Damien watched Sig fly off and shook his head. What had he gotten himself into? Or more accurately what had Karrie gotten him into? Sig was a problem for later. For now the king needed to know what had happened.

“That wasn’t the sort of greeting I expected,” Jen said as they walked toward the castle.

Damien shrugged. “Whoever expects to be challenged to a duel to the death?”

The guards opened the outer doors for them and Damien nodded as they strode past.

Jen glanced his way. “I wonder whatever possessed Karrie to tell that idiot you agreed to marry her.”

“That’s an excellent question. After we finish talking to Uncle Andy and my master I intend to find out.”

The next set of guards opened the door to the throne room. The king sat on his throne, the archmage on one side and the captain of the guard on the other. Damien had expected to see his father, but there was no sign of the king’s champion. Instead a giant of a man in blue and white fur-trimmed robes waited in front of the throne and a little to the left. Damien didn’t know the man, but judging from his size and dress he was probably Sig’s father. This could be awkward.

Damien and Jen stopped ten feet from the throne and bowed. “Majesty, we’ve completed our mission,” Jen said.

“Report,” Uncle Andy said.

Between them Jen and Damien gave a full accounting of the past few days. When they finished his master was smiling her evil smile. “Now we know where to find the son of a bitch. I’ll need two days to assemble a strike force. With your permission, my king.”

Uncle Andy nodded. “By all means. The sooner we can put an end to Connor Blackman the better I’ll feel.”

The archmage bowed and hurried out to, Damien assumed, send messages to both The Tower and whatever other sorcerers she might need. He hadn’t seen her so eager in weeks. Not that he blamed her—now that they had a solid lead on the warlock’s location they needed to act. That made Sig’s challenge seem even more of a waste of effort.

“There’s one other thing, Your Majesty,” Damien said.

“It’s about my son, right?” the big man said.

Damien glanced his way. “You’re Sig’s father?”

He nodded and the king said, “Damien, this is Duke Iceborn. He came south to thank you for what you did in the war last winter.”

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“Nice to meet you, my lord.” Damien bowed to the duke. He wanted to ask how he raised such an ass of a son, but that didn’t seem politic. “Sig just challenged me to a sorcerers’ duel to the death.”

The duke flinched and made a strangled sound. “What did you say?”

“I accepted, of course. Tomorrow at noon between the forest and the north gate.”

Uncle Andy sighed and shook his head. “I know Sig made the challenge and not you, but would you mind backing out?”

Damien cocked his head. He didn’t especially care about Sig one way or the other, but he didn’t want to have to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, especially since Sig would eventually become a duke. If the king made it a direct order he would have to, but Uncle Andy made it sound like it was his choice.

“I don’t know how I can and retain my honor. He struck me in front of a courtyard full of witnesses. If I back down it will make me seem a coward.”

The duke grabbed his arm and spun Damien around to face him. “Please. I know my son can be difficult and overly proud, but I love him. Please show him mercy.”

The show of fatherly warmth surprised Damien. It appeared even Sig had at least one person that would miss him. Damien sighed. “Do you have another child, my lord?”

The duke flinched and Damien understood how he might have misinterpreted the question. “I have a daughter, three years younger than Sig. Why?”

“I’ll make a bargain with you. You must know Sig lacks the temperament to be a good ruler. If you name your daughter your heir I won’t kill Sig in the duel tomorrow.”

Everyone in the room stared at him.

When he regained the ability to speak the duke said, “You want me to disinherit my son?”

“I don’t care what he inherits as long as it isn’t authority. Bad as he is now, can you imagine Sig with real power? I don’t say this to be cruel, but he’s a bully and as a duke he’d be a nightmare. In your heart you must know what I say is true.”

The duke groaned. “I do know it. I’ve known for years Sigurd wasn’t suited to rule the north, I just lacked the courage to do anything about it. I accept your terms. I’ll name Ingrid my heir and you back out of the duel with Sig.”

“No. I said I wouldn’t kill him and I won’t. But I can’t let him insult the princess and strike me in public. If he gets away with it once he might do it again. And I swear if he touches me again it will be the last time he touches anyone.”

The duke hung his head. “So be it. Excuse me, my king.”

The duke slunk out of the throne room like a whipped dog. When he’d gone the king said, “That wasn’t terribly diplomatic, Damien.”

Jen swatted his shoulder. “Bargaining with a duke, that’s rather bold, little brother.”

Damien looked from one to the other. “I thought I was pretty generous. By law I’m within my rights to simply kill Sig in the duel tomorrow. That would have eliminated him as heir and threat in one go. I figured offering the deal would put the duke in your debt. Should I have just killed him?”

“No, Damien.” Uncle Andy shook his head. “What you did wasn’t the real problem, it was the way you did it. Offering a bargain then dictating the terms to a man as powerful as Duke Iceborn was rude. He’s used to a more subtle touch.”

This was why Damien hated politics. “I’m not good at subtle. I prefer direct and honest. Unless you need me for anything I have to talk to Karrie.”

Uncle Andy waved his hand. “You’ve got a busy day tomorrow. Take the rest of the day to rest. Outstanding work, both of you.”

They both bowed and left the throne room.

When the doors had closed behind them Jen grinned. “I wonder what Karrie will have to say.”