Page 115 of Echoes of the Raven
He crouches, throws away the blade of grass, and points at the guard. “You, go get something to eat. I’ll watch them for a spell.”
The guard appears uncertain.
“Go!” Galen insists, his tone brooking no argument. His skillful command of magic has always lent him a great deal of authority wherever he goes. No one would like to end up a smear on the ground.
“Once a traitor, always a traitor,” I bite the words out.
“Get over yourself,King Theric.” He whispers the last part, as if to make sure no one else can hear him call me that.
Next to me, Valeria watches our interaction with deep interest.
Galen rubs his stubbled chin. “Imagine my surprise when I realized I wasn’t chasing Rífíor of the Veilfallen butyou.” He extends a hand toward me in a demonstrative gesture. “I could hardly believe my eyes. But then, the princess turned us to stone and when I was able to undo the spell, I wondered if I’d imagined it all. You’ll have to understand, I had to make sure.”
“Is there a point to all of this?” I demand, wishing my hatred for this male was capable of reaching across the short distance that separates us to knock him out once more.
“Only that I’m glad to see you.” He grins widely, irritatingly.
“Fuck you, Galen.”
“Nah, you already did that to me for over fifty years. Not a pleasant experience. Though, I must say… it brings me pleasure to no end to find that you’re just as thoroughly fucked as me.” He throws his head back and laughs. “To think that you have been trapped in Castella for twenty years. It’s poetic justice.”
I strain against my bindings, and I swear if he comes any closer, I will bite his face off.
He lifts his chin theatrically, and I know he’s thinking of the next inane thing to say, but before he opens his mouth, Valeria voices a question.
“Who are you? And why are you… bothering him?”
Galen turns his attention to her and scans her up and down. He never misses anything. He plays the fool, and people assume many things about him—none of them true. He is as shrewd as they come, which made him an excellent Master of Magic. It was also what caused his downfall.
“He hasn’t told you about me?” Galen asks.
Valeria shakes her head.
“I used to be his Master of Magic until he exiled me.” He looks satisfied with delivering this news.
I huff. “Why not tell herwhyyou were exiled?”
“Would you be surprised if I tell you, it was because of his precious amulet?”
Her eyebrows go up, and she does a slow blink that clearly delivers the message:No, I’m not surprised.
“You tried to steal it and use it against my will,” I snap.
“To end a war, Korben.”
“A war thatyoumade worse,” I shoot back.
“Exactly the reason why I was trying to put an end to it.”
I shake my head. “And at what cost?” I feel my anger mounting, so I reign it in. “Never mind, it seems you have not changed one bit.”
“I could say the same about you.”
“Then do it and leave me the hells alone.” I glance away at the distant darkness between the trees.
“I take that back,” he says. “You’re worse than before.” When I say nothing, he turns to Valeria, hooking a finger in my direction. “He’s worse.”
“Oh, you mean he was less of an asshole before?”
