The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(81)

“What?” Seth asked in utter confusion. Hemlock was right the mission had been far too simple and it had been eating at him for most of the ride home.

Hemlock sighed dramatically and tilted his head upward as if beseeching the gods for patience. “I could have had you today, Seth. I was right there the entire time. That wasn’t the deal, though. The High Lord wanted Dashara and your bastards as well. So I had to make this a family affair.” Hemlock paused and shrugged one shoulder as if in a halfhearted apology. “See, you have been a royal pain in the ass for House Avanti, but the real trouble maker is Dashara. He wants her dead and he wants you to suffer. Yet, he has tried for four years to make that happen and keeps failing. So he hired me, and here we are.” Hemlock raised one hand and waved it lightly between the two of them. “You f*cked up, Seth. You always ride the same horse, and it’s a rather nice one at that, very easy to find. Every peasant for three hundred miles knows the Crow King’s horse, and there aren’t many Veir bred mounts in Avanti. I think Crow may be the only one, and he is a smart one, just like everyone says the Veir horses are. He remembered the way home perfectly. All it took was a quick mind scan to solve the mystery of where you hide. So, thanks to your horse, and thank you as well, Seth. Without your favoritism, I wouldn’t have found you nearly this easily.”

Seth swallowed hard and bit back the sharp words he wanted to use. “Is Dashara dead?” he asked in the calmest voice he could manage. Hemlock laughed and pushed off the wall as he lifted Dominic into his arms and cradled the child against him. Seth’s eyes flicked to his son’s face and the look of terror that he wore. The child was only four and Seth doubted he even knew what was going on. He wanted to offer him reassurances, but he had never lied to his son before, and he wouldn’t start now.

“You know, I never guessed you to be a family man, Seth. This should be fun,” Hemlock said with a chuckle. He bounced Dominic against his hip and smiled down at the boy. “Your Daddy is in an awful lot of trouble, young man. Let this all be a lesson to you for the future. Violence begets violence.”

“Is Dashara dead?” Seth demanded, his words cracking through the empty stable with enough force to make Dominic jump.

“Tsk, Tsk, Seth. You scared him.” Hemlock shook his head in disapproval and then laughed again. “Dashara is still very much alive. She is waiting for you, in fact. Of course I need to explain the rules to you. Dominic already knows them. See how quiet he is being and so well behaved.”

Seth’s hand clenched at his side and it was all he could do to keep from throwing a dagger. Had it been someone else he would have, but Hemlock had a reputation as good as his own. It was possible the man could dodge the knife and then Dominic would suffer for it.

“Ahh. I can see the desire to kill me so clearly, Seth. Pity you aren’t strong enough to act on it. I’d like to know which of us would win in a fair fight. Avanti doesn’t want fair, though, he wants suffering. So here we go. Dashara is as good as dead, but you have a chance to save your children and maybe even yourself. The High Lord values your talents, but your loyalty is somewhat lacking.” Hemlock paused and traced a gloved finger down Dominic’s face. “Such a good boy, and his life is entirely in your hands, Seth. The key is your good behavior. We are going to go inside shortly and you are going to stand right beside me with every one of your weapons. I won’t even take your sword. You, however, are not allowed to move a muscle once we are inside. No talking, no twitching of fingers, and no tears. I have a bet that you won’t be able to do it, but Uindraely says you can. She seems to think you are made of iron, but personally, after watching your anger and panic in the past few minutes, I think she is wrong.”

“Less taunting, more explaining, please,” Seth growled. This was not going in a good direction at all, but if he had his weapons, he had hope. Even if it was slim hope, it was better than nothing.

“Fine. You move. I cut the child. You talk. I cut the child. You cry… Well, you get the picture. You fight, though. You fight, and I don’t just hurt him, Seth. I gut the little bastard and let him die a slow death at your feet. Understood?” Hemlock’s voice had grown low and Dominic whimpered faintly at his words. “Now, now, Dominic, we discussed this. You cry or scream and your little sister gets hurt, remember?” Hemlock’s voice grew gentle once more as he chided the boy and Dominic abruptly grew silent. “Manage to behave as Lord Avanti wants, and your children live, Seth.”