Khalshir (Kingmakers Book 1)

by Jaye McKenna

  “But I… I don’t love her.”

  Larrad let out a bark of laughter. “I’m not asking you to love her, boy, I’m asking you to marry her. Once you get her with child, it hardly matters. As long as you’re discreet about it, you can go and play with your painted ladies all you like.”

  Dani drew in a shaky breath. “You’re not asking me,” he said flatly. “You’re telling me. There’s a difference, you know.” He waited, trembling, as his father set his fork down, finished his mouthful, and wiped his mouth with his napkin.

  “Did you have something you wished to discuss?” Larrad’s voice was deceptively soft.

  “Would it matter if I did?”

  “It might, if you’ve a different match in mind, a more lucrative one. I’d set my sights on Finnia’s daughter because his transport network would help us extend our reach, but if you’ve been cultivating someone else, someone whose connections might be of more benefit to the Jherek fortune, we can certainly discuss it. Nothing is set in stone yet.” Larrad regarded his son curiously. “Who is she?”

  Panic flashed through Dani. “There… I mean, there isn’t… I just… I can’t marry her, Father. I just spent an afternoon with the woman, and the thought of bedding her leaves me cold.”

  Larrad didn’t appear moved. “Well, I never much enjoyed bedding your mother, either, but that didn’t stop me from doing my duty and fathering an heir.” He stopped then, and the expression of bitter disappointment on his face made it clear that even if Dani did everything right, he’d never take Haiden’s place in his father’s eyes.

  “It’s not just her,” Dani muttered, steeling himself. “I don’t want any of it. Not your business, not a marriage, not a woman.”

  Larrad’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Nevertheless, you shall have it all, and you will strive to be everything your brother was.”

  “No, I won’t.” Tears blurring his vision, Dani got to his feet. “I’ll never be like Haiden. I’ll never be good enough, no matter what I do. I can’t replace him, Father, so you might as well stop trying to turn me into him.”

  His father’s fury shredded his fragile shield, leaving it in tatters, and blossomed in his head, a fiery flower with petals of burning, razor-edged steel. The headache that had faded only an hour ago was back again, full force.

  Crack.

  Through his tears, Dani hadn’t seen his father get up and come around the table. Larrad’s open hand met his cheek with enough force to send him reeling. His legs tangled with the chair, and he fell heavily to the floor. Before he could scramble up, Larrad hauled him to his feet. “I will not stop until you can play Haiden’s part to perfection. I am not asking you to like it. I am telling you to do it. You will be everything your brother was and more, or you will pay dearly. Are we clear?” In contrast to the burning fury storming through Dani’s mind, his father’s voice was ice cold.

  Dani couldn’t speak.

  With a look of disgust, Larrad practically threw him across the room. It surprised him so much, he couldn’t catch himself, and he hit the wall hard. He stayed there for a moment, panting, using the wall as a much-needed support.

  Larrad turned his back on Dani, returned to his seat, and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

  When Dani thought his legs would hold him, he pushed himself away from the wall and slipped out into the hallway. He looked for Rio, but of course, shift change occurred during dinner, and it was Coryn who watched him from beneath raised eyebrows. Dani flushed, realizing Coryn would have heard every word of the whole, miserable encounter.

  Coryn’s icy eyes raked over him in a brief once-over, then dismissed him just as quickly. Apparently he wasn’t hurt badly enough to warrant any action on Coryn’s part. Dani pushed past him and headed for the stairs. His cheek was throbbing. He lifted a hand to it, but it didn’t come away bloody, which he supposed was something.

  Now that the confrontation was over, he was shaking from head to toe. Coryn didn’t notice, or if he did, didn’t care. And why should he? He worked for Dani’s father. He followed Dani up the stairs in silence, pausing only when Dani’s steps slowed.

  Pen wasn’t back from the servants’ dining room yet. Dani went straight to his dressing room and checked the drawer. The anzaria was there, wrapped in his green silk scarf. As he raised his eyes, he caught his own reflection in the mirror. Larrad’s handprint stood out in livid red against his pale skin. He’d have a bruise there tomorrow. Not that it mattered. Who did he have to be attractive for? Eslian Finnia had already been chosen for him. He’d marry her, do his husbandly duty, and spend the rest of his life trapped by his father’s plans.

  Still shaking, he went back into his sitting room and poured himself a small glass of shalan, a potent, emerald-green liquor his father imported from the Westlands. He knocked it back in one gulp, then coughed and sputtered as it left a searing trail down his throat.

  He lifted the bottle to pour another, but stopped the moment the alcohol hit his empty stomach, gathering in a burning, acid pool. Already unsettled from the anzaria, Dani’s stomach lurched uncomfortably. With a grimace, he set the bottle down. As he turned to go back to his bedroom, he caught sight of Coryn watching him, face even paler than usual, expression carefully neutral.

  “What?” Dani demanded. When Coryn only pressed his lips together, Dani scowled. “What are you trying so hard not to say?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Coryn said in a rough voice, “If you hit your head, drinking is probably not a good idea.”

  “I didn’t hit my head,” Dani said. “He smacked me. You don’t have to pretend. I know you heard. It would have been hard to miss, what with you standing right outside the door.”

  “Sorry.” Coryn ducked his head and didn’t say anything more.

  The suite suddenly felt too much like the prison it was. The walls were too close, the air too still. Dani went to the window and stared out over the grounds. The evening sun cast long shadows over the lawn, but there was a light breeze ghosting in through the window, and Dani longed to feel it ruffling his hair. He turned away from the window and announced, “I’m going out.”

  “Trips into the city have to be—”

  “Outside,” he clarified. “To get some air. A walk to the stables or a stroll through the gardens. I won’t be leaving the grounds. I don’t suppose you can be persuaded to stay here and wait for me?”

  “Sorry, sir.” To his credit, Coryn did look genuinely sorry, which was possibly the most emotion he’d seen out of the man yet. “My orders are to keep you in sight at all times.”

  “Of course they are.” Dani sighed. “What if you watched me from the window?”

  Coryn shook his head. “Sorry, sir.”

  Twilight was darkening the sky to a deep purple when Dani finally stepped outside. The first stars of evening were just visible. Lanterns burned outside the stable, the barracks, and the practice yard, where two men were sparring. To Dani’s surprise, they weren’t using practice blades, but their bare hands. As he drew closer, he recognized Rio and Jordi, one of the guardsmen who had often accompanied him and Haiden on their adventures. Both men were shirtless, circling each other warily before closing to grapple.

  Rio’s skin gleamed with sweat in the lantern light. His stomach was all lean, rippling muscle and he had a tattoo of a little bird high on his back, just over his right shoulder blade. Dani licked his lips as he watched the play of lean muscle beneath smooth, red-brown flesh.

  If he married Eslian, he’d never touch another man.

  Regardless of what his father said about having his painted ladies, Dani knew he wouldn’t betray the woman he married that way. He’d heard the whispers, when some unfortunate woman’s husband was spotted at the Wild Rose, or worse, one of the sleazy establishments on the other side of the city, near the warehouse district.

  It wasn’t Eslian’s fault their fathers had decided to tie their futures together. Though she’d played her part magnificently this afternoon, inside
, she might be as appalled as he was at the idea of marriage to a stranger. He’d just have to do his best to be kind to her over the next few weeks, and hope Uncle Ty was able to work something out.

  Behind the fence, Rio threw his opponent onto his back and stared down at him triumphantly. Jordi gave him a sheepish grin and wiped the sweat from his eyes before accepting a hand up.

  “Again?” Rio asked.

  “Ai. I owe you for that.”

  Rio laughed, a deep, rich sound that sent a bolt of heat straight to Dani’s groin. Flushing, Dani withdrew into the shadows, then turned and headed back to the house, Coryn trailing silently in his wake, never more than a few paces behind.

  * * *

  Rio didn’t have a chance to speak to Coryn until the morning following Dani’s visit to Lady Eslian. Coryn was late for shift change, which meant Dani was late for breakfast.

  When Coryn finally arrived, he looked particularly grim. “You all right?”

  “Fine,” Coryn said tersely, but the shadows lurking in his eyes said otherwise. “Master Danakho took his time getting dressed.”

  It was more than that bothering him, but Rio knew better than to ask. In the two years it had taken Coryn to find his way to Akhat, the open-hearted, talkative boy Rio remembered from his childhood had disappeared. He’d been replaced by a cold, distant young man who sometimes woke the entire dorm screaming from nightmares he refused to speak of. If Coryn wanted to talk, he would. And if he didn’t, it was beyond Rio’s ability to coax a single word from him.

  Instead of probing further, Rio pulled him aside and said in a low voice, “I think we have a problem.”

  Coryn arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “Twice I’ve accompanied Danakho into the city, and both times he’s acted like he was drugged. He’s clumsy, dizzy, and drowsy, and on the way home, he has terrible headaches. He insists the only thing he’s taking is a sleeping draught, but I’ve never heard of a sleeping draught that waits until the next day to take effect.”

  “He didn’t take a sleeping draught,” Coryn said. “If he had, I’d have mentioned it at shift change. You said clumsiness, drowsiness, and headaches. Did you notice anything else?”

  Rio thought back over the last two trips. “Nothing that leaps out at me, but I might have missed something.”

  “And you’re only seeing this when he goes into the city.”

  “Ai.”

  “Both times.” Coryn’s face paled, and his brow creased in a worried frown.

  “Ai. What are you thinking?”

  Coryn hesitated for a few moments, eyes darting about the empty hallway. He leaned close to Rio and whispered, “I’m thinking he’s taking anzaria.”

  “Anzaria?” Rio kept his own voice to a whisper. “But that’s…”

  “I’m thinking he’s got some kind of mythe-power he’s trying to hide.”

  It felt like a punch in the gut. Why hadn’t they been told Dani had power over the mythe? That their charge was living under the threat of execution should he reveal himself had serious implications for Rio and Coryn’s ability to keep him alive. “Are you sure?”

  Coryn shrugged. “Not positive, but most of what you’re seeing is consistent with the side effects of anzaria. If he was complaining of a headache on the way home, could be he has some kind of receptive ability. Once the drug started wearing off, he’d be open to whatever’s floating around in the city. Thoughts, emotions, whatever. And with discovery meaning a death sentence, who would he ever get to teach him to protect himself?”

  Rio’s heart stuttered as he thought about it. How long had Dani been living under the shadow of such a threat?

  “Does his father know?” Coryn asked.

  Rio thought back to Dani begging him not to tell his father about his behavior during the visits to the tailor and Lady Eslian. “I don’t think so,” he murmured, then raised his eyes to meet Coryn’s. “And it’s not our job to tell him.”

  Ice-blue eyes narrowed as Coryn studied him. “You’re not getting involved again, are you, Rio?”

  “No! Of course not. I just… he’s been through so much…” Rio trailed off, flushing as Coryn’s lips compressed into a grim line. Coryn turned to go, but Rio grabbed his shoulder. “I’m not getting involved.”

  Coryn gave him a dubious look. “If he’s getting his supply in the city, you’re going to need to be extra careful. Just asking where to buy the stuff is enough to alert the king’s Hunters. And if he got caught buying it… Next time you go to the city with him, don’t let him out of your sight.”

  Rio nodded. “I won’t.”

  When Coryn had gone, Rio leaned back against the wall. If Dani was taking anzaria, he was hiding his supply well. Or perhaps Pendrin was hiding it for him. Not that it made a difference. The danger was the same. If either of them was caught buying the stuff, suspicion would fall upon the entire household.

  By the time the breakfast hour was over, Rio had managed to put his suspicions and Coryn’s into perspective. Nothing had changed, except he was now aware of a potential danger he hadn’t had to consider before. And from what he’d observed, it wasn’t going to be an issue unless Dani left the estate, in which case, he’d be accompanied by either Coryn or Rio.

  If something came up, they’d just have to deal with it.

  Dani emerged from the dining room with his head down. His hair hung loose, obscuring his face, and he turned in the direction of the library and started down the hall without even sparing Rio a glance.

  In the library, he settled in his usual spot without a word. Sunlight streamed in the window, glinting like shimmering sparks of flame in Dani’s copper-bright hair. In the wash of brilliant morning light, a faint shadow was visible on his cheek.

  Rio took the chair opposite Dani and studied his charge’s face. No, he hadn’t imagined it. The strong sunlight showed the carefully blended edges of skin-toned makeup covering Dani’s entire cheek, not quite thick enough to hide the bruising underneath.

  “What happened?” Rio lifted a hand to indicate his own cheek.

  “Didn’t Coryn tell you?” Dani stared down at the table with a sullen expression.

  “Tell me what?”

  “Father and I had a blistering row at dinner last night. I’m sure the entire household heard it. Coryn certainly did. He was standing right outside the door.”

  “I only see Coryn at shift change, and he didn’t mention it.” Something had been bothering Coryn this morning, though, and if he’d heard Dani and his father arguing, that might well explain it. Rio couldn’t even count the number of times he’d dragged Coryn off to the healer in Vhalion after Coryn’s sorry excuse for a father had laid into him. Hearing Dani’s father do the same would have been more than enough to put Coryn in a foul mood.

  “I’m not surprised he didn’t mention it,” Dani said bitterly. “It was rather unpleasant.”

  “What… what did you argue about?”

  Golden-brown eyes lifted to give Rio a puzzled look. “I thought you couldn’t be my friend.”

  “I… I’m your bodyguard,” Rio said. “I need to know if you’re in any kind of danger.” It sounded weak, even to him.

  “Danger from my father?” Dani shook his head. “I doubt it. He might be willing to clout me, but he’s hardly going to do me any serious harm. I’m all the legacy he’s got left, aren’t I?” He stared back down at the table. “Not much of a legacy, though, am I? I can’t do anything right.”

  Rio had no idea what to say to that, so he kept quiet.

  Dani lifted his eyes again. “Was your father impossible to please?”

  “He saw me as a duty rather than a son.” The lie fell easily from Rio’s lips; it was the same story he always used when questioned about his background. “I’m the bastard son of a nobleman. My mother was a woman of the tribes who was on his kitchen staff. He had me educated along with my legitimate half-brothers, but when it came time to hand out land and titles, they got everything. I got a few gold coins and
a pat on the head.” Though he’d recited this particular fabrication so many times he almost believed it himself, it sounded hollow and empty this time.

  “I wish my father would do the same,” Dani murmured. “You’re a long way from Vhalion. How did you end up here?”

  “An interesting series of odd jobs. Caravan guard, mercenary, wandering musician, weapon master…” Listing some of the roles he’d played during his assignments for the Khalshir felt a bit more like the truth, but not by much.

  “Weapon master?” Dani’s eyes snapped to Rio’s face. “As in instructor?”

  “Ai, sometimes.”

  “Can you… would you teach me to fight?”

  Rio gave him a doubtful look. “With a sword?”

  “Gods, no, anything but that!” Dani looked horrified at the thought. “I tried that once. I’m hopeless with a sword. But can you teach me what you and Jordi were doing last night in the practice yard?”

  “You saw that?” Rio didn’t recall seeing Dani there, but then he had been rather focused.

  “I took a walk around the grounds after dinner and happened to catch sight of you sparring. I was curious. I’d never seen anything like it, so I watched for a bit. It was dark, so I’m not surprised you didn’t see me.”

  “Why do you want to learn how to fight?” Rio asked. “You’ve got a house full of guards, and me and Coryn to protect you.”

  “I… I just thought… if I knew how to fight… and if my father knew I knew… maybe he wouldn’t be so quick with his fists.”

  “Oh, Dani… do you really think that’s a good idea? It might just make things worse.”

  “I’m not sure how they can get any worse,” Dani said gloomily.

  Rio was saved from having to reply by the arrival of Mistress Orlina. But he didn’t forget Dani’s request. Or the hopeless look in his eyes.

  Chapter Five

  It was a cool morning, and the sun had only just risen, but Dani was barely aware of the chill in the air as he watched his bodyguards spar. From the moment they’d begun, it had been clear even to Dani that Rio had every advantage: height, weight, and reach. Coryn, however, was faster, and from what Dani’s untrained eye could discern, meaner. Despite his small stature, Coryn had already beaten Rio twice by employing tactics Dani considered patently unfair.