Page 186 of The Chains You Defy

Oh, I knew it from the start. He was a betrayer. And this wasn’t only psychosis speaking.

“His case is unique. And he still glorifies what the Cuirt stands for. But his story about why he abandoned his beloved home is not mine to tell. However, I can assure you, even swear you an oath on my wife’s grave, he is not involved in Galrach’s scheme.”

Convincing arguments, but I wouldn’t give up on my theory just yet.

Another thought forced itself to the forefront of my mind and distracted me.

“I can never return to Alaiann for as long as Galrach lives.”

“Not only you, Dion. Every single one of us has burned all bridges. We are defectors, deserters, traitors. Pick your poison.”

“Archenemies of High King Galrach Folus Iadrann holds a certain charm.”

The only reaction my lame joke received was a sigh. “I hope Fiolar, Ireas, and Carthain escaped without trouble. Additionally, there are a few others who we hadconvinced to abandon Alaiann to lie low until summoned, as well as allies who had offered to remain at the High Court as spies.”

“You were busy.” I tried my best to clamp down on my anger and the anxiety detonating whenever I thought of Nayana. Maybe concentrating on facts would help.

“Yes. If we are lucky, what we started will, in time, diminish my brother’s forces, especially when the rumors that you broke with him take root and spread. Did you depart peacefully, or did you make a scene?”

“A few dozen guards and courtiers died. Nothing big.”

“Strange how little resistance Galrach showed.”

“He didn’t try very hard to detain me.”

“I figured. After all, the palace was still in one piece.”

“Oh, don’t be mistaken. I’ll tear the place down another day when I’m not in a hurry to protect a human who is so damn tiny and breakable and very susceptible to getting herself into horrible situations.”

Antas had the audacity to chuckle, and I bared my teeth at him, which made him laugh even harder.

“What?”

“It is just—well, the situation is dire, and yes, Nayana has a tendency to wind up in trouble, but still, it is a relief that you returned to the living, Dion.”

“I was never not alive.”

“No. You existed as an empty shell of a male. Now you have gained agency, and one day, hopefully soon, you will thrive.”

“I’m not in the mood for weirdly deep conversations. I’d rather concentrate on facts.”

My uncle sighed and nodded, but I wasn’t in the least sorry for not engaging with one of his sermons. Isuspected I’d get enough of those during our upcoming days of travel.

“What might be of interest to you is that while you were decimating Galrach’s private forces, I discovered he had sent Danartha away from the High Court the same day Nayana had departed, but I could not unearth the reason in the available time frame.”

“So, where did she go?”

“To Scamall.”

“That’s suspiciously close to the Cuirt an Ghra.”

“Yes, she is likely spying for my brother.”

“Danartha has become a tremendous problem. One I plan on solving the next time we cross paths.” How I’d stomached her for so long remained a mystery to me. Maybe because I simply hadn’t cared about anything, and using her as a means to pass the time had been as good a distraction as any. And though I’d never given her any indication that our dalliances were anything more than casual sex, she’d obviously developed other ideas. That was worrisome—especially considering she was most likely fucking Galrach—and so she posed a threat that was mandatory to eliminate. She was too cunning to risk her interfering again in the future.

“Next village, we are going to swap horses. Otherwise, we cannot maintain our speed.”

“Good idea.”