Page 46 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

It was shocking flying into view of the Zaryndar Capitol. The sorcerers that ruled Zaryndar were artists, not warriors. Their cities and structures were beautiful. But now, months after they’d been conquered, the Capitol remained a near-ruin.

At first glance in the dim light of creeping dawn, I was convinced that my eyes deceived me.

“Gault ordered it looted. Stripped.”

“Destroyed?” I breathed. “Why?”

“Because he valued power over wealth,” Jann muttered, descending quickly in case the guards could see us against the growing light.

There were only a few more moments to see the ruined city before we dropped into the trees and my view was obscured, but those moments turned my stomach.

I’d understood that the Neph were conquerors… but this?

The Spire City—as it was named, because the Zaryndar had erected their center of government on the peak of a hill, then built the city around it in an ever-increasing, downward spiral—was a wreck.

The massive city wall remained at its base, though I caught sight of one rubbled breach spilling away from the south-western end like a collapsing sandcastle.

But though the Zaryndar were artists and musicians and sorcerers, within the walls, the city which had always been a beacon of light and music was now black.

Not a single twinkling light to guide traveling souls closer.

The brightly colored tiled roofs that protected the Zaryndar from the beating sun of the plains in summer were either scarred black, or had been torn apart, leaving gaping holes like the city’s jaws were missing teeth.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up as Jann lowered us to the forest floor. He unbuckled me quickly, muttering about needing food before we rested because we wouldn’t enter the city until night, but I barely heard him.

When I was free, I turned to face him, untangling our bound arms, and he went still, watching me warily.

“Is that what you do?”

He frowned. “Eat? Yes, quite a lot.”

I glared. “No, Jann—that city. Is that what you do when you win?”

“Defeat our enemies? Yes,” he said tightly.

“And before you judge me too harshly, remember I have been in a war camp when the Fetch were interfering. I’ve seen your people eviscerate your enemies without ever showing your faces.

At least we stand in the carnage. Don’t let your nose rise too high.

” He said the words gruffly, but his lips twitched on the edge of a smile.

“This isn’t funny! The Spire City was stunning! It’s a ruin now!”

“Not exactly. You’ll see when we get closer. But yes, demonstrating to a people that they have been well and truly conquered is critical to keeping down rebellion,” he said. “I’ll start on the fire, you can—”

He’d turned away to pick up the bags we’d dropped, but I used the tie on our wrists to pull him back around to face me.

“Jann, no.”

He went still, his eyes dark. “No, what?”

“Don’t try to distract me,” I said through my teeth. “Is this what the whole continent is like? Is everyone living in the mud? Is that what you want? ”

Jann’s jaw tightened. “Tell me, Diadre, when you follow orders, are they always what you personally want?”

“Of course not, but—”

“And in your career as a soldier and leader, have you humiliated your enemies?”

“Yes! But—”

“Destroyed homes or camps?”

“Yes. But that isn’t the same as—”

“Demoralized their soldiers? Forced their leaders to surrender or retreat? Killed people?”

“Yes!” I snapped, giving him a flat look. “But the Shadekin aren’t conquerors! We don’t pour into another Kingdom like locusts and destroy it just because we can!”

Jann leaned down, his jaw flexing. “I think what you meant to say is that you sit in your little nest, protected by a supernatural fog, waiting until the fight comes to you—then use cunning, subversive means to end the fight. Which is a lovely privilege if you have it. Sadly, I did not.

“I led my men against enemies that sought my death. And when we defeated them, my King ordered the symbols of their independence destroyed. And while Melek would not be petty, I assure you that should the need arise, he’d do the same. Defeat of an enemy is in their mind, not their body.”

I scowled. “I’m aware.”

“Are you? Because you’re berating me for being a part of defeating the neighbors to your Kingdom, saving you the trouble.”

“The Zaryndar were never coming for us!”

“You can’t know that. You can’t know what they might have done if they’d defeated us and felt empowered,” Jann growled. “The subjugation of an enemy after the battlefield is far more important than their defeat on it.”

I huffed. “And my people are living proof that demoralizing an enemy does not require destroying their livelihoods—or even taking their lives in many cases.”

“You’re right—haunting their dreams is far more humane,” he muttered.

My jaw dropped. “I would far rather—”

“Dee?” Jann said quietly. “Our Nephilim lives prior to Melek taking the crown have been… ruthless. I won’t deny it.

But please do not hold me responsible for the choices made for my survival and those of my best friend and our comrades.

We’re doing everything in our power to change the face of this world.

The past cannot be changed, but the future can. ”

I blinked and all the air went out of my chest in a huff.

Jann waited a moment, brows high, then reached down to sweep up his bag with his free hand, leaving me standing there, staring at him.

“What the fuck just happened?”

“I believe you tried to have our first fight, but I disarmed you with my wisdom and charm,” he said with a shrug.

I slapped his shoulder, but with a playful growl, he dropped the bag and swept me up so quickly I shrieked. He buried his face in my neck and for several seconds I forgot everything we’d been talking about as he sent goosebumps pebbling down my side with his kisses.

When he put me back on my feet, I was ready to forget about food and sleep, but Jann leaned down to meet my eyes.

“You asked if the whole Continent is like this, and the truth is—in part, yes. The symbols to each people are different, but it is our way to leave reminders when we have taken a Kingdom. You will see destruction and defeat wherever we go. You will also see the rebuilding of trade and wealth. Gault was a prick. But he wasn’t stupid. ”

“And you’re… okay with that?”

Jann sighed. “Do you want me to ache for killing the man who attempted to rape you?”

I flinched. “Of course not. That was evil—”

“He was an enemy. An enemy of the state, or an enemy of my mate—I will kill either without regret if killing one keeps the other alive and healthy.”

I exhaled heavily. “But the Spire City—”

“You will see when we enter the walls tonight that all of her beauty hasn’t been destroyed. You just need to look under her skirts, now.” Then he fucking winked.

“Jann!”

“What?”

Instead of playing, or losing my temper, I made myself take a breath and speak to him, soldier to soldier. “You’ll be the one giving the orders next time,” I said carefully. “Will you order… that?”

His jaw rolled and he straightened. It was gratifying to see him truly consider the question.

“Would you follow me if I did?” he asked quietly.

I blinked. I hadn’t expected that. “You’re the General. As you said, I follow orders I don’t like.”

“I’m also your mate.”

An excellent point. I considered the question.

“I think… I think any order you give me in public I’ll honor, unless it defies our King and Queen,” I said carefully. “But I am unlikely to stay silent in private if I disapprove.”

Jann snorted. “I wouldn’t have dreamed otherwise.”

I gave him a flat look, but before I could speak he carried on.

“I can tell you that I truly believe putting down a rebellion before it begins is the safest and most ethical course in the wake of any battle. But I can also tell you there’s a reason I sought Melek out to lead our people, rather than attempting to take the crown myself.”

“And how is that relevant?”

Jann’s expression was somber. “Because he’s a better man than me, Dee. That’s the truth. Melek can be brutal when it’s required to stand for what is right, or in the protection of others. But he takes no joy in causing pain.”

I swallowed. “Do you?”

“Sometimes. When I feel it’s deserved.” Then he held my eyes intently.

“Or when someone has threatened what is precious to me,” he ended quietly.

Then he tipped up my chin. “For example, I would happily castrate any man who attempted to touch you without permission, let him bleed to death clutching his own testicles.”

My breath rushed out of me. “I suppose… I suppose when you put it like that…”

Jann smiled and kissed me quickly, then reached down to gather his things. A moment later, we began working together to set a fire and bring out the rations. Since we’d be in the city tonight and our rations would be replenished, we could eat more.

But as we shared the meal and fell into the furs together, I was still rattled by the idea that this destruction was what I could expect to find in every Capitol.

His point about the fact that we took orders whether we liked them or not was made.

And all of us—Melek, Yilan, Jann and I—now fought together for a better future.

Would I take joy in the pain of an enemy? Yes—if they’d killed Gall or Istral. Or if they tried to hurt Jann. Or Yilan. Even Melek.

I would have killed Nephilim happily if they’d attempted to conquer Theynor. I’d assassinated enemies more than once, and proudly taken part in demoralizing troops.

At first, I wasn’t sure why the destruction of that beautiful city hit me so hard. But as I watched Jann eat, smile, joke, and give pleasure in the shadow of that destruction without any apparent conscience, I figured it out.

I was afraid he was capable of leveling me in the same way.

And that was a terrifying thought.

*****

Jann woke me when the sun was high and dappling the ground through the leaves above.

I blinked.