Page 87 of The Chaosweaver's Daughter
“Let’s talk.”
He ushered her out of the library and into his private study before closing and locking the door. “Have you seen Della and Ataht yet?”
“No. I want to speak with you first. Thera said they’re with Miss Kiappa.”
Kas glanced at the clock. “Yes. Nes usually has them out by the creek for another hour. They’re guarded.”
“I’d expect no less. More importantly... Nes?” Hevva’s eyes twinkled.
“Drink?” Kas ignored her, already pouring them both glasses of whiskey to supplement the conversation.
“Always.”
“So? Care to expand on that letter you sent me?”
Hevva threw her drink back and handed him the glass to refill. “Ehmet was speared while hunting.”
His eyes grew wide.
She made a face of incredulity, then explained: He’d been hunting boar with his brother, a few courtiers, and a visiting lord from Gramenia. A target was spotted, and in the chaos of the moment, Ehmet took a stray spear to the side.
Growing solemn, Hevva said, “If they’d been one-hundred yards further from the palace, he’d have bled out, that’s what the healer told me. Even Nekash’s fire wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“Gods, I’m so fucking glad he’s all right.”
“I know. Luckily Sarma was right there. Saved the day, according to Nekash. Then, he, and some servants, and Nekash—they got Ehmet back to the palace and in front of a healer before the worst happened.”
Of course, the idiotic golden-haired guard had been on hand to play the hero. “I hate that guy,” Kas accidentally announced.
“Sarma? We do too.”
Surprised, he shot his sister a look.
“That’s why we reassigned him to Nekash’s guard after we heard what he did to Miss Kiappa at the—”
“What did he do to Nes?!” Kas flailed,spilling his whiskey across his desk and soaking several documents. He hardly noticed the mess.
“You don’t know?”
“If I knew, would I be asking you?” he growled.
“He tried to force his attention on her.”
“I will kill that worthless piece of shit.” Wind whipped about the room, fluttering the curtains.
Hevva held up a hand. “Kas, calm down. He was unsuccessful. From what I heard, the tutor defended herself. We reassigned Sarma. We couldn’t exactly let him go, what with his relationship to Isahn.”
Kas nodded, forcing himself to take several steadying breaths. He refilled his spilt glass.Fuck.He’d forgotten Rihan was Isahn Yaranbur’s worthless cousin. How that dolt was of any relation to the earl was beyond Kas’s comprehension.
“Ehmet almost bled out, Kas.” Hevva somewhat abruptly brought them back around to the more critical topic of conversation, reminding him gently there were bigger issues at play. “It was terrible.” She shuddered.
Her tone sobered him.
“The healers have been keeping him sedated. He agreed to it. They said it’ll help him heal quicker. Heisgoing to be fine; I wouldn’t have left if I thought he wasn’t. And there shouldn’t be any lasting damage. But Kas...” Hevva inhaled.
“You don’t think it was an accident?”
She exhaled slowly. “I don’t think it was an accident.”
