Page 47 of The Wrath of Ashes
Rath held up a hand. “I haveverygood ears and this castle does little to quiet the goings on.”
Panic flitted across Reigh’s face as pale-blue eyes, watery and framed by sallow skin widened. With a barely perceptible tremble and a crack of his throat, Rath could almost see the lies churning behind his lips. Narrowing his gaze, King Reigh relented. “I owe you no excuse.”
“For that, you do not. This I accept. I take it you received my tribute not too long ago when I came for my Ashen?” Rath buried his amusement as the male sagged with visible relief.
“That I did. And your interaction with Earl Tippen has caused quite the stir.” He cleared his throat and brushed an errant grizzled gray hair away.
“I’m not sure what story he concocted to tell you, but would you rather entertain me with it or hear my version first?” Rath allowed a sliver of amusement to play about in his words.
“He said you gallivanted about his land without permission, murdered one of his servants, stole his wife, and humiliated him in front of his staff.” King Reigh gave Rath a put-upon glare.
“I am not sure where to begin.” Rath snorted, recanting his version of events—including how viciously Earl Tippen had beaten Asha. How he’d ordered the servant girl hanged for daring to warn him.
King Reigh rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. “We have an accord. We’re already at war, and Vierbalt knows better. We are taught very young what an Ashen’s mark looks like. Lady Wyverncrest would have told him if he didn’t know.”
“Precisely. You already have one country breathing down your neck. You’ve certainly earned my ire with the affront to my name and mate. We’ve agreements in place to not tip the scales—but I can take my pound of flesh, and how I do so will be up to you.” Rath sat up in his seat and gestured toward one of his guards. The male leaned over with a sealed envelope which he presented to the king with a terse gesture.
With shaking hands, the king broke the seal and read the document, face hardening and paling as he did so.
“So I have no choice?” The king swallowed hard.
“I mean, it’s this or restitution, and really, what doyouthink the suffering of a dragon is worth? A prince of dragons, no less.” Rath gave his fiercest smile, baring teeth as he let his glamor slip, making them sharper in his mouth.
“Alright! I agree. I—there’s no need to threaten.” The king held his hands up placatingly as his guards braced themselves at the ready. Rath’s, for his part, didn’t even flinch. They knew their master could defend himself, but it was unfair for a dragon to fend off mortal flesh by his own claw.
“I make no threats. I merely ask that my demands be met… Or I will act. This is a negotiation.” Rath tilted his head a fraction, just enough to rattle the chains on his horns.
“What you ask for is… This will be a blight upon his—there will be no House Tippen after this.” The king sagged in his chair miserably.
“Such a shame.” Rath rolled his eyes and stared the king down. “Strip the family title. Let them take their wealth and leave. Put another family into place. I know many merchantswho are in my favor at the moment, who do not thieve and grub who wouldloveto attain status.”
The king winced and took a deep breath. “One who does not deal in war.”
“Correct.” Rath slowed his breathing and stared the king down before gesturing to one of his guards. After, he stepped forward and handed Rath another letter, this one unsealed. Sliding his finger, he unfolded the paper and extended it toward the king. “There are three men I give my highest recommendations to. I find them quite adept. My first recommendation is a little controversial, but I do believe his contributions wouldeaseMonsmount’s victory into place.”
He couldn’t meddle, but it was in Sauria’s best interest for Monsmount to be the victor, but also for Ramolia to exist after. After all, Ramolia was technically his mate’s motherland. Trade would be the way to end the war, especially as it’d recently become difficult to import certain things. “Put one of them in power. I foresee a slow but steady end to this war if things go my way.”
“Are you implying that Earl Tippen is the cause of this?” King Reigh stared at Rath doubtfully.
Rath snorted. “No. That would imply I had faith he could do more than philander and commit acts of pederasty with his young chambermaids.”
The king winced at the last accusation. Rath was confident he could gather testimony from his maids that Earl Tippen didn’t wait until they were of marriage age to visit their chambers. He hadn’t waited for Lyss, and Rath could see the truth in her eyes. There were no acts left sacred to her.
“I need her written testimony, you understand.” The king cleared his throat. “Not many chambermaids can write.”
“This one can. Her adoptive mother was from a higher noble house and taught her and my mate to read and write.” Rathstared at the floor. “But my mate is far from well educated. He lacks, and you know as well as I do if an Ashen is found—”
“They are to be reported to me and given access to a good education. I understand. Ashen are worth much to the kingdom.” King Reigh sighed heavily. “I will appoint whoever you please to his lands. I will see to it his sons receive a small inheritance and are sent on their ways. Earl Tippen will have to be dealt with privately. The charges you bring are horrific and I will have him put to the blade for abusing an Ashen. I cannot bring forward the rest of this publicly. Nobles are pricks and pigs, and charges like these would bring unrest.”
Rath sighed heavily. “Write the decree for me to take back to my Ashen and his companion. You can tell your nobles anything you want, as long as Vierbalt dies.”
King Reigh stared at the floor, his face the perfect portrait of someone torn.
“Speak your mind.”
“I always do, Rath. We have a reputation with one another. I value you as you value me. Perhaps the exchange is not equal, but this has shaken your trust in Monsmount, and I feel it may have a lot to do with Sauria’s refusal to step in and pick a side.” King Reigh spread his hands genially.
“We cannot pick a side. It’s in our accords.” Rath leaned back in his chair.
