Bitten and Bound: The Complete Trilogy by Pennza Amy

Author:Pennza, Amy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribble Pretty Books
Published: 2023-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

LAURENT

“I have news from Sithistra, Your Grace.”

I jumped at the sound of the soft voice behind me. I turned from the stone map of Ter Isir to find Jordan of Twyl standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing in here?” I demanded. My Council chamber was hardly a secret, but I was doing my best to keep news of the Deepnight’s disappearance from spreading. Although, that was undoubtedly a lost cause. Word of the deaths in the Wastes would trickle throughout the kingdom. Once the gossip reached the capital, the public would start demanding answers. I needed to be ready, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a shit while Varick and Given were still missing.

Except, I did give a shit. That was the problem. I was pulled in opposing directions. Spread too thin. Worried about watching my kingdom burn while my wife and general were trapped behind the Thicket. Any number of unpleasant descriptors.

Jordan hesitated in the doorway.

“Never mind,” I said, leaning against the table. “What news do you bring?”

He came forward, his hands folded over gray robes. “King Rolund’s First Queen has lost the child she was carrying. His heir, Cathrin, is also rumored to be quite ill. Rolund is trying to keep both events a secret, but stories have already spread. He’ll have to address the speculation soon.”

“Sounds familiar,” I muttered with a sour smile. By all accounts, Rolund was a joyless brute, but I took no pleasure in another man losing his children—and even less so in a king struggling to cement his legacy. My lack of an heir had been a weight around my neck for years.

The ex-brother held my stare, his boyish features inscrutable. I knew he invested considerable effort in ensuring people saw the “boyish” part and dismissed anything else they might have noticed about him.

“And how did you come by this information?” I asked. “No, let me guess. You have mages embedded in Castle Beldurn as well as the Brotherhood’s towers?”

Displeasure flickered in his blue eyes, but his reply was as smooth and deferential as usual. “We have people where we need them.”

I smiled. “No doubt hidden among my staff.”

“I don’t need to hide, Your Grace. I serve you openly.”

The sound of boots interrupted my reply. A knight appeared in the doorway, his helmet under his arm. Snow dusted his shoulders. “Your Grace, we have a situation—” He cut himself off, his eyes going to Jordan.

“Speak freely,” I said. The gods knew Jordan of Twyl would eventually learn whatever the knight had to say.

“A patrol caught Rowena of Lar Kessa attempting to cross the Bleak Pass into Sithistra.”

I tensed. “Where is she now?”

“In the dungeon, Your Grace. Her husband has been informed. The knights who spoke with him report he had no idea his wife was involved with the South. Sir Harald says he’s loyal to the crown and won’t share hearth or board with a traitor. He leaves his wife’s fate in your hands.”

Harsh. But then Sir Harald had trained his whole life under Varick.

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