“Darkwin.” King Damir waved his fingers, summoning Kael forward. “I understand you were in the market.”

Kael dipped his chin. “A few scattered ravagers managed to slip past the line. They were set on breaching the palace. My fellow Stav, myself, and Mikkal Jakobson caught them.”

“Yes. I heard the Jakobson heir was wounded.” Damir rubbed his chin and looked to Edvin’s son. “And you, boy. You are here since I understand you were present when my Berserkir was slaughtered.”

With a gentle nudge, Edvin urged his boy forward. Next to Damir, the child looked thin and fragile. “There were monsters.”

“Boy’s first encounter with a true warrior.” Damir chuckled and bent forward. “Sometimes, while in the throes of battle, a warrior may seem monstrous.”

“He went for Súlka Bien and the other monster helped save her.”

King Damir looked to Edvin for clarification.

“My son believes he saw the Draven assassin who leads the ravagers, sire.”

“Skul Drek. The wraith of Dravenmoor.” Damir’s movements were stiff as he descended the steps of the dais. “And why, exactly, was my melder near a Draven assassin?”

“Bad seed, that one,” King Hundur grumbled. “Talented, but bad seed, Damir.”

I curled a fist around the hilt of my blade.

“Easy, cousin.” Emi spoke from the corner of her mouth. “No need to have everyone question your loyalties.”

“You consider my melder your kin, Darkwin.” The king clasped his hands behind his back and squared his shoulders to Kael. “What do you know of it?”

“I spoke with Lyra in the healer’s wing,” Kael said. “She was unharmed, but from what I understand, Berserkir Ake had succumbed to the berserksgangur. However, instead of the strength of his melded bones guiding him toward ravagers, the bloodlust was aimed at the boy and the melder.”

The king hummed, a cruel sneer on his mouth. “And why was my melder beyond the palace gates?”

Kael hesitated. “She admitted it was foolish. The Sentry saw her safely in her chamber, but she left shortly after. She told me the thought of…those she cared for being at risk spurred her to act, my king.”

King Damir huffed. “Foolish indeed. What do you know of her interactions with the assassin?”

“Marvel that she came out alive,” Queen Ingir muttered with a touch of disappointment.

Perhaps the queen lived for a good tale; perhaps she despised soul bones as much as the ravagers.

“I do not know much, sire,” Kael said. “From what young Krisjan has said, it seems the Berserkir was entangled with the assassin, and both the boy and melder used it as an opportunity to escape.”