Page 49 of A Kingdom of Lies
“Because he is a berserker?”
I nodded, focusing on pressing down the sickening worry that had embedded itself in my stomach. Briar was a person I had not wanted to see, for many reasons. But Erix… I would have rather taken Briar’s blade than see him again. “He is being controlled, body, soul and mind. Forced by a power I don’t quite understand due to his blood tie to King Doran. If he comes here, it will not be as simple as unleashing one of our powers to stop him. He is… a monster. We should leave before he finds us.”
“I am afraid that is not a possibility. I do not run fromyourkind. We will wait and greet him upon his arrival. No point leaving all this protection if he is just going to follow. Unless he’s already here…”
My skin crawled at the thought. “Do you wish to cause me discomfort?”
“Is it that obvious?” he replied with a grin.
It was hard to discern what smile of his was genuine or forced. My mind screamed that Duncan was not to be trusted, but without him, I would have already been dead. I got the impression, to a point, he needed me alive. “Stay and wait to greet Erix, and those men you wish to keep alive will not survive long. Trust me, he is dangerous. More than I could explain.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“There isn’t time–”
“Patience, Robin.” Duncan turned to face me, back haloed by the silver glow of the moon that dominated the sky behind him. He toyed with the loose strings of his navy tunic which still hadn’t been pulled tight during the rush of the assassination attempt. His stare was heavy, I felt it on every inch of me, as though he studied the tones of my hair, the depth of my eyes. “You underestimate me. I’ve personally delivered many of your kind to the Hand, but never one as intriguing as you,” he purred, eyes racing up and down me. “You have kings, assassins and now a berserker following where you go.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel special?” I asked, frowning. “Because all it does is remind me that you are as much as a monster as I first believed you to be.”
“Then I’m not the only one with conflicting views. Do not get me wrong, I do not like you. Far from it, in fact, but being in your company is a thrill and one I have not had in a while. Your conversation is far more interesting than the Hunters who still search Finstock for anotherAspor whatever that little stalker referred to herself as. Perhaps my interest has something to do with the fact that you can hold my stare, an equal match. I have been so used to having those around me do as I say all without catching my stare for longer than required. Whereas you… you demand it.”
I wanted nothing more than to look away. But instead, I fought to hold his gaze, not wanting to prove him wrong.
“I want you to know that I don’t care what you think of me,” I spat. “Your thoughts don’t affect me, nor do they change what I need from this agreement.”
“Agreement?” Duncan laughed. “Don’t get comfortable. You are still my prisoner, and we have no agreement. I am delivering you to the Hand because that is what I do. It is my job to send magic-blessed fey to the Below. It just so happens that our motives align with one another, that is all.”
No longer caring to be in his presence, I turned to the darkened corridor, facing the door which my friends dwelled behind. “Erix is not the only one coming for me. If you refuse to leave because of one man, perhaps you would heed my warning and leave before the Cedarfall army arrives. Otherwise, neither of us will be reaching the Hand, not alive anyhow.”
“You could be lying,” Duncan said.
I lifted my chin. “I’m not. Like you, I don’t play games.”
Duncan relaxed, leaning against the wall with a posture that irked me. “And what would you have me do? One man I can handle, but the idea of a fey army. I don’t think Finstock will survive it.”
I took a deep inhale. “Let Althea and Gyah go. Send them back towards Wychwood, prevent the army from reaching Finstock.”
“What about you?” Duncan asked, head tilting to the side. “Do you not wish to go with them?”
I shook my head, looking down at the floor. “As you said, Erix would just follow. It would threaten all of their lives if he did.”
There was another reason I couldn’t leave with Althea and Gyah. One more pressing. It was Duncan’s comment about the Below that reminded me. The fey who were left, with no army to come and save them.
They, like me, were alone. And I had to do something to help.
“So our lives don’t matter to you, but those of your friends do.”
“Well exactly,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my tone. “I don’t like you, Duncan. Did you think I do?”
I peered back at him, watching his lips purse in contemplation. The scar that ran down from his eye only enhanced his expression of deep wonder. The winter winds beyond the fortress walls ripped into the corridor, bringing with it the scent of Duncan. It was welcome, his smell, covering that of Briar’s burned flesh and my own stench from days without a wash.
It was pleasant.
“I will think on the matter of releasing your friends,” Duncan said, looking away from me for a brief moment. “No promises. As you can imagine, it will upset someone very important if I let a Cedarfall royal slip through my fingers… again.”
“There will come a time you will learn to trust me,” I said. “I only hope it is before everything burns around us because I am going to need you alive to get what I want. I’ve warned you, it’s up to you if you fail or not.”
Duncan watched as I reached for the door of our prison of comforts. Then he replied, voice echoing down the hallway and leaving its cold kiss upon the back of my neck. “I get the impression you are simply using me, Robin.”
