Page 150 of A Fate so Cruel

“Shut your mouth. You don’t have a right to speak about my father.”

Rion made a show of flicking a piece of dust from his sleeve. “Send me to deal with it and I’ll be out of your hair, but,” Rion said, his tone dangerous. “If you send anyone to, say, get close to me again, I’ll kill them on the spot.”

“You can’t go alone. We have rules for a reason.”

“Those rules no longer apply to me,” Rion said. “And if you try to force the issue, I’ll make sure I’m solo by the end of it.” The two males stared one another down. “I’m done,” Rion said simply. “If you want me dead, then you’ll have to step down from your pretty little throne and do it yourself.”

Alec stepped, but Saoirse jumped to her feet, grabbed her older brother’s arm and placed herself between them. “Enough. If he wants to address security issues, then we should be grateful for his assistance.”

Alec growled at her. “He has no love for this country. He’s more likely to sabotage our outposts than reform them.”

“Only if they’re too incompetent to follow orders.” Rion tilted his head again. “Or have you forgotten everything you were taught in school? Or perhaps Caol’s teachings were wrong? Have the warriors of Brónach grown soft?”

“We cannot afford to lose perfectly good warriors.”

Rion shrugged. “If they’ll go, I’ll send the lazy ones back for more training. If not, well, I can’t help what happens to them.”

“I’ve noticed it, too,” Saoirse said and Alec turned to her. “We’ve been receiving complaints from several villages. It’s time someone looks into it.” She turned back to Rion without waiting for Alec’s response. “Start with the northern most villages andwork your way down the coast. When you’re finished, return for a reprieve and further orders.”

Alec’s nostrils flared. “You are not the High Lord.”

“You’re right. I’m your advisor, and I’m supposed to handle such things so you don’t have to. We have one of our strongest—”

“He is an abomination and doesn’t—”

Rion took another step toward the throne and the guards backed up, closing in around Alec and Saoirse.

“I know, I know,” Rion said, waving one hand in annoyance. “I should be eradicated from the earth.” His voice lowered. “But that’s not going to happen if I have any say in the matter.” Rion stepped away. “Sit back and relax Alec, I’ll go handle your problems for you.”

His brother growled, but Rion ignored it, pivoted on his heel, and marched from the room. He headed for the library first and requested an updated map of the coastline. The librarian was trembling when he returned with a large rolled up document. Rion studied it, made a few notes, then proceeded to the kitchens. The staff there scrambled from his presence. Rion simply helped himself, then returned to his room for his pack. No reason to remain in Nàdair. There was work to be done.

“Wait,” Saoirse called. He huffed. He’d almost made it to the city gates. Rion turned to his sister and she slowed to a walk, eying the pack slung across his shoulder. It was heavier than the ones he’d carried before, packed to the brim with food and medical supplies. Whatever he needed in order to care for himself. No one was going to do it.

“You shouldn’t provoke Alec like that in front of everyone. It makes him look bad.”

Rion scoffed and turned to walk away. Saoirse reached out to grab his arm, but he caught her wrist and held it in theair between them. Her eyes were wide and he inwardly kicked himself when silver lined her eyes.

He released her and turned away. “I’ll be back.”

“The trip could take you months.” Her voice was too soft.

Rion clenched his jaw, hating himself. “Then it will take months.”

“Will you write?”

“You’ll get regular reports.”

A long silence, then she straightened. “I demand them weekly.”

Rion dared to glanced at her again only to see anguish written across her face.

“I don’t rightly care what happens to Alec, but you should know there’s a traitor in the council.”

“Who?”

“He wears a crow on his hand. Deal with him before I’m back or I’ll do it myself.”

Rion didn’t wait for her response as he exited the city with his magic following in his wake. He wouldn’t look back. It was better for her this way. She’d threatened to leave for him but he couldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t let his sister sacrifice anything else.

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