Page 58 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

“Yes. I’ve told Sariyah everything, and she keeps my confidence,” I said, giving her a thankful look.

She nodded. “Aella is only six months older than me, so we can’t remember a time when we didn’t know each other. I would never betray her.”

“Good.” He glanced between us. “Everyone should have friends like that.”

“What made you request my presence on such short notice?” I asked.

Orran worked his jaw. “My spies informed me this morning of a secret meeting on a shore near Balzour that your uncle plans to attend this evening.”

That was near the mines where we acquired the holmium dust I used for opening portals.

I frowned. “What sort of meeting?”

“My sources reported a group of dark elves arrived last night and have hidden in the cliff caves in anticipation of speaking with your uncle tonight.” He pressed his lips together.

“This is by no means the first time such clandestine meetings have taken place, but I fear they are escalating ill-fated plans that will not bode well for Zadrya.”

My eyes rounded, and a gasp from Sariyah told me she was also shocked. “Are you saying my uncle plans to betray the king with the dark elves’ help?”

Also, it amazed me that he was sharing this information.

Was he like Darrow and had spies within the keep to know I had little loyalty to my uncle?

Did my being secretly married to a known enemy of my land make me more trustworthy?

Or was this his way of starting a mutual exchange of information for each of our benefits?

“Yes.” Orran stared out at the water with a troubled gaze. “From what I’ve discerned, Lord Morgunn has never been fond of the king, though he is adept at appearing loyal. I’ve yet to confirm it, but I believe he wants the monarch gone. ”

“But to work with the dark elves is ludicrous.” Of course, he did it once years ago, but I thought that was an isolated incident in his attempt to weaken Veronna.

I couldn’t believe he’d maintain a relationship with them, especially since he often cursed them at mealtimes. Was that part of his ruse?

And did everyone have spies all over the kingdom except me? I felt like my tutors skipped a lesson that I should have received, and perhaps given me a book titled Introduction to Building Spy Networks in Paxia. Maybe the Ivory Castle library had a copy, or certainly Porrine.

The Andalagar chieftain gave me a rueful look. “Says the woman married to a half-dark elf.”

“You apparently trust Darrow more than my uncle,” I replied.

There seemed to be so much more happening than I could begin to understand. The night I had visited my husband for his birthday, I’d hoped to ask a lot of questions after seducing him. I thought he might be more pliable then, but that plan went horribly wrong.

Orran nodded. “Darrow and I have exchanged critical information in the past. His intelligence has proven impressively accurate. I wouldn’t say I trust him implicitly, but I do believe he has Zadrya's best interests at heart. He’s playing a dangerous game doing all that he does, though.”

Frustration filled me that I still didn’t know much about that.

“I’ve met his mother and can only guess what role she plays in all this, considering she conspired with my uncle years ago,” I said. It was another mystery as to why she’d done it, but the one time I’d asked Darrow after the meeting, he’d quickly changed the subject.

The chieftain studied me. “So your husband still hasn’t explained anything to you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “But I’ve only seen him once briefly since you and I last met, and there wasn’t time to get into that sort of discussion.”

“It’s not my place to bring you fully into this intrigue, but I fear you’re already in it to some degree, whether you like it or not. Press Darrow the next time you see him because, otherwise, you could be caught off guard, and that may result in deadly consequences. ”

I sighed, wishing I could explain how angry I was with my husband at the moment.

That was definitely something that wouldn’t be suitable to mention to the Andalagar chieftain, though.

We needed to keep our marriage issues to ourselves.

Well, except Sariyah, but talking about relationship troubles with best friends was always appropriate.

“I’ll do my best,” I promised.

“Good.” He turned his gaze to Sariyah. “I have noted the look in your eyes and wonder if you might have something to add?”

She hesitated. “It could be nothing.”

“You’d be surprised how often nothing is something. Our people have excellent instincts, and you likely inherited some of that gift,” he said, giving her a generous smile.

“Well.” She swallowed. “I’ve just noticed certain officers at Tradain sometimes leave with no notice for days and then come back without reasonable explanations on where they’ve been or what they were doing. It’s always struck me as strange.”

“How long has this been happening?” Orran asked, cocking his head.

“For several of them, as long as I’ve been paying attention—so over a decade—but a few more have joined in recent years, and they’re disappearing more frequently. For example, it’s almost once a month over the last year. Before, it was maybe every six months.”

“That is suspicious,” he agreed, brows drawing together. “Perhaps you should begin visiting me more often and providing details on such matters. Names and their magic specialties would be particularly useful.”

Part of me wondered if we should be this forthcoming with Orran, considering we hardly knew him.

I couldn’t say what made him feel more trustworthy than most, except this had always been his homeland, as it had for part of my and Sariyah’s family lines.

The Andalagar would have a vested interest in protecting this world more than most. Maybe that was why it felt natural to speak openly about matters we might have otherwise kept quiet.

Sariyah blushed. “Are you asking me to be your spy?”

“Only if it might coincide with courtship,” he replied, turning to face her and grasping her hands. “But first, you would have to pass the trial. ”

She glanced at me, and I nodded approvingly.

“Fine, I will consider it, but you’ll have to prove worthy for me as well,” she said, lifting her chin.

Orran laughed. “Pass the same initial trial as Aella, and I’ll be happy to see what challenge you give me.”

I wished I was allowed to watch, but they had to take that journey alone. It was why only the chief and I walked through the woods during our first meeting.

“Should I leave the two of you alone?” I asked, grinning.

“No,” Sariyah said quickly, blushing.

Orran shook his head with amusement in his expression.

“Not now, but I am grateful this meeting proved more productive than anticipated. Perhaps we can all find a way to work together toward a common goal. While Andalagar tribal lands will always be my priority, the fate of Zadrya certainly affects us. If we wish to keep peace, we must rely on assisting each other.”

“Why are so many of you covered in scars?” I asked. The question had been niggling at me since we last saw each other.

The chieftain gestured for us to turn around so we could begin the journey back. “That is complicated. Some are from challenges among each other, many are from fighting dangerous beasts, but others occurred in service to a greater cause. Talk to your husband and get answers, Aella.”

I nodded. “I am planning on it.”

“Good. Let’s discuss the feast we are about to enjoy,” Orran said, positioning himself between me and Sariyah.

I listened quietly as he detailed the meal, where we would sit, and what behavior to expect.

It sounded as if it wouldn’t be one of the sedate dinners at the castle for sure.

There’d even be fire and a lot of dancing.

The trip here would be worth it for that alone if it got my mind off other troubles.