The Ippos King (Wraith Kings #3) - Grace Draven Page 0,165

especially bad dream. “Needs must, and he himself severed Andras's hand to break his grip and allow Brishen to close the gate.”

Serovek had stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “I said much the same thing to Andras, who hates us and himself for abandoning Megiddo. My reason knows what you say is true. My soul still won't accept it.” Judging by Brishen's expression now and after his meeting with Saggara, Serovek wasn't alone in his burden.

“What can you possibly do?” she asked. “You did what you had to do. There are always casualties in war.”

Brishen shrugged. “You're telling me nothing I don't already know. Still, I think one day soon the four kings will have to meet again and find a way to free Megiddo from his prison.”

“Serovek's visions are horrific. He doesn't have them as often now that Megiddo is far away in the monastery, thank the gods.”

“It curdles my spirit to even speak of it.” Brishen gave a small shudder as if to shake off a darkness crawling over him. His features relaxed and he gave her a smile. “This isn't how I wanted to end our visit or how I wanted to say goodbye. I actually came here to tell you your new husband had an especially voracious appetite for the scarpatine pie we served for dinner.” His eye widened with a touch of wonder. “He ate the two he was served and most of Ildiko's with particular relish, even savagery. I knew he liked it but...”

Anhuset snorted. She'd witnessed Serovek's concentration on the Kai delicacy. It was no secret that he liked a dish even many Kai abhorred. She suspected his gusto for it now had more to do with symbolic revenge than culinary preference. “Expect such enthusiasm in the future every time you serve one to him.”

She changed the subject, pivoting to point at the activity in the bailey. Horses being saddled, oxen and mules hooked to their traces in preparation for pulling wagons loaded tall with goods. “You were too generous with this dowry you've given,” she told Brishen, frowning.

He sniffed. “Hardly. You're my cousin, my friend, and at one time, my sha. I won't have it gossiped about the entire kingdom that the Khaskem was a skinflint with his relatives.”

Anhuset wasn't sure she deserved such munificence from him. She didn't at all regret marrying the man she loved, but she battled her own guilt at deserting the man she'd grown up with and served all her adult years.

Brishen had always been very good at reading her, and that particular talent didn't fail him now. “What's wrong? I sensed you were troubled the moment you rode through the gates.”

Never one to mince words, she came to the point. “Do you think me disloyal?”

His eyebrows arched in surprise. “What?”

This was harder than she anticipated. “I surrendered my role as your sha, packed my possessions, and will leave Saggara to live permanently at High Salure, even though Serovek has willingly offered for us to live apart and take turns visiting. That isn't the marriage I want, but I must abandon you to embrace the one I do want. Am I selfish? Disloyal?” She'd asked these questions of herself numerous times since she left Timsiora as Serovek's wife. She'd considered asking Serovek but knew he'd instantly come to her defense, not in the least objective in his opinion on the matter.

Brishen sighed. “Considering it was I who suggested the marriage in the first place, no, I never thought your loyalty to me was in question. I'm pleased beyond words for you. Serovek is an exceptional human. He'd have to be to deserve you.”

She blushed at his praise, relieved by his words but still unconvinced. “I can't help but feel as if I'm abandoning my post, abandoning you, abandoning the royal house of Khaskem entirely.”

He stared at her without replying, finally coming to some inner decision about what to say. His quick glance around them to make sure they were still alone on the berm told her whatever it was, it remained between the two of them. “Because it would take an act of the gods to make you reveal a secret, I'm going to tell you something. Something only Ildiko knows until now.” He exhaled a slow breath as if bracing himself.

“Good gods, Brishen,” she said. “What is it?” She kept one of the darkest secrets of all for him—the knowledge he'd stripped the Kai of their magic in order to save them. Surely, this couldn't

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