Page 35 of The Empty Throne

Hargden grunted. "Murder is not to becondoned, but I also don't blame him. Guess it's a good thing thedecision of what to do with him was not and never will be up tome."

Kite's mouth tightened. "No, that was HisMajesty's decision, and he chose exile, and dictated that his heirwas the only one permitted to alter that decision. So until theheir is found, or a suitable replacement instated, Bittersea getsto waltz around free and clear for being a professional murderer.Before you go sympathizing too much with him, remember he tied hisfather to that desk right there and tortured him for hours. Heenjoys what he does, and he'll be the first to tell you that.Vigilante justice is never the way to solve problems."

"I don't agree," Lysa said. "Bittersea wenttoo far, but the justice systems of multiple kingdoms have left myfather to abuse me and countless others my entire life. If justicecared about anything but protecting the powerful, I wouldn'tcurrently be cursed." He handed the letter back to Kite."Vigilantes have always stood for those of us the rest of the worlddoesn't give a damn about, those of us too far away for thoseclustered around the throne to see."

"I—" Kite stopped as Lysa strode off back tohis own bookcases, sighing as he tucked the letter away to takehome. He waved off Hargden's concerned look. "I'm going for a walk.Keep searching the library."

He strode off, not waiting for replies,suddenly able to breathe better as he stood alone in the hallway.Sighing softly, he went off exploring again, this time taking thestairs up to the second floor, dragging his fingers through thedust on the ornate, velvet-lined walls.

Upstairs, he walked down the hall and chose aroom at random, revealing a sitting room that still smelledstrongly of tobacco smoke, despite the literal decades it had beensince last used. Everything was leather and dark, severe colors,dusty and yellowed with time. On a small table sat a cigar box,though if he were to open it, the remaining cigars would likelycrumble into dust.

Sighing again, what felt like the twentiethin as many minutes, he removed the dust cloth from what proved tobe a handsome leather chair, and dropped down into it, sinking hisfingers into his hair as he braced his elbows on his spread knees.He wastired.

Ever since he'd found the royal family dead,he had been going and going. Now he had no one; he and his oldest,dearest friends were scattered to the winds, and he was stuck in ahouse of violence and bloodshed with someone who clearly stillhated him.

He sat up and settled into the chair, soothedby the lingering smoky scent of good tobacco, a costly but highlyprized import. His father had enjoyed cigars immensely, though hissmoking room had been an open, airy conservatory instead of astuffy, closed up sitting room.

Find the bloodstone. Return home. Find Cohea.Put the heir on the throne.

So simple in theory; so very complicated inexecution.

The sound of footsteps, the door creakingopen wider, snapped Kite to his feet, hand going automatically forthe staff he wasn't even currently carrying. He relaxed as he sawLysa. "Is something wrong? Did you find anything?"

"No and no. Well, arguably something iswrong, but nothing that requires you return downstairs."

Kite frowned. "What?"

Lysa looked at him, then away, curling onehand around the opposite upper arm. "I came to apologize."

"For what?" Kite asked, baffled. "Everythingyou said made sense, and even if it didn't, you're still entitledto your opinion. I'm not exactly the most level-headed when itcomes to Bittersea." Not after finding the bodies. Not after seeinghim just get away with it.

Lysa gave him a look that reminded himstrongly of Sobeki when he thought Kite was being especiallystupid. Drawing closer, clasping his hands in front of him, Lysasaid, "I railed about how those in power never help people like me,but you literally abandoned your throne to help me. However angry Iam at the world, you've done a lot for me and don't deserve thatanger."

"If you'd died in my palace, there would havebeen war," Kite said wryly.

"I think you would have helped meanyway."

"What else should I have done? Let you diewhen I had the power to prevent that?"

"You'd be surprised how often people choosethat option," Lysa said.

Kite snorted. "On the contrary, I know alltoo well how often people choose death. I took no offense from yourwords. There's no need to apologize."

"You left."

"I'm fine."

Lysa gave him a look, folding his arms acrosshis chest. "Try again."

"What are you, my mother?" When that just gothim an even sterner glare, Kite rolled his eyes and said, "I'mtired, all right? Ever since I found the bodies of the royalfamily, it's been one thing after another. I'm Regent until Coheabothers to show up and name the heir, though, so I'll just have todeal with it."

"Well, I'm sorry for—"

"Oh, shut up," Kite said with a smile."Speaking of you, though, that was impressive work just decoding acypher without having to write everything down like that. Mybrother said it was shocking you earned those marks so young, but Ican see how you did."

Lysa, to his astonishment, flushed. "It'strue I passed all the tests, but even if I'd failed miserably, Istill would have been given my master scholar status because nobodytells my father no. So did I earn them? Not really. I tried,though."

"You and Sobeki would be great friends," Kitesaid with a smile. "He's also brilliant, the most brilliant personI know, but always insists he's not." Everyone loved Sobeki, theyounger, sweeter, softly charming brother. Not Kite, older andsharper and given to brooding. Sobeki and Lysa were also closer inage. "So do you know what you'll do after we break that curse?Should you be up here? What if—"

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