Page 141 of Unrivaled
He’d known I’d be immune.
The next realization struck me like lightning.Luca would be, too.He was sworn to the same woman I was.
“You want assistance in the war,” Luca stated, but waited for confirmation.
“No,” Whaarghun said, softly.“I want peace.And I cannot have peace until we have justice, because we are notpermittedto have peace.I was told you would run this place by now.”
“I set no date,” Luca said, shaking his head a little.“As you set no date for reclaiming the wolfruns north of Stonemouth.We both want progress.We’re both working toward it.”
“We,” Whaarghun gestured from his chest toward Luca’s, “are not the same, little man.”The words were quiet and calm.Again, the man’s eyes swung toward me.He was smiling, but it wasn’t a happy smile.It went right to my bones.I felt—seen.“What of you?”he asked softly.
I didn’t know what I was being asked.I didn’t know what the smart answer was.Door at my back, I shifted.He wasn’t asking me if he and I were the same, but I didn’t know what hewasasking.There was no pull of magic, this time, at least.
“Sorry, friend,” I said, honestly.“I’m not following.What of me, what?”Surely he could see I was just the muscle?
“What would the keeper of your oath advise?”he pressed.
Luca opened his mouth, but Whaarghun’s hand lifted, a single finger, demanding silence.He hadn’t even looked at Luca.
Oh, Isolde would’ve loved it.I fought hard to keep the smile off my face.
What would Audrey say, if asked about progress?“I cannot speak for her,” I said slowly, preparing myself to do just that as best as I could.It felt important, right then, to try.“But she understands you cannot simply topple the current power and take over.You need systems to support you, people in place.The cost of anything else is paid by those who can least afford the cost.”
If it wasn’t true, the Duke would’ve had an arrow in his eye long before I’d ever met her.
The rebel’s thin smile widened.“So.”He turned to Luca and Kadan.“Forgetworking towards.Let us discuss who you are putting in place and what systems you have.”
Luca set the die down on the table, folded his hands.“The plans we had accounted for me sending the mages to you.As you don’t require them, that’s a boon for us.We’ll be well-situated to react decisively when I wed the lady of La’Angi.”
The man held his finger up again, silencing Luca, his head cocked.The blood was roaring in my ears.
I knew it was his plan.
I hadn’t heard him speak quite like that, though.
Whaarghun’s gaze never left Luca.“She won’t have you.”
“I don’t believe in removing people’s choices,” Luca said coolly.“I have a lot of respect for Audrey.She’s walking a delicate line.Your people didn’t rebel constantly the past hundred years, Whaarghun.She cannot wed me without preparations, because that is every bit as much of a rebellion as your brethren removing their silver.”
And he still talked about her like she was just a piece on the table.
“You are a good man.”The words, from Whaargun’s mouth, did not sound complimentary.“At least in this instance.You do not simply respect her.This is personal for you.”
Luca nodded.“It is.That isn’t what you want, and I respect that, too, but I need to consider many factors, much as you do, as I plan.”
“You hesitate so she can be ready.You protect her peace, and warn of the cost of haste.”Whaargun summarized, his voice low and dangerous.“Her man there?He doesn’t thinks she’ll wed you.Not at all.”I fought not to react.“And if it takes you a decade to woo her?She is one person.Are you putting the feelings of one before the good of all?”
Luca, to his credit, stopped talking, listened, and changed tactic.“I appreciate that the South has been grossly mistreated.I wish I could end that right now, today—but no one has that power.As my friend said, we need to make changes that will last.”
“I am hearing a lot aboutyou,” Whaargun said, the words a quiet growl.“Youknow.Youthink.I have not come here to learn about you.I have come here totellyou, Man in the Mountain.You want to spare your people’s suffering but pay no heed to the suffering of mine.When you weigh up the costs, you do not think of boys taken too young from their families and forced to work in the mines until they lose too many pieces of their bodies.You do not think of respectable merchants who are watched like common thieves when they try to do business.You do not think of our women being treated like entertainment, or the Northern babies they are forced to bear.You saw us protest peacefully and ignored us.We had nothing leftexceptto fight, and yet you ask us towait?”
He stood, and I tensed, ready to get out of his way in a hurry.“Two solstices ago the tax collectors came.They took twice what they should’ve.An old man, a bookkeeper, asked them to double-check their records.They beat him to death in the middle of the keep while his children watched.Do not tell me about the cost.Tell me about the solution.”
Kadan, too, stood.“We misspoke,” he said, sounding tired.“And we appreciate you pointing that out to us.Please, sit, Whaarghun Wolfblood.Help us find a solution.”
“I have seen enough,” he said flatly.“You will prioritize you and yours, like you always have.Fine.It is time for us to prioritize our own, too.”I stepped aside, giving him access to the door.“Even if it isn’t all sunshine,” he said quietly, without meeting my eyes as he opened the door.“It is ours.”
The door closed behind him.Both Luca and Kadan were staring at me—Kadan’s expression tired, but Luca’s calculating.
