Tolomon and Indenuel walked in the house, moving toward the sitting room. Indenuel didn’t want to dismiss an Oraminian, as they usually asked for healing. Hopefully it would be quick, and he could get back to Inessa.

Tolomon walked in first, taking everything in before striding up to the Oraminian man.

“Hand it over,” Tolomon said, a firmness in his voice.

“Hand what over?” the Oraminian asked, his Santollian pretty good, but covered in an accent.

“The weapon you’re hiding. You will not speak with Indenuel until it is in my hand,” Tolomon said.

The Oraminian sighed before reaching down his pants and taking out the sheathed knife. Tolomon took it before walking away and giving Indenuel a nod.

“How’d you know it was down there? You one of those flooders?” the Oraminian asked.

“I simply know where Pablo checks and where he doesn’t. I also know who you are, and don’t want you armed,” Tolomon said.

The Oraminian narrowed his eyes before turning his gaze onto Indenuel, giving a stiff, Santollian bow. “An honor, Warrior.”

Indenuel glanced between Tolomon and this Oraminian. Tolomon was clearly on edge. Granted, Tolomon was always more guarded around Oraminians he didn’t know, but this was different. Tolomon clearly did know him. Despite trusting so many other Oraminians, there was something in his gut that told him to wait and see with this one.

“Indenuel of Mountain Pass,” he said, trying to ease the tension in the room.

“Darshin of Danwal,” the man said. Indenuel swore under his breath, then shot a look at Tolomon. His bodyguard kept a wary eye on the man. “It is an honor to finally meet you.”

Indenuel folded his arms. “I have… heard much about you.”

Darshin shrugged. “Rumors and gossip, no doubt, judging by the way you clearly distrust me. But it’s alright. I get that a lot. You can’t trust me because I’m Oraminian.”

“I can’t trust you because my Oraminian friends are the ones telling me of your devilish deeds,” Indenuel said.

“Oh, come now, Warrior. You of all people know the danger of listening to rumors without hearing a person out. Just look at your wife, Inessa.”

Indenuel despised the way Darshin said her name, and he found his fingers curling. If the rumors were true, Darshin was the reason she was kidnapped in the first place by Kiam.

The Oraminian smiled, taking the silence as an opportunity to talk. “I am here to offer my services. Clearly, you’d like to take down the High Elders, and I can-”

“No,” Indenuel said, turning around and heading for the door.

“Come now, Warrior, I have unmatched skills. I can give you information about the High Elders no one else can,” Darshin said.

“And you will undoubtedly do the same for the High Elders about me. I will not play this game,” Indenuel said.

“Oh, you’re already in it,” Darshin said as Indenuel opened the door and stepped aside for the man to leave. “I’ve just talked to High Elder Navir this morning and he’s already gathering information about you and your little group. He knows how to play the game, and your desires to simply not play it will cause you to lose.”

“I hate liars and hypocrites,” Indenuel said, his glare darkening, ushering Darshin out the door. “The world needs less of them. I will not become one to end another.”

“Are you honestly willing to put your wife at risk again for this? Don’t you want to protect her?” Darshin said.

Something in him cracked. He couldn’t pretend. Not in front of this Oraminian. Indenuel slammed the door, taking a step toward the man. “Were you responsible for my wife’s kidnapping all those months ago?” Darshin’s face fell, and that was all Indenuel needed to know. “Remember what I said about liars, Darshin? I strongly suggest you don’t lie to me.”

“She’s fine now! This has nothing to do with…” he was backing away from Indenuel, hitting the wall. Tolomon was there, a hand against Indenuel’s chest to keep him from getting any closer.

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“Don’t do something you’ll regret. He’s not worth it,” Tolomon said.

“Answer the damn question!” Indenuel seethed.

“I didn’t know they would kidnap her!”

Indenuel closed his eyes, taking a steadying breath, but it didn’t work. He threw his wrist out before Tolomon could stop him, hitting Darshin in the gut with corrupted pain. The Oraminian gasped, collapsing to the ground.

“Indenuel, no!” Tolomon said, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back.

Darshin screamed, holding his stomach. “I gave them information that there were rumors you liked her, and where she usually went near the wall, but I didn’t realize she went over it. I swear I didn’t! It wasn’t my fault!”

With a will Indenuel didn’t know he possessed, he broke out of Tolomon’s grip and headed straight for Darshin, who whimpered, backing away. Indenuel got two good kicks in before Tolomon tackled him to the ground.

“Get out of here, Darshin!” Tolomon said, pinning Indenuel’s wrists to his arms.

“I didn’t mean-”

“Dammit, man, if you want to live, you will get out of this room right now!” Tolomon said.

Darshin stumbled out of the room, cradling his stomach. Indenuel struggled under Tolomon’s grip. “That man could have killed Inessa! You’re letting him go!”

“She’s alive. She’s fine. I’m not letting you go until I know you won’t murder him with corruption,” Tolomon said.

“He deserves to die! No one wants him alive, and he’s just going to keep spreading secrets for his own personal gain to Navir! No one like that should stay alive long! I’d do the world a favor sending him to Hell!”

“Indenuel?” Inessa asked, sounding out of breath. She took two steps in before her eyes widened, staring at the scene before her. Indenuel pinned to the ground by Tolomon, shouting and screaming.

“Tolomon is letting Darshin escape!” Indenuel said, trying again to break out of Tolomon’s grip, but he wasn’t letting him. “The man responsible for you getting kidnapped! The man who has caused so much pain!”

Inessa was on her knees, touching his face. “Indenuel, enough. That was in the past.”

“And the man is still alive today.” Indenuel struggled again to break free. “As long as he’s still alive, you are in danger.”

“Stop, Indenuel. I will not have you kill anymore. Enough of this,” Inessa said.

“Then look the other way while I kill this disgusting rodent. That’s all he is. A rat. Kill him and we’re all so much better off,” Indenuel said.

Inessa’s face dropped, a distinct look of fear in her eyes. Indenuel managed to keep her gaze for all of four heartbeats before he had to look away. The anger was consuming him again. He didn’t realize how much his wrists itched until the anger started to ebb away. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

“Sir,” Pablo said, poking his head into the door, trying too hard not to react to the scene before him. “You’re guest?”

Indenuel glared at the ground. “He’s gone. And I do not wish to see him again. Ever. For his own safety.”

“Understood, sir.”

Tolomon let Indenuel go, and he stood up, brushing himself off. He still felt like this was a huge mistake. He had killed better men than Darshin. This was an easy kill, one he knew would bring more peace. He could go back to the Oraminian dwelling and spend time with them instead of them coming to him if Darshin was about. He wouldn’t have to worry about what secrets he was gathering to give to Navir. He should have killed him. This was a mistake.

He looked at Inessa, the fear still there in her eyes and he had to look away again. Tolomon was next to him, taking the collar of his shirt and pulling it down enough to see a faint, pink line. Inessa’s eyes widened.

“You need to see Martin and confess what happened,” Tolomon said.

“Like hell I do,” Indenuel said, pushing his arm away. “I’ve gotten rid of marks darker than this on my own.”

“You are being a stubborn ass. If you still have the mark by the time you’re asleep, you’re going to-”

“I won’t have it when I sleep,” Indenuel said, pushing past him. “I will be in my study meditating. It will be gone by dinnertime.”

“Indenuel, this isn’t-” Inessa started to say.

“Enough!” Indenuel snapped. “I don’t need lectures, I don’t need threats. I can do this on my own! I will never go to those murdering High Elders for anything!”

He spun around, heading for his study, afraid of what he might do if either one of them tried to stop him.

***

It was late, the four stars twinkling in the sky. Martin picked up the quill again, staring at the blank piece of paper. He wrote the thing he had always written at the top of every blank page.

My dearest Sara,

He stared at the rest of the page, waiting as he tried to filter out the pain and the hurt. Despite the progress they were making on reforming the concubine law, there was one thing he doubted could ever be resolved. But as he told his sons, a nobleman needed to be the one to offer his sincere apology first. He was so hesitant because part of him knew she would reject it, and he knew he deserved the rejection. Twenty-five years he had lied to her. Slept with other women. Created a family so large he had accidentally slept with one of them.

I never meant to cause you harm.

Martin crossed it out, frowning. Twenty-five years ago, he somehow knew where this journey would take him. He knew Sara would find out eventually. If not in this life, then she would assuredly find out in the next. He knew this would cause her harm.

I didn’t want you to find out this way.

He crossed that sentence out too. He had been given plenty of opportunities to tell her. Indenuel even pointed it out, waiting for him to tell her. If he hadn’t wanted her to find out this way, he should have told her sooner.

I am a selfish pig that does not deserve the love you have given me these past four decades. I will wallow in hell for the rest of eternity because of the pain this has caused you, and it will still not be a long enough punishment.

Martin went to cross it out, but that was the first true thing he had written down. He crumpled up the paper and threw it on the mountain of other papers near his desk before grabbing his barely touched cup of tea and adding a healthy dose of North Dengrian liquor.