Page 35 of Court of Treachery

The general gaped at him. “No. That’simpossible!”

“It is so. I have reports of unquestionable validity that say he walks once more.”

“But itcannotbe the case. He’s a half-elf. Even if he had somehow lived, he ought to be dead by now.”

Dimitri shook his head. “Saradon is as young and strong as the day he vanished.”

Raedon took a long moment to recover. “You arecertain? Beyondanydoubt?”

“Yes.”

The general looked out over the city in dumbfounded shock. “What should we do? Ought we tell the king?”

“Heavens, no. We must deal with this. Toroth is unfit to. The mere mention of Saradon’s Curse sent him into madness.”

“But if this is truly Saradon’s Curse, then?—”

“All the more reason not to—not unless you wish him to burn the whole damned city to the ground.”

Raedon’s jaw clenched, and a muscle there ticked, but he did not contradict Dimitri, for the general knew he was right. “What of those afflicted?”

“They have poor prospects.”

“They will all die?”

“Unless a counter-curse or cure is found. I have scoured the old records, and nowhere is any remedy recorded.” The Dragonhearts had been the key when Saradon had risen before. Their power had scoured the land, obliterating his curse. And, as Dimitri and Raedon both knew, the king’s entire stock of Dragonhearts was gone. Part lost in the escape of the Thief of Pelenor, and the rest to the king’s selfish greed and paranoia. No one but Toroth knew where they were hidden—and Dimitri reckoned the king had lost so much of his mind even he no longer knew.

“We must tell the king.”

“No!” said Dimitri quickly. “It would reduce him to tatters. We must stay his hand, contain him—neutralise him, if needed—before we deal with the threat of Saradon. If Toroth knows, he will not act in good sense and of sound mind. He is quite insane.”

Raedon’s ragged growl of frustration was lost as the wind snatched it away. His gaze slipped to the still blackened plains before the city. Toroth would purge everyone and everything he could if he thought it would help. Suppressing a smile, Dimitri watched Raedon come to the same conclusion.

“We will not tell him. For now,” Raedon agreed at last. “I will marshal my riders and the Kingsguard. We shall secure Tournai, then send riders throughout the land to spread news of the necessary measures we are taking to secure Pelenor.”

“Excellent.” Dimitri turned to leave.

“What of Saradon?” Raedon asked quickly. “Where is he? Does he possess assets? Allies?”

Dimitri mulled over what to share. “He has power that the old stories do not mention. At present, he is outside our borders, but not by far. I am informed of his movements.”

“Then we shall go to him, attack him!”

Dimitri scoffed. “Do not be so brash, Raedon. Such rashness is what got your brother into the mess he’s in now. Saradon already has the alliance of the goblins. They sweep across Valtivar, taking what they will.Thatis the truth of why the dwarven kingdom is in such chaos and why the passes are closed to our trades. The dwarves hold out, for now, but Pelenor will be next.”

“Then I will mass our army. I will call everyone to arms.”

Dimitri laughed without mirth. “What army? Given the talk in the city, the common folk will join Saradon just to be free of Toroth.”

“They are bound to their king and country,” Raedon growled.

“What will you do? Burn them if they will not fight for you?” Dimitri’s stare was hard and cold. “No, I do not think so.”

“I have the riders and the Kingsguard. They will stand for Pelenor.”

“If there are any still to stand. I have seen your ranks falling, General.”

Raedon winced. He had clearly hoped Dimitri would not know that, but he forgot the spymaster had eyes and ears everywhere, including inside the dragonhold, where riders lay abed, their dragons sick, as well.

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