bastard for a year. There seemed to be a depth of meaning in his query that I didn’t understand.
Wolfe nodded. “I’m all right, Kir. Except for being kidnapped, that is.”
Seeming to shake himself, Kir gestured to me. “Turn, Rogan. Let me get those off you.”
I shimmied out from Wolfe’s embrace and managed to twist, holding my hands out behind me.
“I’m going to use a blade, so keep still.”
As soon as I was loose, Kir freed Wolfe. He eyed the top of Wolfe’s head and frowned. “I told them not to do any damage. Mind you”—his gaze flickered over Wolfe as he slapped him on the back—“considering how big you’ve gotten, they probably had no choice.”
Wolfe grunted and stumbled to his feet, rubbing his wrists. “Not that it isn’t good to see you, Kir … why the hell did you have us kidnapped?”
I rose to my feet, watching the two men as they faced one another. There was no tension or animosity between them. In fact, they both appeared happy to see each other. I was growing steadily more confused by the second.
Kir sighed. “I didn’t know it was you. I got word that a fancy gent and lady were here and I knew the markiz would be interested.”
I gaped, feeling disoriented and lost. “The markiz?”
Kir nodded grimly. “Things have been changing in Vasterya for a while now, Rogan.”
Wolfe frowned. “Changing how?”
Gesturing to the bed for us to sit, Kir slumped down into the armchair opposite. As I took a seat beside Wolfe on the bed, I noted how much older Kir appeared than Wolfe, despite them being the same age. It would seem life had treated my old friend with more unkindness, or at least difficulty, after his escape from Syracen.
“Who do you think set up the rookery, Wolfe?”
Wolfe sucked in a breath. “Markiz Solom.”
“What?” I squeaked, any color in my cheeks surely having leached out now. What on haven were they talking about? Why would the markiz create the rookery?
“The markiz cottoned on to the fact that the princezna’s powers were weakening in Vasterya. Suddenly, all these ideas and feelings he had buried inside himself were bursting forth, being allowed free rein. Markiz began making plans.”
“What kind of plans?” Wolfe asked.
“I was working for him, he found a Glava useful, and he paid me well. When things began to change, he put his plan to take over the sovereignty into action.”
My stomach plummeted. “Take over the sovereignty? Is he insane?”
“Yes.” Kir nodded. “Quite possibly. He’s training an army. He paid me to create the rookery, hoping a gangland at the border of the city would deter outsiders from visiting and then carrying tales of the markiz back to Silvera. So far, it’s worked.”
Wolfe was frowning. “I sent men in only a few weeks ago. There was no mention of an army.”
“No, there wouldn’t have been. The army is trained out in the west near the sand dunes. And the people of Pharya are almost religious in their belief in the markiz and would never betray him. Without the Dyzvati power, these people are easily brainwashed, especially with food and money.” He snorted and gestured around him. “Even I’ve been brought low by it.”
I narrowed my eyes, understanding his role in this. “You would have let him do this? Bring an army into Silvera? Betray Haydyn?”
My old friend remained expressionless as he replied in a flat voice, “I suspected Haydyn was unwell and that it was being dealt with. I expected this madness to be over soon and that I would return to working for the markiz who would remain a markiz, not a kral.”
Remembering the boy who had fought so savagely against Syracen when he hurt me, who had taken a lashing unlike anything I had ever seen, I wanted to believe him. But there was a hollow darkness in Kir’s eyes that hadn’t been there those many years ago.
Wolfe cleared his throat, breaking the strained look Kir and I shared. “So what were you planning on doing with us?”
“Making sure you weren’t spies. I thought the markiz would pay good money for you. And he certainly would pay good money to get his hands on the captain of the Royal Guard and the Handmaiden of Phaedra.” Kir shook his head, grinning wryly. “But he won’t find out about you. I would never let any harm come to either of you.”
I exhaled sharply, my relief palpable. “Thank you, Kir.”
He threw me a boyish smile, one so genuine we could