Loethar let out a growl of frustration. ‘Freath was a traitor in my life for ten anni. All of those clever conversations, steering me onto a particular path while he went down the other.’ He shook his head. Then he smiled. ‘And still I admire him. And still I like him.’ He smirked. ‘I had convinced myself he was the most honest person in my life even when he was lying every minute. Incredible.’
‘I can’t believe it,’ Gavriel said. ‘He protected us?’
Leo nodded. ‘My father asked him to pretend to be a turncoat should the time arrive. My mother asked him to help her to commit suicide, make it look as though he’d thrown her from the window in order to protect his cover while releasing her from her imprisonment and grief. Her death at his hands meant the Valisars could still have a loyalist in the enemy midst.’ Again he threw a bitter glance Loethar’s way. ‘But being involved in my mother’s death couldn’t be forgiven. I would have killed him anyway for that alone.’
‘Demonstrating your immaturity and lack of capacity to rule wisely,’ Loethar accused, bitterness combining with a cold, controlled fury in his soft voice. ‘I can’t begin to tell you what a tightrope Freath must have walked each day of his life on your behalf. He ingratiated himself so deeply into my life that I actually mourned him more than my own mother, my own child! And look how you rewarded him.’ He choked back what sounded like a sigh of deep regret.
‘I wish that were the truth,’ Leo replied, equally cold. ‘It’s my impression that Freath admired you more than you can know. He was torn, I think. His loyalties were to my father and myself, also to Piven. But he had an abiding respect for you … more’s the pity.’
‘I thank you for sharing that,’ Loethar said quietly.
Gavriel’s head was in turmoil. Freath, never a traitor! ‘Well, now you have the answer you came looking for. I think we should just throw you back at your dog of a brother. You can kill each other.’
Loethar smirked. ‘If you really thought that, you wouldn’t have interfered in the forest.’
‘It wasn’t my idea, believe me,’ Gavriel growled.
Gone was the sorrow in Loethar’s eyes. Suddenly he was all hardness and ruthless control again. ‘Then let’s get this done, shall we? My sympathies are with Elka. Like her, I tire of your empty threats. If you mean to kill me, do it now and be done with it. Leo, here’s your chance to be the brave Valisar. Run through the pretender — if you truly believe I am just that.’
Gavriel saw Leo stiffen and knew he had to keep his own anger in check as an example to the young king. ‘Leo, a word,’ he said, gritting his teeth. Mercifully, Leo stood, turning his back on Loethar. Gavriel glanced at Elka. ‘Shut him up,’ he said, loading his voice with disdain. Then he followed Leo to a quiet spot far from where they could be seen, let alone heard.
‘Don’t say it,’ Leo warned.
‘As your friend, as your Legate, my king, I must say it.’
Leo scowled but remained quiet.
‘It would be a mistake to kill him. This wedge now driven between him and Stracker is playing precisely into your favour.’
‘How so?’
‘My father taught us that there is always more than one way to regard a situation, more than one way to treat an enemy. Loethar is our prisoner. We might be able to make use of him. Let’s at least consider it. Think on it. Killing him solves nothing. Using him might give us options.’
Leo nodded, considering the advice. He paced around, looking up into an overcast sky, and Gavriel was again struck that such a young man had such a weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
‘Gavriel, I know you haven’t been around the region for a decade. Me too, I’ve lived on the fringe of life. But I don’t think either of us will ever forget his cunning or just how wily he is.’
‘I accept that,’ Gavriel replied, frowning. ‘What’s your point?’
‘My point is that he will find a way to turn on me. If I give him so much as a finger width of movement, he’ll make it work for him. He is far cleverer than most give him credit for.’
‘It seems Freath had his measure,’ Gavriel murmured. ‘Damn it, Leo, was it necessary to kill him?’
‘Freath. I will not be allowed to forget that decision by anyone, will I?’ Gavriel shrugged and Leo shook his head. ‘You are not the first to criticise. Kilt has never forgiven me my rash fury of that day. But I defy you to have faced Freath in the same ignorant situation.’
Gavriel glared angrily at the king. ‘Leo, I’ve had to save the life of the man who brutally slaughtered my defenceless father before me. Do you forget how my father died? His head hacked from top to shoulder, his horse dragging him behind it while Loethar howled his glee? I’ve had to keep that monster company, keep him protected. I did it for you alone. Don’t talk to me about losing control.’
Leo had the grace to look admonished. ‘Forgive me. I haven’t forgotten what you’ve been through on my behalf. But I am perhaps at the mercy of the brutal images of my boyhood. I still have nightmares of my baby brother dragging around the gore from our freshly decapitated father as my mother watched on in shocked horror.’
Gavriel held both hands up in defence. ‘Look, this is all history and we can’t re-make it. Our parents are dead, may Gar rest their souls. And Freath is gone. There is no point in our rehashing the rights and wrongs of it. But killing Loethar doesn’t solve the problem at hand. Do you agree that alongside his half-brother he is the lesser of the two evils?’ Leo gave him a pained look. ‘I know, Leo, I know. They are both killers. But Loethar has a modicum of control. He seems to kill only with specific reason. In fact, everything he does, everything he says is considered. I’m not condoning his usurping of the throne or the manner in which it was done, I’m simply saying that Stracker has no control, no subtlety … he has no conscience! If you kill Loethar, Stracker will take easy command of the throne and army. Imagine what will happen then.’
Leo walked away and Gavriel gave him some time to let his points sink in. At last Leo turned back, a sly look on his face. ‘We will not kill him,’ he said. ‘But I’m not sure you’ll get him to agree not to kill me. Face it, Gav, he’s been hunting me for too many anni. The first chance he gets — all we have to do is slip up once — and he’ll take that chance and slide a blade into me, or choke me, or poison me.’
‘I agree that he cannot be trusted. But it’s my task to protect you. That’s my problem, not yours.’
Leo smiled and Gavriel didn’t like the cunning in his face. ‘It doesn’t need to be your problem. I am Valisar, so I too have an aegis.’
Gavriel took a breath, frowning. ‘All right, but where does one start hunting down —’
‘There is no need to hunt down mine, not if one I can take is right before us.’
Gavriel stared at Leo uncomprehendingly and then understanding hit him like a thunder crack. ‘You wouldn’t!’
‘Why not?’
‘Faris is … ’
‘An aegis?’
‘I was going to say your friend. A loyal friend.’
‘Yes, and now he can demonstrate the ultimate form of that loyalty; he can become my champion. Gav, don’t you see, he can offer me the most superior form of protection against Loethar, against anyone!’ Gavriel heard glee in his king’s voice. ‘My enemies can try anything they like against me and it will have no effect. I would only be able to die for natural reasons.’ Leo’s eyes were sparkling.
‘You could do that? You can see yourself claiming him? Maiming him?’