A smile quirked on his mouth. “Teach me, Tryneowy, how to please you. I long to tell you stories of my childhood, how I had to flee for my life. How I retook the city of my fathers and outmaneuvered the Wizrs at first. How I earned each of my wounds and battle scars. I long to hear the stories of your youth. Of the mischief you made. Stories of your father and how he outmaneuvered King Severn.” He came closer and lifted her chin, gazing down at her. His thumb brushed against her mouth, at the frown that would not yield. “How this happened to you. And how you faced it with courage. You are so beautiful, Tryneowy, and you are even more desirable in your armor. What else do you fear? The fate of your king? You saw what I did with Sunilik. He is one of my greatest advisors. Surely I will honor such a man.”

His mention of King Sunilik shifted Trynne’s thoughts to Rani Reya. She had sent her to find Elwis and bring him and his men to Dundrennan. Was she trapped in the blizzard with him? Would she perish if Trynne did not come to terms with Gahalatine?

So many lives depended on her decision. The weight of it nearly suffocated her.

“What?” he said, growing concerned. His fingers stroked through her hair. “What concerns you? I cannot bear to see you in pain. Is it that you wish for King Andrew to retain his title? In most cases, I have replaced the rulers of the lands I’ve conquered. But that does not need to happen here. What are you worrying about? Tell me!”

She looked him in the eye and stepped away from him.

“Gahalatine,” she said, shaking her head. “You have waged this war unjustly. We did not provoke you. Your Wizrs have been spying on us, I think, from the poisoner school in Pisan. That is how they met Morwenna and hatched Rucrius’s plot. Our lands had united under King Andrew, and they saw we were becoming powerful, that we might, one day, pose a sufficient threat to the East Kingdoms. To their games. You are being used and manipulated, Gahalatine. Your advisors have tricked you. They’ve encouraged even more lavish spending so that you’ll be beholden to them and their wishes.” She clenched her fists before her. “They murdered my little brother and my father’s parents in an attempt to destroy me. I saw Gannon plummet to his death and I had to commit his body to the Deep Fathoms. Rucrius admitted his hand was in it after I captured him.” She lowered her fists. His eyes were wide with surprise and horror, but she did not give him time to respond. She continued, her manner fierce and bold.