Page 93 of Realm of Thieves

“Is that right?” my father says, brow raised as he walks back to his desk. “And whose good opinion is that? The purple-haired girl?”

I shake my head. “No. Her aunt.”

“The one you left to die?” my father says.

For fuck’s sake. I grind my teeth together, hating that he knows exactly how to get to me. “I didn’t leave her to die. She was already dead. And both Brynla and I would be dead too if I hadn’t acted fast.”

“So her aunt is the one who says this egg exists?” he asks. “And what does Brynla say?”

I gnaw on my lip for a moment, trying to ignore the growing shame. “Brynla doesn’t know,” I say carefully. “The aunt told me in confidence. She was quite certain the egg exists, that it’s being held there, and that it’s possible for Brynla to steal it, given her inside knowledge of the convent.”

“Quite certain isn’t good enough.”

“Well, it fucking should be,” I say. “When it comes to suen with the power to make you immortal, to have you live forever, then it should be. Just listen to yourself. You’re waving this off when you should be jumping at this opportunity. Send us to Esland and we’ll bring it back. If we don’t…”

“If you don’t, it will be because it doesn’t exist,” he says stiffly. “You need to stick to what you’re good at. What about getting the fertilized dragon eggs? You know that Steiner thinks we could have some success breeding our own dragons here.”

I shake my head. “Steiner doesn’t think that, you do. He has his doubts.”

“We won’t know unless he tries.”

“Well, either way, we’re getting the egg of immortality. The dragon breeding experiment can come later.”

“And if you go to Esland you’ll only end up caught and imprisoned by the Black Guard.”

“And if you think we’re going to pull strings to have you pulled out, you have another think coming,” my uncle adds.

“Fine,” I say. “Though I’m sure you’ll do it for Vidar.”

My father’s frame tenses. “What about Vidar?”

“He’s coming with me,” I tell him. “Along with our best men. It’s a heist, Father, one that he was adamant about joining.”

“No,” he says with a violent shake of his head. “I will not risk my heir.”

“But you will risk me?”

He clamps his mouth together for a moment, that fear still present in his eyes. “Vidar is the heir.”

“And I’m disposable. Got it.”

“You are being purposefully obtuse.”

“I’m just calling it as it is,” I say. “And it doesn’t matter, because Vidar is coming with me. But just remember whose idea it was when we come back with the egg of immortality in hand. Remember who orchestrated the whole thing when you realize you’ll never die. Remember this conversation when Altus Dugrell and Norland are bound together, bolstered by a large, undying army.”

For once both my father and uncle grow silent.

For once they seem to hear me.

And for the first time, I realize the weight of what I just said.

Immortality for us all.

And an army that cannot die.

“Very well,” my father eventually says, clearing his throat as he exchanges a nod with his brother. “But I need you to promise me something, Andor.”

I know better than to promise anything before I’ve heard what it is. I raise my brow in response.

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