on me for a moment with the bite of the cramp.
“Yes,” Zev replied drolly. “From the looks of the scarification and the brands, he’s from the court of the elder boar, the ellstr collach.”
“What?”
“He’s from the court of the king’s uncle, Decimus.”
“I’ve never heard of him.”
“I’m not surprised. I’ve never known him to leave his castle fortress in Greenland.”
“You’re certain that assassin isn’t from Gaius?”
That would have made more sense. Because Gideon, the king’s now dead second-in-command, his rajan, had placed false blame on the king’s brother that he wanted the throne for himself. And though the claims had been bogus, Gaius was the name Gideon had made known.
“I’m sure,” Zev grumbled, probably because I was doubting him.
“That can’t be right,” I croaked out, the pain making me catch my breath.
“Why is that?”
“It must be Gaius.”
“Because you know so much more than I,” Zev stated flatly.
There was no response to that. Clearly, he knew more than I did about all the royals.
He tipped his head at the assassin. “You see the scarification on his face?”
I did, and the symbols were heavy.
“Decimus marks all his guards with the sun cross or wheel cross on both sides of their faces. It means: they move as one.”
“You’re certain it’s not Gaius.”
“Why are you stuck on the king’s brother?”
There was only one reason I could think of. “Probably because Gideon said it, and he was very easy to believe.”
“He was a snake and a traitor, and yes, his tongue was golden, but always remember, he wanted you dead.”
There was that.
“Gideon hated Gaius because the king’s brother had devoted his life to idleness. Now, as he ages, his home on the island of Saint Lucia is run much like a resort, a place of constant rest and relaxation, but when he was younger, it would have made Sodom and Gomorrah look tame.”
“You’re saying that back in the day it was a twenty-four-seven orgy?”
“Yes. Centuries ago, clothing was optional,” Zev said with a smirk. “I understand it’s changed quite a bit now.”
“So that’s why Gideon threw Gaius’s name out, because he hated him.”
“Correct. Gaius Maedoc is one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet in your life, completely without a care. When I heard Gideon’s lie, I was astounded he’d settled on Gaius.”
“When Gideon told Nerilla and me, she didn’t believe it either.”
“With good cause,” he agreed. “Someday, when Andreas takes control of the estate and lands from his father, he will have to remove as many bed warmers as Varic will here.”
“And he’ll do that?”
“In my experience, fathers and sons go one of two ways. Either the sons grow into men who are mirrors of their sires, or they are their exact opposite.”
“You’re saying Gaius and Andreas are polar opposites, like Messina and Varic?”
“Yes. So now I beg you, please stop giving credence to any of Gideon’s false accusations.”
The fact that Gideon had been Zev’s love gave his words even more weight. He wasn’t deceived by Gideon, even in death, when it was easy to romanticize the beloved. Even now, Zev saw him clearly. He’d loved him despite his sins, but he was never blind to them.
“I promise.”
“Good. When the assassin wakes, I’ll question him.”
“About why Decimus sent him.”
“Yes,” Zev assured me blandly, looking me over as he held my foot. “Now, are you actually bleeding anywhere, or is this someone else’s?”
The cramp gave a last twinge, and then suddenly there was blessed relief. “Oh thank God,” I breathed out, happy that not only could Zev stop trying to break my leg, but that Dae-Jung could stop rubbing under my nose.
“Jason?” Zev prodded me. “Are you, or are you not, bleeding?”
“I’m fine,” I snapped at him.
“Jason,” Dae-Jung scolded, scowling. “Zev did nothing to receive your ire.”
I always felt like I was doing something extra horrible when he was upset with me.
“Sorry,” I apologized to Zev, who shook his head at me. When I turned to Dae-Jung, though, I got a smile and a tip of his head.