Page 35 of Heart of Shadows

That night as Harper washed the pots out of hearing in the stream, Aedon’s companions huddled around him in the dark woods. Doubt raged in him, but his instinct had never led him astray—and it told him that Harper was no threat to them. “If she lies, I cannot detect it,” Aedon said, rubbing a hand through his tousled hair and huffing. “She is either truly innocent, or a darkness beyond anything I have ever encountered.”

“I think she is the former,” Ragnar said.

“The latter,” Erika said in the next moment. They glared at each other.

“Why must you believe the worst of people?” asked Ragnar.

“When it is all you have known, why think otherwise? Why are you so naïve?” she snapped back.

“I would hope that we are not lumped in with that,” Aedon said to Erika, raising an eyebrow.

She scowled, but subsided in silent, reluctant acquiescence. “Well, I’m not about to believe her word. What can be done about it? It’s not safe for her to stay with us. I vote we leave her.”

Brand stirred. “If she is dangerous, keeping her with us—in our line of sight at all times—would be the smarter move. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

“Or perhaps she is no enemy and you are all mistaken. This could be one giant misunderstanding,” Ragnar said.

Erika scoffed, but Aedon silenced her with a glare. “I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“How?” Erika pressed.

“By any means necessary.” He was not above weaponry, but charm was his greatest weapon, and he would use it to unlock her if it protected his sworn family.

30

DIMITRI

Dimitri returned to Tournai with the Winged Kingsguard, though not by choice. It was a necessary annoyance. The farther away from the Dragonheart he was, the farther away the riders—and the king—were too. As much as he longed to find it, biding his time was the only sensible choice, no matter how impossibly frustrating. When he returned to the area, he would be able to explore alone. Away from their prying eyes. Hidden from the king’s attention.

His attention sharpened as Toroth strode into the study. Dimitri had been inside the study before, but only rarely, and only for his most secretive tasks. It had not changed. It was as cold and unwelcoming as the man who owned it.

Raedon’s scowl at being made to wait vanished the moment the king entered. Dimitri suppressed a smile. For all Raedon’s arrogance, even he did not dare peeve the king. Dimitri was also fed up of waiting. It had been the longest of days and it was late when they returned, but he did not show an ounce of it to Raedon or the king. Instead, he stood in the small circle of light cast by the flickering fire and waited in silence.

Toroth sank into the plush chair at the far side of his grand desk and raised an eyebrow at the pair of them, asking for their report without permitting them to sit. Dimitri opened his mouth, but Raedon beat him to it.

“I can’t work with this spy,” Raedon spluttered. Toroth’s thunderous brows knitted together as he glared at Raedon, then Dimitri. “He tails along after us, appearing here and there without warning or courtesy. He sits and skulks and never seems to do anything. He disappears, and no word do I hear of what he has done to earn his place.”

The king stood, his fists resting on the desk, and turned to Dimitri. “Is this true?”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.” He smiled blandly at Raedon. “The dragon master does not understand the nature of my work. Why, if I had the same courtesy of him, I would have said he did nothing except shout orders all day and fly about on his dragon. Did you find what the king seeks?” he asked Raedon innocently—and savoured grim glee as Raedon squirmed.

“No, as you well know,” he muttered. He looked at Toroth and straightened, the picture of defiance. “I won’t work with him. His shadiness sullies the name and good reputation of the Winged Kingsguard.”

“Won’t?” Toroth whispered dangerously before he exploded. “You are ordered to work together. I don’t give one damn whether you like it or not! If you dare defy me, I shall give your title to a more deserving rider.”

Raedon subsided, but Dimitri had the spark of an idea. He dropped into a low bow. “Your Majesty?”

“What?” Toroth snapped. Dimitri knew one false word and they would both be out of favour.

“Forgive me.” Dimitri’s words were as smooth as smoke on the wind. “I believe the general may have stumbled upon a grand idea, though entirely for the wrong meaning. Perhaps we would be better off parting company.”

When the king stood tall, glowering at him, Dimitri held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Apart, we can cover more ground. If we split up, we can cast the net wider, find what you seek twice as fast.”

Dimitri leaned forward, putting every ounce of persuasion into his voice that he could. “Of course, my king, you know best of all. It is no trouble to me. I only wish to better serve you. I humbly submit to your judgment.”

Toroth narrowed his eyes at him. Dimitri could see how much Toroth hated to agree with him, but it was not his first time playing this strategic game. It was almost like a game of chatura. Just with people, not pieces upon a board.

“Fine,” Toroth relented. “Part ways. Search faster, and harder. It has been too many days.” He sat once more, and his attention turned to the contents of his desk, dismissing them.

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