The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(10)

“I doubt you are here for theology lessons. Are you planning to drag me back?” Neph asked coldly.

She frowned her disapproval at his tone and shook her head, her long brown braid bumping slowly against her armor. “We are planning to help you bury your sister,” Kay explained in the same neutral voice. Turning back to her snow cat she pulled a shovel from behind the saddle and tossed it to the second rider. “Kadan, start digging the hole. I need to speak with your brother for a time.”

Neph had purposely avoided looking at Kadan until that moment, but now he couldn’t help but watch in stunned amazement as his brother caught the shovel and dropped from the saddle wordlessly. Without so much as a glance in Neph’s direction, Kadan set up the hill and into the woods, his gaze searching the ground as he walked.

“I have nothing to say to anyone,” Neph began, but his Aunt cut him off with a sharp gesture.

“I have plenty to say to you, so shut up and listen,” Kay snapped. Turning, she searched the area until her eyes landed on a spot beneath a massive pine that was reasonably clear of rocks. With another quick gesture in his direction, she made her way to the spot and dropped down into a cushion of pine needles.

“I don’t have to listen to you. I am apparently a citizen now,” Neph grumbled, but even as he spoke the words he was walking to join her. Her clear brown eyes settled on him as he sat down across from her and he could see how exhausted she was.

“I don’t have to waste my time seeking you out, either. I love you, however, so I did. You love me as well, so you will listen,” Kay said with a sigh. Her gaze trailed past him for a moment to Zyi’s body and a flicker of pain crossed her face. She shook her head sadly and met Neph’s gaze once more. “I won’t defend what your father did. I will explain it to you, though,” she began.

“I don’t want you to explain it. I don’t want to think of him at all,” Neph snarled and sat back quickly as her large palm connected squarely with the side of his head in a solid smack. Blinking, he stared at her in shock. His Aunt had never raised a hand at him before, even when he had deserved it.

“I said shut up and listen, Neph. I’m tired and I have no patience for petulance. I rode all night to reach here when I heard what happened,”

Kay snapped back at him. With another sigh, she rubbed the fingers on the hand she had smacked him with and shook her head lightly. “Thick-skulled brat,” she muttered. She shifted where she sat and adjusted her sword before continuing. “The trials have always been part of Delvay, Neph. In the beginning, however, they were only for our warriors. It wasn’t until after your Grandfather died that it was decided that everyone must be a warrior and therefore everyone must take the trial. Not everyone agreed with it, but Ren was in charge so they accepted it.”

“Cowards,” Neph grumbled, his expression filled with disgust.

“What is the penalty for treason, Neph?” Kay asked sharply her eyes narrowing.

“It varies depending on the severity, but typically its disembowelment and being left to the mountains,” Neph answered slowly with a frown beginning to form on his face.

“Delvay is ruled by the strongest; it always has been. To disobey or to go against a direct order of our leader is considered treason. So unless you can take Ren in a fight, you accept what he says. No one in Delvay can defeat my brother yet. You might have considered that before you spoke so harshly to Kes. She had no choice but to do what she did.” Kay’s tone had grown harsher and Neph could see the anger she was working so hard to control.

“What do you mean, yet? You think Kadan will ever take over?” Neph asked dryly and shook his head in disgust. “Kadan doesn’t have the balls to challenge father.”

“And neither did you before today, but no, I wasn’t thinking of Kadan,” Kay answered with a faint smirk staring pointedly at him.

Eyes widening Neph returned her stare until she nodded slowly. “Me?” he asked dumbly, though she had already answered his question.

“My brother is a strong ruler, but he isn’t a good ruler, Neph. He is doing the best he can with what he has, though. The trials weed out the weak for several reasons and if you will be silent long enough, I will let you know them.” Kay paused and watched him as he nodded for her to continue. Her gaze flicked back to Zyi once more and her anger faded to what seemed to be resignation to his eyes. “Delvay is failing, Neph. Our heroes are gone and we are losing our strength. There was a time when only the best were chosen to defend Delvay. Now everyone must.”