Page 42 of Dance of Kings and Thieves

Hob clenched his fists when the skyd opened the door and barked a cruel sort of laugh. “Oskar? Who is this creature?”

Another man stepped in. He looked much the same as the first but for lighter hair and the short blade sheathed on his hip. With him he dragged Inge in by the elbow.

We needed a highly ranked skydguard. It hadn’t taken but a moment to remember Inge had two brothers who both commanded units.

I despised them. For being skyds, for being bastards, but I would never admit how their turns of mistreating Inge—a woman I never planned to have a soft thought for and now did—burned under my skin.

Inge said the Guild of Kryv had become hers and Hob’s misfit family. Well then, they had our protection. And I did not take kindly to those who mistreated anyone under my protection.

Blood boiled as I watched the cruel grin on Edvard Vill’s face widen. As if Inge were a thing to break and he could not wait until he snapped her in two.

Once the door slammed behind them, Oskar, the second brother, shoved Inge forward so she had to catch herself on the corner of the table.

Hob trembled with barely bridled rage. He’d need to bridle it a little longer.

Edvard bore a likeness to a wild bear. Broad, coated in hair everywhere but his head, and small, black eyes. “Is this a common whore or . . . by the gods, she does bear a resemblance to our lost sister.”

“Edvard,” Inge said with perfect desperation. “Please, I need your help, brother.”

Hells, she even held out her hands like a supplicant.

“Help?Myhelp?” Edvard stalked around Inge like a wolf to a lamb. “Why would my sister have need of my help?” His voice dripped in irony as he pressed a thick palm to his heart, mocking her. “Last I heard, my sister spread her legs for scum and bore their children.”

“Edvard. She is still of House Vill. No need to taint the name by crude words.” Oskar was the calm brother. He did not have the birthright of an eldest son, but his chastisement silenced Edvard. For now.

From what I knew of Oskar, if any brother would have a bit of love for their sister it would be him. A man who honored family. A rare skyd who was loyal to his wife and cherished his littles. Still a skyd, but if there was room for decent guards, I supposed he might be one.

Then again, when I thought of it, Oskar didn’t stand up to Edvard, and allowed his sister to be used.

I settled that he was slightly less wretched, but not by much.

“Edvard, please. I wish to seek refuge. I am told there is a stronghold in the grove. I need to be hidden from him. He is . . . horrid.” The words came out like poison on her tongue. “I’ll tell you everything I know of the rogue camp if you promise to protect my child and me.”

Edvard frowned, glancing at Inge’s small swell in her belly. “Gods, you’d keep such a vile thing?”

I thought she might break at the words, but she kept her face furrowed in worry. “A child, no matter who sires it, is innocent. They can be reared right if kept here. Safe in House Vill.”

“Gods, Inge.” Oskar shook his head. “You’ll never have a decent match with a thief’s bastard.”

“Then, I’ll . . . I’ll make do as a seamstress again. Ease the burden of Ada.”

Oskar’s wife. I knew a great deal about the woman from my first glimpse into Inge’s house when I threatened her over Malin’s masquerade gown. Ada Vill was daughter to a highly favored skydguard captain. From what I knew, she was lovely, but with a dull history. Practically sinless. No great habits or fetishes to be used against her. She cared for her children, tended the household, and loved her husband.

Dull and worthless to the Guild of Kryv.

But it was her sweet, gentle dullness that had festered into a weakness for Oskar. His face softened and he glanced out the window where his smaller house was set. “Ada has missed you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Edvard said. “We have no use for you.”

“I need protection. He beats me, and . . . sells me out to others.”

Hob closed his eyes. Nothing would be further from the truth, but Inge knew how to tell her tale.

“We could take you to the grove,” Edvard said. “It is impenetrable. You’d be safe there. I would do it for our sister.” Edvard stepped closer. Inge jolted a bit but held her ground as her brother lowered his voice to a low growl. “But the way I see it, we have no sister.”

“Edvard, please, I—”

Inge’s words were cut off when Edvard swung his hand across her cheek with a sick crack.