Page 90 of A Court So Dark
“You lied to me,” Cardian said with sudden anger. “And I’m not happy about it.”
What is this about? Was it part of the test? Or had the earl actually done something to anger Cardian?
I turned on my saddle and faced him full-on. “I thought we were here to hunt, not to discuss platitudes.”
“Platitudes? That is what you call your betrayal.”
I ignored him once more and urged my steed forward, twirling my sword in a way that displayed the considerable skill I knew the earl to possess. My intent was for the action to appear threatening in hopes that Cardian would shut his mouth. Though it was very likely a waste of time. He had his thunderlord by his side, and he always felt untouchable when Varamede was around.
“You promised me Mylendra,” Cardian spat. “And now you’re here, slithering about Mythorne’s feet, thrusting her at him instead.”
So this was it then, the reason why Cardian had appeared so upset when we first arrived. This was no test then.
“From one snake to another,” I said, “slithering is what we do. Not to mention betrayal.”
Cardian’s upper lip trembled. I knew the tic very well. It manifested when he was angry, fit to burst.
Warily, I glanced sideways at Varamede, who appeared alert to any command from my brother. “I don’t owe you anything,boy. Once I realized who was really in control, I knew what I had to do.”
“And what of the gold I gave you,” Cardian barked.
Gold?There had been a bribe involved? Cardian had paid for a wife? Worse yet, the earl, my father, had literally sold his daughter. And I’d thought they couldn’t get any lower.
My fingers cracked as my hand closed into a tight fist. I looked at it as it trembled. The action had been involuntary—or more to the point, caused by Wölfe.
—Rip his head off.
I took a deep breath, regaining a shred of calm, barely enough to keep me from letting my dark side erupt.
“You will pay it back,” Cardian said. “Every last bit of it. Three thousand gold coins.”
Three thousand?!This had to be a joke.
Cardian’s gaze roved over my face, expectantly.
“Sure,” I said. “Come by Thellanora one day, and you can have it back.”
He scoffed, then smiled crookedly, leaning down to pet the thick column of his mount’s neck. “It seems you don’t mind paying me back with interest,Earl Qierlan,” Cardian said.
Fuck.
The clever asshole had alluded to a much larger sum than he’d actually given the earl, knowing that he should bark at being asked for more.
His eyes flicked in Varamede’s direction, and he gave a curt nod. The thunderlord whipped a hand in my direction and released a bolt of electricity, aimed directly at my chest.
CHAPTER 35
DANIELLA
Acreaturethesizeof a Great Dane slashed across the path in front of us, running from the cover of one bush to another. It seemed to be made from broken branches and mud and had a huge rack on top of its head like a buck. Lichen hung from its body in strips, and it moved half upright and half on four legs.
“Our first mud-spriggan,” Mythorne said, urging his horse forward. The animal’s hooves tamped down a group of flowering plants, kicking back black soil.
I followed, racking my brain, trying to figure out how I was going to manage to get my hands on the bastard.
Ahead, the bushes ran out, giving way to a clearing and a tall outcrop of rocks. The creature looked right and left, and finding itself trapped, whirled, and bared its teeth at us with a growl.
I came to a halt behind Mythorne, who dismounted, sword in hand.
