Page 93 of The Warrior
“Yes, he made it a condition that if he takes Tristan on as an apprentice, there will be no more schooling in the Motherlands. Wrestler wants him to study in the Northlands from now on.”
“Is that what Tristan wants to do?” I asked.
“Of course it is, he loves it here and…” A loud scream interrupted Finn and made us all jump up. Finn sprinted out the door with Kya on his heels, while Athena and I ran to the window. My heart galloped and I gasped out loud when a boy shouted. “She fell from the roof.” He was over by the cabins and even from this distance, I recognized the beautiful long hair on the girl lying as if lifeless on the ground. It was Mila.
CHAPTER 24
The Meeting
Magni
Khan didn’t look up when I entered his office. He was focused on a game of chess in front of him, two of his fingers touching a bishop. His brow furrowed in thought.
“Don’t you ever get bored of playing yourself?”
He didn’t look at me when he answered. “Pearl tricked me with her knight yesterday, and I’m making sure that never happens again.”
I took a seat in front of him. “Do you think you can leave your toys until we’re done talking?”
With a deep inhalation, Khan lifted his eyes and looked at me with irritation. “Don’t fucking test me, Magni. My patience with you is running thin.”
“Maybe you need to go and meditate some more with that wife of yours.”
“My wife has a name, and you should use it when you go and apologize to her.”
“What for?”
“I didn’t ask you to pick her up at the border.” Khan’s nostrils flared. “I asked you to stay the fuck away from her.”
“I thought you just now asked me to go to her and apologize. Make up your mind.”
“If you threaten or intimidate her one more time, you and I are going to have a serious problem.”
I leaned forward, hardening my jaw. “It’s my job to have your back, and I don’t fucking trust Pearl.”
Khan narrowed his eyes. “Maybe she’s right about you. You’ve become paranoid and see danger where there is none.”
I jerked back. “You don’t think you’re in danger?”
“There will always be small-minded people who think they can run this country better than I can.” Khan waved his hand dismissively. “Just wait until the women start pouring in with the new matchmaking system. No one will be talking about a revolution then.”
“If I apologize to Pearl, it will be becauseI want to, and not because you tell me to. And at this point I don’t want to.”
Khan slammed his fist down on the table. “I am your ruler, and youwilltake orders from me.”
Standing up, I leaned over the table with my palms planted firmly in front of me. “Shut the fuck up.”
Khan flew up from his chair. Like two male gorillas we stood opposite each other with hard expressions.
“I’m done with you taking me for granted.” Spit flew from my mouth when I hissed at him. “My whole life I’ve been in your shadow, cleaning up shit for you. I’ve killed people to keep you and Mom safe, and this is the thanks I get?”
“We each play our role.”
“And now those roles have changed. You fucking sold me out. Did you think I would be okay with Pearl outranking me?”
“I already told you. It’s a pro forma thing and only in the far future.”
“You’d better show me respect and appreciate what I do for you.”
