future, but it seems unlikely. I’d like you to tell me of your experiences, leaving nothing out.”
Will started, and then started again when the king asked him to start farther back, beginning with his training in wizardry. Will grew more nervous then, for he wasn’t sure how King Lognion knew to ask about that. It had to be Selene. He tried to remember how much he had told her. A mistake at this point might be disastrous.
He started with a brief description of his childhood, leaving out any mention of Lord Nerrow, then moved on to his apprenticeship with Arrogan, though he omitted his grandfather’s name. The king stopped him at that point.
“You didn’t give your grandfather’s name.”
“Bartholomew,” said Will hastily. “I’m not entirely sure he’s even my grandfather. That’s just what he told me. None of my cousins believed it.”
“Go on,” said the king.
He did, though he left out the details of his training and moved on to his time in the Terabinian army. He described his exploits in the army and then moved on to how he had met Selene and how they had eventually left to destroy the Patriarch’s supply line. When he glossed over the journey back to Barrowden, the king frowned.
“You left out any mention of the journey through Faerie,” said King Lognion, his voice edging toward anger.
Fuck. Will retraced his steps, including the trip through the congruence point, explaining that the presence of the goddamn cat kept that part of the other realm safe from the fae. King Lognion laughed at Will’s name for the beast, but he claimed ignorance of the creature’s true name, chalking it up to yet another mystery his grandfather had left behind.
“And you say this thing hates sorcerers?” interrupted the king.
He hadn’t said anything of the kind, but again Will knew Selene must have given her father that information. Will nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty, though I don’t know why.”
“That’s a shame,” said the monarch. “Such a shortcut would be immensely useful. I almost wonder if we could kill the beast, but that would render the path useless, wouldn’t it? Since the fae would no longer need to avoid the area. Please, continue.”
Will did, regretfully including the information that his family was living in seclusion. There was no way he could hide that fact, since Selene had obviously told her father everything. Lognion nodded, waving his hand to urge Will onward. He didn’t seem interested.
He told the rest without much editing, except to say that he didn’t fully understand how he had been able to turn the fire elementals’ attacks back against their owners. He also omitted Tailtiu’s assistance with his escape. Thus far he had said nothing about the fae, and he prayed that Selene hadn’t mentioned his one remark about learning the trick to seeing in the dark from one of them.
He was relieved when King Lognion accepted his story and smiled, but his stomach dropped when the king spoke next. “You are a remarkably brazen liar, William Cartwright. Not many would have the balls to attempt to hide things from me, especially given the fact that you already know how good my information is.”
Will grew perfectly still, and he and the king fell into a staring contest that he knew he was doomed to lose.
But he didn’t. The king spoke first. “I know a lot more about your charming grandfather, Bartholomew, than you may realize. Is he truly dead?”
He felt as though the breath in his chest would explode, and Will exhaled loudly. “Yes, Your Majesty. He’s dead. I buried him myself.”
“More good news, then,” said King Lognion. “Now, if you’ll be patient, I’ll list all the reasons I have for executing you.”
Will shut his eyes in defeat. I knew it.
“Unlicensed wizardry, harboring and giving aid to a fugitive wanted by the Crown, possible warlockry, desertion of duty, insubordination and disrespect to your superior officer, kidnapping and trying to seduce my daughter—”
“I didn’t!”
Lognion held up one finger, silencing him. “Perhaps, but you admit the rest, don’t you?”
“Not warlockry,” said Will stubbornly.
“Yet I can see their mark on you!” The king lifted his hand and prodded Will’s forehead. “You wouldn’t have received that without making a significant bargain.”
“It wasn’t warlockry,” insisted Will. “I didn’t bargain with anything that was not mine to give.”
The king studied him for a moment. “Arrogan’s lessons must have been thorough. Not many understand the difference. What am I going to do with you?”
Will lowered his eyes. “Something that doesn’t involve being whipped to