‘No,’ Kilt said. ‘His death achieves little right now. We need to know more about why he’s here. Why he’s alone. What his intentions are.’
‘To bond you, clearly,’ Leo said.
‘No, that’s not right. He had no idea that his aegis was roaming the north. And if I wasn’t the attraction the most obvious conclusion is you,’ Kilt said, stabbing a finger towards Leo. ‘Except he didn’t even know you were alive! He wouldn’t have even recognised you or known you were the missing Valisar if you’d introduced yourself under a guise. So he’s here for different reasons. And he certainly didn’t arrive here willingly. Why did he travel north? Why alone? We need to learn as much as we can to help Leo’s chances.’
‘All right, but we can’t let him near you,’ Jewd argued.
‘We don’t have to. I will speak with him,’ Leo said, his tone brooking no argument. ‘It is my place, anyway, to do so. His challenge is essentially at me.’
Jewd frowned. ‘If he’s the rightful heir, where does that leave you, Leo?’
‘Leo is heir,’ Kilt growled. ‘His father was king. He is next in line.’ He looked at Leo. ‘The fact that your grandfather sowed wild seeds on the plains is not anyone’s concern. Loethar is a bastard heir of mixed blood. Brennus married a royal; you are a blueblood. That gives you rank.’
Leo didn’t look convinced. ‘I suspect we won’t get an opportunity to argue it in front of the nobles. Loethar took the crown; he has worn it for over a decade now and let’s be very frank, his people are now comfortable with who is ruling. The fact that he is Valisar only improves his position, if I’m honest.’
It was Kilt’s turn to share a worried glance with Jewd. ‘Are you relinquishing your claim, Leo?’
‘Absolutely not! I’m simply stating that we could argue the rights and wrongs of it until we’re blue in the face. The fact is he wears the crown. Me arguing my lineage makes little difference. I must take the crown back … by killing him if necessary. And if that whore Davarigon giant hadn’t got in my way, I might have achieved that and this conversation would be academic.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to talk to Gavriel. I’ve got a decade’s worth of catching up to do with him.’
‘Don’t let Loethar corner you into doing anything hot-headed,’ Jewd warned. ‘You are a king. Don’t forget that. It’s your calm and your inability to be taunted that will most frustrate him.’
‘You made a fool of him once,’ Kilt agreed, ‘hiding under his nose and then escaping so audaciously. Continue to make a fool of him by not falling prey to his baiting. That’s how you’ll keep the upper hand.’
Leo grinned. ‘Thanks.’
After he’d left, the two men remained quiet for a while. Finally Jewd sighed. ‘Were you planning to tell me or were you just going to give me the slip?’
Kilt looked up at his friend. ‘Why do you think I’d leave?’ he asked, dismayed.
Jewd shook his head, gave a brief rueful smile. ‘I’ve told you before, I’m big, not stupid. Did you think I couldn’t work it out for myself?’
Kilt looked down again. ‘Jewd, I don’t know what to think but I know this: you are the best friend a man could have.’
‘I’m glad you realise that.’
‘I would have discussed it with you.’
‘Look at me when you say that. I have to know I can trust you, Kilt, or as I’ve told you previously, it might be easier to leave you to it.’
‘That’s not what I want.’
‘Then I demand your honesty.’
Kilt stood up, feeling stronger again despite his aching muscles. He sighed. ‘I guess I don’t even need to ask if you’ve noticed anything about Leo.’
‘I’ve noticed. Leo is pushing for independence. He won’t live for very much longer under your thumb.’
Kilt nodded. ‘That’s as it should be. He’s been groomed to rule since he was on his mother’s teat.’
‘He’s still capable of poor decisions.’
‘Aren’t we all?’
Jewd fixed Kilt with a firm stare, before he spoke very quietly. ‘But I suspect his next will be his least wise.’
Kilt swallowed. ‘You’re thinking what I’m thinking. Then I’ve got to go, get as far away from the Valisars as possible.’
‘Then we go together.’
‘Jewd —’
‘We go together, Kilt. Look at the state of you. If Leo comes after you — and he will, we both agree on that — who is going to protect you?’
‘Maybe it’s best if I just submit and —’
Jewd had grabbed Kilt by his shirtfront before Kilt could even finish the thought. ‘No one is eating you, is that clear? No one is going to have you under his control! Leo has de Vis back. De Vis has always seen Leo as king and treated him as such.We can leave the two of them together and go north into Barronel via the mountains. We’ll cross into Cremond perhaps; no one’s going to be looking for you there. Leo will assume you’ll head south in search of Lily. And we’ll get to her, Kilt, but we have to ensure they lose your scent first and you have to heal too. For now we both agree Lily is safe. For now we both agree your safety is paramount.’
Kilt nodded. ‘Take the money we’ve hidden and give it to the men. Tell them they should scatter. And grab the medicine. We need little else.’
The man struggled but, fuelled by anger, got his words out. ‘I’m going to kill you for this, de Vis.’
‘Yes, well, I’ll look forward to your trying. Gives me the perfect excuse of self-defence to finish you off once and for all,’ Gavriel replied disdainfully.
‘Be quiet, Loethar!’ Elka ordered. ‘Conserve your strength.’
‘Sage advice. I’ll need it to kill your lover and his friend.’
‘He’s not my lover and I suspect his friend is no friend of mine after I got in his way,’ she said, hefting him into a better position on her back.
‘Let me down, for Gar’s sake!’ Loethar complained. ‘I’m not an invalid, simply injured.’
‘Do it, Elka,’ Gavriel said.
Elka had just about had it with both of them. She lowered Loethar, who held his groans but grimaced in pain.
‘Ribs are the worst, aren’t they?’ he said, almost amused.
‘How’s your neck?’ Elka asked.
‘I’ll survive. And the burn will be a timely reminder for when I slit my half-brother’s throat.’
‘If I give you the chance,’ Gavriel said.
Loethar laughed. ‘Where is your great king, de Vis? Is he too frightened to face me?’
‘As a matter of fact you’ll likely see him sooner than youthink. Elka, can I leave you with him? I have to meet with Leo.’ At her nod he disappeared into the woods without so much as a backward glance.
Elka turned to regard Loethar. ‘He’s perfectly capable of killing you, you know. I would counsel you to stop the taunting.’
‘And spoil my sport?’
‘Well,