Page 56 of The Empty Throne

Bittersea stayed at the back of the group,ever watchful for scouts or other threats that may have made itthis far. Every now and then people glanced his way, but quicklylooked away again.

The snow fell relentlessly, slowing thejourney considerably. Panting breaths filled the air like steam,and the crying of miserable children did nothing to ease tensions.Still everyone pushed onward—they didn't have a choice. The nearestrelatively safe place to stop was a fishing village still a coupleof hours away—in good weather. As it was, they were probably goingto have to dig shelters and pray to Shatar they survived the night.Survived, period.

Thankfully, the lives of all these peoplewere not his problem. Well, not in this way. His problem wasgetting through this mess to Cremin, where Lindquist no doubtwaited for the papers he knew Bittersea had found.

Soon. Other than that brief encounter inFazekas's drafty pile of rocks, he'd not seen Lindquist…Cohea…inmore than a year. Six months after their Binding, he'd had to leaveto maintain his cover of assassin in exile. Not that continuing tokill people was a chore.

I'll make it worth your while, I vow it.

They just had to get through this annoyancefirst. Put Sobeki on the throne. Throw out the Terekians. Probablymake certain people were all happy and cozy in their homes again,though hopefully he could leave that tiresome chore to others. He'drather deal with any remaining Terekians who were better off deadthan returned to sender.Thatwould be an ideal duty forhim.

Alas, he probably wouldn't be permitted.Boring.

At least a couple more hours passed beforethe sound of horns trickled down the masses, calling a halt for thenight. People groaned and sobbed, but immediately went to workdigging shelters for themselves and their families, helping eachother where they could, building fires as able in front of eachlittle snow hut.

Bittersea pressed on, not slowing for anyoneas he wove his way through the settling crowd, pushing onwarddespite the snowy dark, the clouds so heavy even the moon couldn'thelp him.

But the road was marked by high columns thatwould be visible in any amount of snowfall, or near enough, withmage lights evenly dispersed along the length ending with one onthe top. Made travel possible, and also gave an indication of justhow deep the snow was.

He didn't stop, even when the caribou tired,using his magic to heal them both of the damages caused by theweather and banish some of the exhaustion. Too cold to eat, so hesettled for sips of tea kept warm by the special skin it was keptin—at least, warm enough not to freeze, which was all he couldreally ask for.

By the time the walls of Cremin came intoview, he was more exhausted than he could ever remember being,including after spending hours torturing his piece of rotted shitfather. The guards waved him through without bothering to stop him,a great risk on their part, but something must have convinced themhe wasn't a threat.

The city was alarmingly still, even for theweather. Everyone locked inside, afraid of war. Of death. Normallyit was a taste, a scent, a thrum in the air that he savored. Butlike this it was simply stagnant and boring. There was no thrill inthis sort of mindless, impersonal mass slaughter, of killing in thename of victory and justice and other fancy words used by peoplewho were too weak to use the honest words: Murderer. Killer.Executioner. Butcher.

The palace came into view and the portcullislifted for him. Bittersea had been focusing so hard on justsurviving, the bond had passed him by. Of course everyone knew hewas coming, because Lindquist knew it.

Once he was in the main courtyard of theroyal palace, Bittersea dismounted and left whoever showed up firstto deal with the caribou. He yanked off his frozen gloves as hewalked across the courtyard and up the stairs into the palace.

He only barely got to glance at the ring onhis hand, once more glittering red, before a hand wrapped aroundhis throat and shoved him into the nearest wall.

Bittersea grunted. "If you were hoping to getan early start on punishing me, Lindquist, you should probably waituntil I've thawed enough to feel it." He rubbed melting snow andice from his face and stared up at the great lummox hovering overhim, hand still squeezing just tight enough to be slightlyuncomfortable and utterly thrilling. "It's pathetic you allowedFazekas to capture you."

"Shut up, Bittersea." Lindquist's mouthcrashed down on his, biting and consuming. Possessing. Teethscraped his lip, drawing blood, making Bittersea hiss and moan atthe same time. He tasted like wine, and faintly salty, becausesomehow Lindquist always tasted faintly of the ocean he loved somuch. But if anyone embodied the ocean, it was Lindquist:deceptively calm on the surface, and nothing but dark and dangerbeneath.

Bittersea let Lindquist have him, as healways did, because there was something drugging about being at hismercy, even though they both knew that if he wanted, Lindquistwould be dead before he ever felt the slice of the blade.

That was the very last thing he wanted,though how Lindquist had sunk so far into him, all the way to themarrow, Bittersea still hadn't figured out. If anyone else tried topin him to a wall, he'd kill them without hesitation. But not thisman. No, with Lindquist he was content to be pushed, to be held, toleave his arms loose at his sides, palms of his hands pressedagainst the cold stone wall while Lindquist ravaged his mouth andbruised his lips.

When Lindquist finally drew back, teethdragging slowly off his bottom lip, he said, "Took you long enoughto get here."

"If you hadn't gotten captured byFazekaslike some inexperienced dumbass, a lot of problemsnever would have existed in the first place."

Lindquist rolled his eyes and pushed awayfrom the wall, releasing Bittersea's throat but grabbing his handinstead, though only for a moment, as he knew there was nothingBittersea hated more than not having both his hands free.

"Where is our new king?"

"Sleeping. He didn't want to, but he's beenawake for nearly two days straight trying to do everything he can.We finally made him go lie down."

Bittersea grunted softly in acknowledgement."Where are all the guards that should be in this hall?"

"Sent off in various directions with morepressing duties. There will be plenty of soldiers by the time Terekmakes it this far. Which seems the likeliest, unfortunately, as wecan't possibly head them off further north at this point."

"Bastards," Bittersea muttered. "Do you haveanygood news or is this tiresome business going to drag onincessantly."

Of all things, Lindquist smiled. "I reallyhave missed you, moon shadow. There is good news, though. Watchersat the tower spotted Kenten warships headed this way, flying flagsof peace. I suspect Oskia is with them."

Bittersea smiled, all teeth. "Lovely, Ihaven't seen Lady Beltres—"

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