Page 98 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
At the sight of the bejeweled dagger, Graeson’s lips twitched. He would recognize that dagger anywhere. He looked beyond Moris’ flailing form and spotted the two silhouettes creeping toward them.
Kalisandre strolled forward, pulling out Graeson’s scimitars from her back. Her brown hair whipped across her face as a gust of wind rolled in.
Gods, they look good on?—
"Wait!" Graeson stepped in front of Moris, shielding him as he spotted Ellie rearing her hand back, her throwing knife at the ready. "He doesn’t mean us any harm."
While Graeson might not have trusted Moris entirely yet, as far as he could tell, whatever command had poisoned Moris before had faded.
"He was working with Domitius!" Kallie said, her hands flexing over the twin hilts. Her gaze was a storm, the sea within a torrent.
"I-I don’t want to hurt you." Moris made to step forward but halted when both women shifted their stances, readying toattack. His wings folded back. "Ididn’twant to hurt you," he clarified. "That wasn’t me."
"You just said you can’t control yourself," Ellie retorted.
"I—" Moris looked around, frantic. He rubbed his hands across his head. "I can, but not when…when I’m triggered."
"Triggered?" Kallie asked, confused.
Moris nodded. "Yes. It’s like some spark gets ignited within me. One moment I’m fine, but then the next…" He shook his head, terror burning in his eyes.
"That doesn’t make me want to trust you. Quite the opposite, in fact," Ellie said. Her braid was nearly undone, and random pieces fell over her shoulder, giving her a wild look.
A low growl came from the opposite direction. When Graeson turned, he found two red eyes locked on Moris.
Moris stumbled and muttered a curse.
"Nyrri," Graeson warned. Dani would kill him if she found out Moris was alive and Graeson let him die. To all three of them, he said calmly, "If he wanted to kill me, he would have already."
And he probably could have easily.Graeson left that last part out, unwilling to admit to his weakened state.
"I’ll tell you everything I know. I promise," Moris said, hands up. "You can even tie me up."
Ellie narrowed her gaze, but Graeson noticed how the muscles in her raised arm softened before she lowered her weapon.
"You trust him?" Kalisandre asked, weapons still raised.
Trust might have been too strong of a word, but then Graeson thought of Barinthian’s warning about the war having only begun. If that was true, and if Moris knew something, they had to use him to their advantage.
"Dani would want him alive, and he might prove useful."
Kallie pursed her lips. Her gaze flicked across them, still hesitant. But as if deciding to trust Graeson, she called out, "Ellie?"
Ellie pointed her knife at Moris. "Come on, flyboy. Let’s have a chat."
"Withyou? Alone?" Moris asked, glancing at Graeson, fear shining in his eyes.
An amused grin ticked at the corner of Graeson’s mouth. He might have saved Moris from death, but he would not save him from Ellie’s wrath. He was still pissed off at Moris for using his power on them.
As if sensing this, Moris let his head fall, defeat washing over him. He dragged his feet across the ground, his wings almost touching the dirt as he reluctantly followed Ellie.
"And you," Ellie called out before disappearing into the woods, pointing her knife over her shoulder at Graeson, "put some clothes on. You’re burning my eyes."
Graeson rolled his eyes. He had nearly forgotten he was completely nude in the middle of the woods. "I would if I had some."
"Nyrri," Kalisandre called, and the drakonis came forward, his bag strapped to her saddle.
Graeson nodded in gratitude, grabbed a pair of trousers from the bag, and quickly pulled them on. As he did, a whistle sounded. Nyrri nudged him with her snout before heading after Ellie.
