The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(97)

“You know me better than that. However, the azi has likely been sighted by now, and Kion should be receiving independent verification from other messengers soon.”

“Won’t you get in trouble for not bringing me in?”

“If a whole city could not contain you, then what should they expect from a handful of asha?” Althy smiled sadly at me. “Everyone misses you.”

“You know that that’s a lie, Althy.”

The plump asha sighed. “He does, Tea. You will both heal from this one day, but you two must choose to. Fox has not been the same since you left, my dear.”

“I cannot stay in contact with him, Althy. The elders will use our bond. They will know the instant I break through the runic wards around him again, and Mykkie has sworn to be truthful.”

“Inessa is gaining ground. She is loved by the people, just like her mother, and she is fighting for you both. We all are.” She hugged me. “We must take our leave soon. I will look over Likh, perhaps prescribe something stronger for him to take.” Althy sighed. “Protect those two.”

“You know I will.”

She turned to Kalen. “And it is on you to protect Tea, or I will be very much put out.”

“You know I always will, Althy.”

Kance and General Lode had gone to question more of the Drychta prisoners, and they returned troubled. “King Aadil’s madness is an open secret among the people of Drycht,” the Odalian general said. “But they serve him because they knew no other way, even as they feared him. There have been attempts to overthrow him in the past, though all were unsuccessful, and the instigators were made to suffer horrible deaths. Some of the prisoners tell us that Aadil had once been a kind king, with the potential to become one of their greatest rulers. How that change happened in less than a decade is puzzling.”

“That was Druj’s doing.” It horrified me, knowing that I had inflicted King Telemaine with the same madness the Faceless had on the Drychta ruler. No. I am better than him. I am better than him. “What do they say about Druj’s role in this?”

“That he was first installed in Aadil’s court as one of his closest advisers, though he never bared his face to the public. He always presented himself as a mystery. Behind Aadil’s back, the people called him a sorcerer. Those who went so far as to publicly oppose him were either killed or imprisoned. All of Drycht lives in fear.”

“Those poor people,” Zoya said quietly. “What do we do now?”

“We are looking into who is next in line to the throne. Once we’ve found someone outside the Faceless’s influence, we can ask neutral parties to set that person in Aadil’s place as a trusted regent. I’ve heard that Adhitaya’s son was exiled from the kingdom before the purge, and he may still be alive. Barring that, some distant relatives of the last king live, though they remain in hiding. Some of Aadil’s factions remain in power, and I doubt they’re willing to relinquish their control all that easily. We can hold Aadil captive for now, demand restitution for his crimes, but that’s the extent of what we can do. We don’t want to be accused of intervening in Drychta affairs more than we already have.”

“We must leave soon,” I added abruptly. “My presence complicates the situation, and I’m sure people from Kion already know I’m here, if sightings of the azi haven’t already given me away. Althy is an ally, but the asha association will send their own representatives after me.”

Kance hesitated. “You can claim sanctuary in Odalia,” he said slowly. “They believe that we’re not on good terms, and we can use that to our advantage.”

“You told me my exile still stands, Your Ma—Kance.”

“I am the king. I am allowed to change my mind.”

I smiled weakly. “I’m a target in many different ways, Kance. I refuse to put your kingdom at further risk the way I did with the Yadoshans.”

“But where will you go?”

“Somewhere they won’t find us. It’s a big world. There must be a small spot in it for us.”

“But surely there’s something else I can do?”

“There is.” Kalen slipped his hand in mine. “Feign ignorance when you are asked where we are. Tell people we are still estranged and told you nothing. We want to live out the rest of our lives in peace, Kance, and we can only do so if we are hidden away.”

“But will the elders stop sending people after you?”

“Wars come sooner or later, but they come all the same. There are no guarantees, but we have to try.”

“I will do my best.” Kance gripped Kalen’s other hand in a firm handshake. “Blessings be upon you then, Kalen. Take care of yourselves, and look after Tea and Khalad for me.”

“Without question, Your Majesty.”

It took less than an hour for Likh and Khalad to get ready, both in noticeably better spirits. It was a good decision to make our departure immediate; the Yadoshans, Drychta, and Odalians were uncomfortable around me now, and even Knox seemed a shade awed, though not fearful, like most. “It was a good fight,” the dark-skinned Yadoshan told us reverently. “I will remember it to the end of my days. I know I may not necessarily speak for my kinsmen, but should you ever find your way back to Yadosha, feel free to look me up. I owe you a tankard or two.”