Page 22 of The Last of the Dark Lords

“Not all.” My voice was like ice leaving my lips.

Cyrus rolled his eyes. I was growing to hate that. “I’m sure your grandmother didn’t mind spreading the rumors. After all, she was doing her own share of espionage and assassination.”

“Grandmother wouldn’t do that.” My throat tightened. “She is a good person and a good ruler.”

Cyrus squinted with irritation. “You can’t be both.”

“I don’t believe—”

Cyrus held up his hand to stop me. “I promise you. I hit my head against that wall every day. More often than not, I’m making a choice between two evils. It’s why there will always be some segment of the population that hates the person in charge.

“The people of Greatfalls love my grandmother.”

“In front of you, her beloved grandson, maybe. The truth is what they say behind your back.”

“No—”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she wanted you to assassinateme.”

My face was white hot, and all of a sudden I was uncomfortable in my body, jittery and unsettled. Without saying a word, I turned and spurred Blaze forward, getting ahead of Cyrus and the rest of the party. As I pulled away, I heard Cyrus say to Manod, “He’s a child.”

I spun my mount around. “How dare you suggest I would be so dishonorable? Any single citizen of Greatfalls is worth a hundred of you!”

“Skye—” I didn’t allow him to finish, pulling away and pushing ahead. I had to get at least some distance away from them all.

I needed a moment to think. It was ridiculous for him to suggest that I might try to murder him. The marriage bond alone would be enough to stop me. Causing that much hurt to my spouse would reverberate back onto me in a deeply painful way. Not that that even mattered. Maybe we’d only met a few days ago, but surely he could see I had more honor, more integrity than that?

But as I continued to ride, the anger was replaced by guilt. I would never try to kill him, I would never murder anyone in cold blood, but Ihadbeen instructed to weaken his power. The deception rankled me and made me feel unclean.

As did the question that lingered in my mind. What ifIhad been the older brother? If it was Athard that had been promised in marriage, would Grandmother have asked him to murder Cyrus in his sleep? He would have done it gladly. I was sure of it.

I hoped that she wouldn’t have, but I knew Cyrus wasn’t totally in the wrong. I’d watched my Grandmother rule over Greatfalls for my whole life. She was deceptive and manipulative, she was harsh and just shy of cruel when the situation required it, but she did it for the good of our people and of our city. That’s why I’d agreed to complete the task she had set me.

“Skye.”

I startled, Jelenna’s voice pulling out of my rumination. My chest flooded with a sense of gratitude. She hadn’t wanted to leave me alone.

“Did you hear?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Do you think Cyrus is right? That Grandmother might have sent assassins to take out our enemies?”

She stilled, her face thoughtful.

“I don’t know. But I know this: she wouldn’t do it lightly. Only if she thought it was necessary for the health and safety of her people.”

I sighed. This had all been simpler when I was Commander of the Archers.

“I wish I was back home.”

“Me too.” Jelenna smiled, kindness shining in her eyes. “We’ll get there, when this is over.”

“But for now I guess we have to—”

Searing white-hot pain exploded in my side. God of the Waters, it hurt so much. I grabbed onto Blaze as I weakened in responseto whathadto be an attack. An arrow, maybe? I reached back, my fingers finding crude bark fletching sticking out of my right half. Yes, an arrow.

I studied the area around us, hoping to see who had shot it. My focus had been on my conversation with Jelenna, and I hadn’t noticed that the terrain had changed. What had been plains had given way to rockier territory. It provided plenty of cover for a cowardly attack. There was no sign of movement.

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