Page 66 of A Crown of Lies

Isheda conceded with a nod. “Runecleaver and Wolfheart.”

“But he’s married to Saya Runecleaver.”

“Saya is his step-sister,” Isheda explained. “Niro’s mother is Arashi Wolfheart, who was wed to Ilan Runecleaver, widower of Vinali Runecleaver. Vinali and Ilan were third cousins. They had a daughter, Saya, before Vinali died in battle. Saya and Niro don’t share any blood for several generations, but they are both Runecleavers in a manner of speaking. As far as I’m aware, Niro’s abilities never manifested beyond an ability to detect magic.”

Aryn stared at him, unsure of what to say. If this news were ever made public, it would be the scandal of a generation. Not only was Niro a bastard, making him ineligible for the position he’d risen to—let alone to be Primarch—but he had married hishalf sister. Worse, they were Runecleavers. While the Runecleavers were politically powerful, they could never hold the highest office. The other clans wouldn’t allow it. They already had enough power.

“So it’s nepotism.” The words spilled out of Aryn before he could stop them. “Taratheil promoted Niro as the Voice as a favor to you?”

“More like as a punishment,” Isheda grumbled, turning away. “I’m sure you’re aware of the complexities of my relationship with the late Primarch. When things fell apart after Siri, the Wolfhearts threatened an uprising. I was told to keep them in line and left behind when Taratheil went on campaign that year to see to it. Saya was just months old, and Arashi…” He sighed. “I was angry and jealous that Taratheil had Ruith as a memento of her. It created a significant rift between us. Niro is the foolish result of that. Ilan returned from that summer’s raid and found his wife pregnant with my child. I had him silenced with a Shikami contract.”

He'd had him killed to protect his secret. Aryn was a little surprised at how cutthroat Isheda was turning out to be, but he shouldn’t have been. He was a Runecleaver, after all. Like Kat, he was a master at seeming unthreatening until it was too late.

“I’m not proud of what I did,” Isheda said, folding his arms. “And Taratheil was understandably furious when he found out the extent of it. We covered it up, but he never fully forgave me. When Ruith left to form the Crows, he took Niro under his wing as a protégé. I waited every day for him to expose me, us, but he never did. I’ll never know if it was done with malicious intent or out of genuine interest, but I’m glad he’s proven good at the position.”

Isheda lowered his hand to his sword and took a step forward, prompting Aryn to drop a dagger into his fist. The mage eyed the blade in Aryn’s hand before meeting his eyes again. “If the truth were ever known, it would ruin his career. It would ruin his life and be a dark stain on his wife and any future children she might bear. As my son, it is my responsibility to protect him from that. If you mean to expose him, even to Ruith…” His fist closed around his sword, ready to draw it. “You leave me no choice but to silence you.”

Aryn’s lips jerked up in a half smirk. “You think you can defeat me?”

“I was Taratheil’s first sword for many years. I taught Ruith to fight. I think I would last longer than most.”

“And if you killed me, what story would you tell Ruith? He would never forgive you,” Aryn pointed out.

Isheda lifted his chin. “I’m no fool. I know which one of us is the better killer. I did not say I would win. But I know my duty to my son, and I will fulfil it.”

Aryn nodded once and tucked the dagger away in his sleeve. “I have no desire to kill you, and no reason to expose this secret.”

Isheda relaxed, breathing out a heavy sigh. He dropped his head and bowed. “Thank you.”

“But you should be aware that Niro knows.”

Isheda’s head shot up, pale. “What?”

“He’s the one who told me to ask you about it.” Aryn waved a hand dismissively. “Although I’m unsure if he knows that I know that he knows. We were all wearing masks, but he has a very recognizable chin.”

Isheda sank to the floor, sitting with his knees pulled up and staring into nothing. “Taratheil told him. Or the Runecleaver matriarch. They were the only other people to know. I… I had no idea he knew.” The mage looked up at Aryn, blinking quickly. “He hasn’t announced a running mate. Perhaps… Would it be foolish to put myself forward for the position?”

Aryn weighed the question carefully. On one hand, Isheda had no actual experience in the assembly chamber. He had never served as a member, nor had he ever held any elected position within the government. Yet he had been at the top of it for decades. He knew everyone, had connections in nearly every family. Best of all, he would do his best to aid Brucia from his position as Voice of the Assembly. His close connection to Taratheil might win him some votes, and it would almost certainly bring the Runecleavers to their side. No Primarch had ever served without Runecleaver support.

Clan Turtlefall would vote however Clan Deepfrost did. If Deepfrost backed a Niro/Isheda campaign, that would give them the majority so long as Craiggybottom didn’t drop out to support Redrock, which they almost certainly wouldn’t. The liberal and conservative groups never came together for anything.

There were only a few down sides to Isheda’s proposal. One, Redrock would bring Isheda’s inexperience to the forefront of his campaign, and they would have to show Isheda was competent in the Assembly chamber, and quickly. Two, it would only further Redrock’s argument that they meant to open borders with Brucia and allow humans into D’thallanar. He’d spin that as a bad thing. They’d have to prove it wasn’t. Finally, there was the risk of someone in the Runecleavers or Wolfhearts coming forward to break the scandal. Aryn would have to ensure that didn’t happen.

Aryn nodded. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Why don’t you and I follow Ruith over and see if we can get an audience?” He extended a hand, helping Isheda up.

Twenty

Ieduinwasupbeforedawn the next day. Going down to the baths had become a morning ritual that he looked forward to. They felt like a secret place since he was always alone there, though he knew that wasn’t the case. Half the castle knew about the baths. They had pointed him there. And it was Rowan’s castle. It only made sense that Rowan would know about it.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to find Rowan down there the next morning, and yet he was.

Rowan lounged at the edge of the bath, propped up by his arms, his head back, a steaming cloth draped over his face. Ieduin glanced at the door behind him, considering going back inside so he didn’t disturb Rowan.

“Don’t just stand there,” Rowan groaned. “Get in the water or don’t, Ieduin. Either way, I’d rather you didn’t just stand behind me like that.”

Ieduin put his towel aside and kicked off his shoes. “How’d you know it was me?”

“You have a distinctive gait.”

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