“Wyrga has been in my family’s service for many years,” Kaen said as he began to pace. The mountains shone behind him like a crown of glory, the sun reflecting off perfect blue-white peaks. “I have been warned many times not to trust her, but I have always dismissed those warnings because she has served us so well. Isn’t that right, Wyrga?”

The old woman groveled. “Yes, my lord. Yes, I have always served you. I have always done whatever you’ve asked of me.”

“You’re gaeshed, Wyrga,” Kaen said, hand around a necklace at his throat. “What choice do you have?”

“None, my lord.”

“Gaeshed? But—” I realized my mouth had dropped open. If Suless was gaeshed, that explained a great deal. I just hadn’t realized it was possible to gaesh a god-king.

“Do you know who the father of Veixizhau’s child is?” Duke Kaen asked me.

“I—” I hadn’t expected to be asked that. “No, I don’t.”

“My son. Veixizhau’s baby will be my grandchild.”

I blinked. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Duke Kaen snapped. “Wyrga’s idea, of course. She convinced Veixizhau to seduce my son, Exidhar, fed the woman some drivel about being able to change my son’s child into my child. Lies. Wyrga fully intended to reveal what Veixizhau had done. I’d have killed my philandering wife and Exidhar for that, thus executing both my son and grandchild. Now that was an act fit to feed a goddess of betrayal, wasn’t it, Wyrga? Wasn’t it?”

Wyrga cried out, “Yes, my lord!”

I met Senera’s eyes. In that moment, I realized Kaen knew exactly who Wyrga really was.

He already knew Wyrga was Suless. He’d always known.

He sat down on the table’s edge, shaking his head. “Thank you, Wyrga. It’s always best when you tell the truth.” He looked … hurt. Disappointed. And still furiously angry. “But I hope you realize you will have to be punished.”

“My Hon,” Senera began. “I must advise caution—”

“I will handle this myself, sorceress. You’ve done your job. You are, in fact, free to leave.”

Senera reached down and picked up the Name of All Things, tucked the stone into her bodice. “Your Grace, please—” But she didn’t finish the sentence. Leaving whatever she might have said unspoken, Senera gave me a sympathetic look and walked out the door.

I felt rather abandoned, to be honest.

As soon as the door slammed shut, Azhen Kaen turned to Wyrga and said, “Pluck out your eyes.”

I wasn’t certain if Wyrga gasped or if I had. Maybe both.

I hadn’t truly understood how evil gaeshe were until then. And no matter how I felt about Wyrga, I couldn’t stand by while he forced her to do this.

“No!” I shouted, but her hand moved to her face.

I reached for her, grabbed her wrist, but Wyrga shoved me away.