Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,136

shut behind him, and his mind screamed, Trap!

Pierre made for the staircase. “Because a foolish fourteen-year-old girl negotiated it away when it wasn’t her right to do so.”

“You’re still mad she refused your father.”

Pierre whirled around on the steps to face him. “She refused us. Refused to give us what had been promised, time and again. Refused to give us that which we have as legitimate a claim to as she does.”

“There were other claims to the ducal throne with more legitimacy than yours.”

Pierre grinned. “Yes. And one of them plans to seize it.”

“With your help.”

Pierre’s smile widened. “And yours.”

Maraud laughed. “You’re daft. I’ve no interest in committing treason.”

They’d finally reached the top of the stairs. “Are you so very certain?” Pierre put his hand on the door. “It is, after all, a family weakness,” he said, then thrust it open.

A man stood at the window looking out over the courtyard. When he turned to face them, it was like a spurred boot to Maraud’s gut.

He had aged at least fifteen years since Maraud last saw him, although it had been only three. His eyes held three lifetimes more pain, and even when he smiled, it did not reach his eyes. “My son.”

 Chapter 75

“I’m sure you two have much to catch up on, and I’ve no wish to intrude.” D’Albret shut the door, leaving Maraud alone with his father.

The father who’d reviled and rejected him for years, yet sacrificed everything he ever claimed was important—honor, loyalty, strength of purpose.

How was a man supposed to feel about a father who’d betrayed his country and cast away the family’s honor for him? Maraud had been pondering that question for over a year now and still had no answer, only deeply worn ruts in his brain. He folded his arms over his chest and stared at the old man—for he was clearly that now. No longer the towering pillar of virtue that had dominated the first half of Maraud’s life.

“I cannot fathom why d’Albret thinks I would be interested in seeing you.”

“Perhaps because he knows that we are all we have left.”

His father watched him as if drinking in his face, and Maraud wondered what he saw there. “We do not even have that. Why are you here?”

“Because they said they would help me find you if I aided their cause.” He left the window for the small desk in the center of the room.

Wanting to put as much distance between them as possible, Maraud leaned back against the door. “I didn’t need you to find me.”

“You are my last son. I could not let you languish in prison. Not after what I paid for you.”

Just the thought of what he’d paid still made Maraud sick. “It wasn’t a price I was willing to pay.”

His father placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward. “It wasn’t your choice.”

“So now that you’ve found me, you will betray your country again?” Maraud laughed at the sheer audacity of it. “I will have no part of this.”

“Then they will kill us both. It is that simple.”

“Whatever happened to death before dishonor? I seem to remember that was one of your favorite morality tales.”

“That was before death had taken so very much from me.”

Maraud could hear the pain in his voice, recognized it immediately. He folded his arms. “If only I had known all those years what a fraud you were. Although I am glad the others did not learn of it. They held in great value what you have tossed aside. It would pain them deeply.”

“Do not dare judge me,” his father said, coming out from behind the desk. “Not until you have stood and watched all your sons die. Then you can talk to me of honor.”

“I have stood and watched men who fought under my command die. I have stood and watched my own brothers slain. And yet I did not offer up my honor to the first man who asked.” Maraud swung around and pounded his fist on the door. “Let me out. We are done here.”

“Wait!”

Maraud ignored the old man and strode past the guard. He found d’Albret just outside the tower, almost as if he’d been waiting for him. “Why am I here?”

“Because you were the price he insisted on for helping us.”

“Well, he has seen me, your price has been paid, and now I will leave.”

Pierre laughed. “I don’t think so. While he has had much practice betraying his country, you are still a virgin at such things. We