Page 71 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

It was an uncomfortable night.

Jann was forced to pretend he didn’t really care that his slave was being caged by the new King. And that he didn’t really care about me, either.

He also had to pretend he wasn’t exhausted. When Karyd, the Neph who’d found us, observed that it was early to be in the hammock when he arrived, Jann made a sly comment about enjoying a Fetch’s energy at night. The man leered. My skin crawled.

Jann was careful to position himself between me and the other man at all times, but I couldn’t shake that sense of dread, even when the Neph only looked at me a handful of times.

It was a fierce reminder that we were walking into the lion’s den, and I was the prey.

I desperately wished Jann and I were alone.

But of course, Karyd assumed he was welcome to share our fire, which meant returning to our facade of Jann’s possession of me.

‘He won’t touch you. he’s submissive to me,’ Jann assured me as Karyd rolled out his furs.

‘I know you’ll keep him in line, but if he’s an ally, why are you pretending you aren’t tired?’

‘Karyd is young and has a good heart. But he’s weak in his mind. He’ll follow the power every time. He won’t stand alone. And he trusts too easily. He will speak openly to any Neph to ingratiate himself. I can’t risk word reaching anyone that I am… lessened.’

‘Jann, you’re not less. You’re exhausted.’

‘The Neph make little allowance for weakness, regardless of its source.’

I wanted to smack something when I felt the shocks of adrenaline through the bond when Jann moved muscles that were overworked. He gave himself no grace. I knew it was a facade, but what if he did himself more damage for this show?

Apparently some of my frustration showed on my face. At one point Karyd glanced at me squatting in the shadows behind where Jann sat with his feet to the fire, and he huffed.

“I hope you sleep armed. Your mate seems unhappy with her divine bond.”

Jann snorted like it was a joke. “She had to be taught to have caution. But she has learned.”

My stomach churned when Karyd nodded as if that were wise. Thankfully the subject shifted to Gall and the changes in Ebonreach since news of Gault’s death. I kept quiet and didn’t reach for Jann’s mind because we both wanted to hear this.

“I didn’t believe it when I first heard the roar of welcome.

I assumed Gault had returned safely after all, that the rumors were untrue.

But no… it was Gall on the back of the Khalrion Stallion, and it carried him as steadily as it ever carried Gault,” Karyd said with an expression of disbelief and an amused shrug.

I frowned and looked at Jann, who caught my glance and explained. “The Khalrion have an awareness of our hierarchy. If Gall were not truly strong, the beast would kill him before letting him ride. It’s a mark of leadership in our kind.”

Karyd’s brows rose. “You explain to her?”

“She will be responsible to raise and educate my son, and has shown a talent for strategy. Yes, I’ll explain. And she will learn,” he muttered.

“You believe she’ll survive?” Karyd said giving me another look like a buyer at a horse auction, measuring for assessment.

“She’s stronger than she appears,” Jann said, with a sly edge to his tone that I would have found hilarious in a different context, but made my nerves spike when it was directed at another Neph.

‘Don’t be afraid, Dee. It would be odd in his mind if I didn’t take pride in you. But I’m also not lying—and he can tell.’

I stared at the fire beyond Jann, torn between fear and warm pride.

“Was there warning of Gall’s arrival—did the City anticipate him?” Jann asked casually.

“News of Gault’s death only reached us a week before the runners arrived to announce Gall’s arrival.

We had two days, and no one knew what to think.

Those who’d heard the rumors around Gall weren’t impressed by him, but most knew him only as Melek’s son.

It was clear when he arrived that he’d proven himself in battle, though.

And the Court received him.” Karyd shrugged again.

“Of course, by the next morning he had killed most of them. Whether that was simple strategy, or a way to cover for their disapproval, I don’t know.

The whispers were… unclear. But now, no one questions.

He’s shown strength after strength. If he’s a bit odd, well…

it doesn’t seem to have affected his power. ”

Jann nodded like he agreed, and remained relaxed in his posture, but internally I was screaming.

Gall? Strength after strength?

A bit odd?

The question blurted out before I could call it back. “What of his mate?”

Karyd looked at me with surprise. My teeth ground when he looked at Jann first to see if he should answer.

Jann shot me a warning look, but raised his chin for Karyd to respond. “I also wondered if she’d survived the trip,” he said darkly.

Karyd snorted. “She hasn’t had time to deliver a babe, so she’s still alive.

I saw her when they paraded through the city streets on their arrival—she’s very beautiful.

But I haven’t seen her since. Rumors are that she’s odd like Gall is odd, and he defends her fiercely from other males, but that’s no surprise.

If she’s strong enough to breed, she’s his prize.

I definitely need to visit these Fetch women. Perhaps there’s one for me as well.”

I felt sick knowing he wouldn’t be the only male thinking that way, but I was quickly relieved when Jann hacked a humorless laugh and warned him off.

“Trust me, catching them is more trouble than they’re worth. The Shadows of Shade are more impenetrable than the Raven Peaks. Set your sights lower, Karyd.”

The male frowned, but I breathed easier.

I was glad when Karyd sighed that he was going to sleep and Jann made no protest, but got to his feet and herded me back to the hammock.

‘Not a word out loud,’ he muttered in my head. ‘Let him believe you’re under my thumb.’

I nodded and turned for the hammock, standing aside to wait until Jann had stretched and changed his shirt, then crawled into the hammock, before beckoning me to join him.

Jann fell asleep immediately, that cloak of exhaustion covering him the moment he closed his eyes.

It took me far longer, because every small movement or sigh from Karyd sent my heartbeat racing.

But soon Karyd’s breathing evened out as well, and at some point, curled into the crook of Jann’s arm, I nodded off as well.

*****

The next morning I worried that Jann would fly before he was ready, but when Karyd commented, surprised that Jann wasn’t packing to leave, Jann casually mentioned we were waiting until afternoon.

“I like to make an entrance,” he added with a cocky smile.

Karyd chuckled. “Then you should wait until tonight. Gall’s offering a hunt—if you time it right, you can land in the middle of it and show them all how strong she really is.”

Jann snorted like it was a joke, but I felt the jolt of unease through him.

“A hunt? Tonight? Have I truly lost sense of the calendar?” Jann asked casually.

“No, it’s one of Gall’s changes. He wants to refine the female stock and says he’s giving the women a chance to free themselves—says he’ll offer it every month in his reign. But no one really believes that.”

“What are the whispers?”

Karyd looked at me, but obviously decided to answer anyway. “They’re saying he’s using them to determine who’s not truly loyal. That he’s set traps for any who look like they might actually escape.”

Escape? The hair on the back of my neck rose.

A wash of caution came through the bond from Jann, so I did my best not to react, but I desperately wanted to know what this hunt was about.

“Seems like an efficient way to sort the wheat from the chaff,” Jann said with a casual shrug. “I’m sure the Court will enjoy it.”

Karyd laughed. “That’s exactly what Gall said. So you do have his ear. We wondered.”

Jann frowned. “Others believed I’d turned from him?”

“Melek is a known challenger and you’ve always been his ally. Everyone was waiting to see which King you’d follow.”

“I follow power. I always have,” Jann said with a grunt as if it didn’t even require discussion. “Whoever holds the throne, holds my spear.”

Karyd nodded. “I told the others you were a practical man and you’d see it that way.”

I felt the pinch in Jann, the strange mix of disappointment that his friend had seen him as so mercenary, and relief for the same. But I was grateful that it seemed like Jann wouldn’t be under deep suspicion. If he was trusted, it positioned us to get close to Gall and Istral.

And to protect Melek and Yilan.

Jann caught my eye as he turned to stoke the smoldering fire, and I dropped my eyes and acted as if I’d been chastised.

I wanted this fucker out of here so we could talk!

Thankfully, he decided to leave mid-morning to reach the traverse for high sun.

Once he’d strapped his bag and bedroll to his back and manifested his wings, Jann offered his arm for clasping and the two embraced again.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Jann, and here with the King’s ear. I’ll look forward to the stories of you interrupting the hunt—but do get back tonight. You’re needed.”

Jann tipped his head. “Needed? It seems the new King has had no trouble dominating in my absence.”

Karyd shrugged and for the first time looked uneasy. “He holds the crown tightly. Of that there’s no doubt. But we miss your influence. And Melek’s as well. With most of the warriors gone the city feels unsettled.”

“Uneasy about Gall?” Jann asked quietly.

But Karyd shook his head. “Not exactly, no. There’s no inadequacy only… an undercurrent. I can’t explain it. Only, the men are talking and your name keeps coming up. They want to see which way you’ll lead, Jann. So however you do it, come in strong.”

Jann nodded once, but I felt him tense as he smiled and clasped Karyd’s hand again, wishing him well on the hellish peaks.

Within moments he’d jogged out to the grass and launched himself into the air. And in a few minutes he was little more than a bird high in the sky, climbing towards the peaks.

The further away he drew, the tenser Jann became. Which was the opposite of what I’d expect. We both stood there, watching Karyd fly. I didn’t speak until my eyes struggled to make out his form.

“What is the hunt?” I asked quietly.

Jann sighed, his expression tense, eyes still on the distant speck of his friend. “It used to be a twice-yearly tradition. At each solstice, slaves were offered an opportunity to… run for their lives,” he muttered grimly.

I looked at him sharply. “Slaves? People? Women?”

Jann nodded once. “It was always painted as a mercy, but I could count on one hand how many actually escaped—and it was only to go into hiding, out here. What Neph would return them to their home?” he said, shaking his head.

“Why would Gall want to do that more often?”

Jann sighed and finally turned to face me.

“Don’t you get it, Dee? It’s a game. Karyd is listening to the right people if they’re whispering that it’s a ploy—a way to identify those who haven’t truly submitted and still dream of freedom.

It’s also… a way to enslave those with some modicum of power. ”

“Who has power?” I asked aghast.

“I told you, some women are highly skilled and have proven their value. They are merchants, or deal in trade. They aren’t owned. I imagine for many of them the dream of true freedom seems within their grasp. What better way to enslave them?”

I blinked. “Enslave them by giving them a chance for freedom?”

“I told you, Dee… the hunt is a ruse. The women are told that if they evade the hunters they’ll be awarded their freedom, but in reality, most merely end up in the hands of a more powerful, more ruthless Neph.

And if she owns any asset, or is known for any skill…

well, her things become his. It’s not a mercy, Dee.

It’s a transfer of wealth—and a plot to tempt women to reveal their real hearts and minds towards the Neph.

Any who haven’t truly submitted, who still believe they can be free…

those are the first minds that need to be dominated. Or removed,” he ended on a growl.

“God, I hate your people.”

Jann sighed. “As long as you don’t hate me.”

I sank into his side, but my nerves were morphing to true fear and despair. “Even if Melek can beat him, even if he can take the throne, how will he ever shift the minds of men who think like this?” I asked plaintively.

Jann looked down on me, combing my hair back from my face with his calloused fingers. “One heart at a time,” he said simply. “He started with mine. Now we both work for the same goal. Others as well. Don’t give up before we’ve begun, Dee. This is exactly what we came here to do.”

I nodded and fell into his chest, but inside my chest was tight and painful.