Chapter 1
I picked at my breakfast, knowing I should eat but not feeling hungry. Each riot brought the possibility of civil war and the end of Croy. Thanks to Eirickson, no one knew the Satran were dug into our country like ticks on a deer...and were proving harder to remove.
Each group we cut out seems to give rise to three or four more soon after.
Agrim hurried through the courtyard. I recognized his pace easily.
“Come in!” I yelled, before he knocked.
A streak of dried blood ran down his gray beard and continued to his leathers.
“Good news?” I asked.
He bowed. “Jarl—”
“King,” I snarled. I’ve corrected him at least eight times over the past six weeks. I thrust my finger toward him. “How do you keep forgetting? Croy no longer has a jarl. I refuse to use
the title soiled by my father and half-brother. Don’t make me correct you again.”
Cringing, he lowered his eyes. “Apologies, Sire. I’m not thinking clearly. We put the last group of resistance down near sunrise. I wanted to report our success before getting some sleep.”
“You’re certain all Satran influence is gone? I’ve received similar reports before, yet here you stand, blooded again.”
After a sigh, he nodded. “It’s not just Satra causing unrest. As much as I appreciate having the Varian soldiers aid us, it looks bad.”
“What do you mean? Other than helping your company, Elias makes sure his men keep to themselves.”
He shrugged. “Varian soldiers spilling blood in our capital bothers people. Eirickson’s claim of a planned attack from the north reached many ears. A company of Varian soldiers inside the wall, camping where the Council of Thanes used to meet, makes many influential people uncomfortable. Rumor has it, some of our own warriors suspect Elias and his men are scouting for an invasion.”
I shook my head. “Varia is our ally against Satra; they are not invading. Why do so many people have difficulty believing the truth? Put out the word: I’m calling a meeting of the commanders—again.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“I’m busy.”
They knocked again, harder.
“This better be important! I yelled. “Who is it?”
“It’s Roi,” my mentor answered.
I jumped from my chair, a smile spreading across my face, and rushed to open the door. Gripping his offered hand, I pulled him into a hug. “Thank you for coming. I need someone with good sense.”
“I’m glad to see you alive. Until Albin got word to me, I had my doubts.”
“Agrim,” I barked. “Why are you still here? I told you to gather the commanders.”
“Of course, Ja—, Sire.” Judging by his pace, he kept his calm until he thought I couldn’t track him.
“We need to talk.”
Roi nodded and followed me to the table.
“Where are Grima and Einns?” I asked, taking my seat.
Dropping his backpack, he took the seat across from me. “We didn't know how safe it would be here, so they stayed in Swinter. I’ll send for them after I have a place to stay.”
“Everyone expected me to take Eirickson’s home, but I leveled it. The land will be turned into a memorial when I have time. Living in the Thanes’ compound makes it easier to keep an eye on Porsey and Boril. Not all the guards I assigned to watch them agree on the meaning of house arrest. Sooner or later, I’ll have to move them somewhere; they have too much influence here.”
“Where are the other two Thanes?”
“I killed one after killing Eirickson. Roald, the eldest, made himself useful enough to earn some amount of freedom.”
“I almost forgot. Before he left to find his brother, Albin asked me to give you this,” Roi said, pulling folded parchment from his pack. “He said you needed to know.”
“Hopefully, it’s good news,” I said, placing the pages on the table. “I’ll read it soon, but I could use some of your wisdom.”
“Ruling not as easy as you thought?” he asked, smiling.
I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. “Nearly two months of non-stop madness. Other than Elias and the rest of the caravan guard, I haven’t received any support from Varia. I still don’t know who I can trust.”
He pressed his lips together.
“Generals were openly conspiring against me. I had to face one in combat before they understood I shouldn’t be taken lightly. Not long after that, Satran-led insurgence started. Thankfully Roald kept information on them. He didn’t know all of Eirickson’s schemes, but he knew enough to help me.”
“Sounds like you trust him,” Roi said.
I nodded. “Along with Agrim and the men under him, but the majority of the people around me are suspect. It’s likely one, or both, of the other Thanes are behind the power plays I’ve faced. Trying to get the merchants and workers to support me, or even cooperate, has been its own battle.”
My shoulders drooped. “What have I done?”
He patted me on the shoulder. “What you thought was right. Change is never easy. Did you expect the people to welcome you with open arms?”
“Eirickson sacrificed my land, our people, to keep Satra from taking the whole country. How long do you think that will last? I’m saving them from—”
“From a hidden threat. I’d be willing to bet the average Croian felt like they had nothing to fear once Satra stopped at the central forest. They conquered your skati and seemed content. Eirickson becoming Jarl displeased a few, but everyone felt safe with his leadership. Now, a branded, disgraced half-Varian ex-Skald stormed his wedding with a group of Varian criminals, killed him, and declared himself King of Croy. Did you expect no one to contest your claim?”
“I’ve told everyone who would listen that Varia will help us against Satra,” I said.
“And their jarl declared Varia the enemy. He cautioned everyone to expect an attack from the north. Don’t your actions look like a Varian invasion?”
I glared at him. “I can’t take the fight to Satra if I’m still struggling to keep my country stable.”
“You know how this business works,” he said. “Build trust. Listening to you, all you’ve told me about is chaos and bloodshed. Very few people want to live in that situation, so show them that life is going back to normal.”
“I miss Crum,” I said.
“His people skills could come in handy...and I’ve rarely said that,” Roi said, with a grin. “Speaking of people with questionable ethics, how’s Tindra? Albin said she lost a hand in the fight.”
I nodded. “Haven’t visited her in almost two weeks. She’s mostly recovered physically but having a hard time dealing with the injury. I suspect how she lost it weighs on her more.”
“Do you think she meant to kill Stina?”
I shook my head. “Tindra’s loyal to her king. Someone attacked me, she reacted. I think she would’ve killed her own mother in that situation. But I have enough to think about; I’d rather not relive that moment.”
Reaching for the pages, I asked, “The message isn’t sealed. Have you read it?”
“No. I figured it was meant for the King of Croy.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure it is. Any idea where you’ll stay?”
He shrugged. “Came straight here, haven’t had time to look.”
“There’s plenty of room here until you have your own place. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Sounds better than sleeping outside,” he said. “Which room should I use?”
I waved toward the back of the building. “Mine’s straight down the hall, meeting room’s the first door on the left. You can have your pick of the others.”
He nodded, grabbed his pack, and walked to the last room on the right.
The message had two pages, one from Ander, and the other from Kurt.
Considering what Eirickson said about killing the Varian royal family, I read Ander’s first. He opened the letter congratulating me on the successful attack. The details on Eirickson’s agents were sparse. Ander's arm was broken when they struck. Ines did not fare as well. She took three knives to the chest before Crum got between her and the assassins. His quick thinking kept Jesca out of harm’s way. After disarming one attacker, he killed them and kept watch over Ines. He ignored his own injuries until an herbalist treated her. An herbalist closed the deep cut in his left hand, saving his thumb, but he couldn’t move it until the stitches were removed. The royal guard considered him a hero for his actions and dedication to their queen. Ander noted his willingness to accept Crum as a suitor to his daughter. Aerison had five hundred volunteers ready to help me secure my country. They were mine for the asking.
I noted he didn’t mention Stina until the end. He wanted to meet, face to face, about what happened and her death.
Kurt’s letter was short, down to business. He questioned my reasoning for banishing Sebast, insisting we would talk about the situation after visiting Tindra.
Plans were for him to accompany Aerison.
I rubbed my temples, trying to avoid getting a headache.
Crum did what I would have expected. He protected those around him as best he could. As proud as I felt, I really wanted him by my side. I needed him here, in his homeland, helping me reassure the people.
Where would I house five hundred Varian soldiers? As much as I knew I needed them, Croy needed them, no one would believe they were here to help. If I let them stay in the capital, my detractors would call it an invasion. If I set them up outside the walls, it would be called a siege. Hopefully, I can find a workable solution. I need to talk to someone with better insight into the situation.