Page 92 of Oaths & Vengeance
“Very well, that does sound like an excellent opportunity.”
Orran gave his men orders, and Tadeus obligingly followed the warriors. Thanks to my first visit, I knew the main village was only a twenty-minute walk from here. Orran lived at a more distant location, but this was the place where they preferred to host outsiders. They’d allow the Pegasi to graze since they could always beckon them with a special horn, each mount having a unique blowing pattern to summon them.
Sariyah and I followed Orran as he led us down the beach. I was glad he was taking the scenic route since I hadn’t seen much of the coastline duringmy last visit. The shore was smooth here but became rockier, with swaths of purple moss covering everything as we moved south.
A few minutes passed before the Andalagar chieftain spoke, looking at me. “I assume I can speak openly in front of your friend?”
“Yes. I’ve told Sariyah everything, and she keeps my confidence,” I said, giving her a thankful look.
She nodded. “Aella is only six months older than me, so we can’t remember a time when we didn’t know each other. I would never betray her.”
“Good.” He glanced between us. “Everyone should have friends like that.”
“What made you request my presence on such short notice?” I asked.
Orran worked his jaw. “My spies informed me this morning of a secret meeting on a shore near Balzour that your uncle plans to attend this evening.”
That was near the mines where we acquired the holmium dust I used for opening portals.
I frowned. “What sort of meeting?”
“My sources reported a group of dark elves arrived last night and have hidden in the cliff caves in anticipation of speaking with your uncle tonight.” He pressed his lips together. “This is by no means the first time such clandestine meetings have taken place, but I fear they are escalating ill-fated plans that will not bode well for Zadrya.”
My eyes rounded, and a gasp from Sariyah told me she was also shocked. “Are you saying my uncle plans to betray the king with the dark elves’ help?”
Also, it amazed me that he was sharing this information. Was he like Darrow and had spies within the keep to know I had little loyalty to my uncle? Did my being secretly married to a known enemy of my land make me more trustworthy? Or was this his way of starting a mutual exchange of information for each of our benefits?
“Yes.” Orran stared out at the water with a troubled gaze. “From what I’ve discerned, Lord Morgunn has never been fond of the king, though he is adept at appearing loyal. I’ve yet to confirm it, but I believe he wants the monarch gone.”
“But to work with the dark elves is ludicrous.” Of course, he did it once years ago, but I thought that was an isolated incident in his attempt to weaken Veronna. I couldn’t believe he’d maintain a relationship with them, especially since he often cursed them at mealtimes. Was that part of his ruse?
And did everyone have spies all over the kingdom except me? I felt like my tutors skipped a lesson that I should have received, and perhaps given me a book titledIntroduction to Building Spy Networks in Paxia.Maybe the Ivory Castle library had a copy, or certainly Porrine.
The Andalagar chieftain gave me a rueful look. “Says the woman married to a half-dark elf.”
“You apparently trust Darrow more than my uncle,” I replied.
There seemed to be so much more happening than I could begin to understand. The night I had visited my husband for his birthday, I’d hoped to ask a lot of questions after seducing him. I thought he might be more pliable then, but that plan went horribly wrong.
Orran nodded. “Darrow and I have exchanged critical information in the past. His intelligence has proven impressively accurate. I wouldn’t say I trust him implicitly, but I do believe he has Zadrya's best interests at heart. He’s playing a dangerous game doing all that he does, though.”
Frustration filled me that I still didn’t know much about that.
“I’ve met his mother and can only guess what role she plays in all this, considering she conspired with my uncle years ago,” I said. It was another mystery as to why she’d done it, but the one time I’d asked Darrow after the meeting, he’d quickly changed the subject.
The chieftain studied me. “So your husband still hasn’t explained anything to you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “But I’ve only seen him once briefly since you and I last met, and there wasn’t time to get into that sort of discussion.”
“It’s not my place to bring you fully into this intrigue, but I fear you’re already in it to some degree, whether you like it or not. Press Darrow the next time you see him because, otherwise, you could be caught off guard, and that may result in deadly consequences.”
I sighed, wishing I could explain how angry I was with my husband at the moment. That was definitely something that wouldn’t be suitable to mention to the Andalagar chieftain, though. We needed to keep our marriage issues to ourselves. Well, except Sariyah, but talking about relationship troubles with best friends was always appropriate.
“I’ll do my best,” I promised.
“Good.” He turned his gaze to Sariyah. “I have noted the look in your eyes and wonder if you might have something to add?”
She hesitated. “It could be nothing.”
