Golmin looked up to see Ettrias step through the doorway of Red Wolf’s room, Ashera in tow. One look at his guilty expression told the captain that the queen had already talked to him, and the conversation had gone less than favourably. Golmin sighed and refrained from making any comment.
“I’ve never seen him bleed,” he said instead. “We’d spar in private with sharpened blades. Every hit I landed, he would heal from instantly. This is…well, I don’t know what to make of it.”
“Funny how he’s just an ordinary man without his powers,” Ettrias said.
“But he’ll…he’ll get better, won’t he?” Ashera asked. “I don’t want him to die. I don’t want to be alone…” Her bottom lip wobbled.
“You’re not alone.” Ettrias crouched and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’ve got me, you’ve got Rufus, my sister the queen of all people…we’ll look after you. Promise.”
Ashera burst into tears.
“Oh…Ashera… Shh.” Ettrias pulled her into an awkward hug and looked to Golmin for help. The captain gave him an incredulous look.
Orrlát, why do I always end up doing this?
“Here, come with me.” He stood and stretched out a hand to the girl. “We’ll get you some hot cocoa from the kitchen. You’ll feel better in no time. A warm drink always helps.”
Ashera sniffled and looked up, lip still wobbling. Golmin offered his best reassuring smile and wriggled his fingers.
“Go on, it’ll help,” Ettrias said. “Really.”
Ashera took Golmin’s hand hesitantly and allowed him to lead her from the room. Together, they made their way down to the kitchen, where he awkwardly explained the situation to the cooks in Torrian and asked if they had any hot cocoa for the girl. One of the serving ladies who could understand the Elven language took pity on her and offered to let her help with making some honey cakes.
“Thank you,” Golmin said to the Drakel woman.
“It’s no trouble at all,” she said. “It must be a difficult time for all of you, being so far from home.”
“We’re coping,” Golmin said. “You’ll be alright here, Ashera?”
The girl nodded. “It’ll…be nice…to make some honey cakes.”
“Alright. Behave yourself and stay out of trouble.” Golmin ruffled her hair and returned to Ettrias alone.
“How is she?” the prince asked once he’d taken a seat again.
“A little better. I think,” Golmin said.
He knew Red Wolf had always felt responsible for the girl since he returned with Arnas from the Battle of Fallbjorn with her in tow. The town was razed, its people scattered, and despite Red Wolf’s protests, Arnas had refused to spend some of their strained resources to help the civilian survivors. The royal bodyguard had, however, insisted on satisfying one dying woman’s plea to take her daughter to Belanore and keep her safe.
Was it worth it?
Red Wolf would probably tell him that it was.
“I’m…sorry if telling the queen about Wormwood has resulted in any unpleasantness between you two,” Golmin said after a beat. “I had hoped to keep you out of trouble, but…”
“Better that she knows sooner than later,” Ettrias said. “Besides, things have changed. Maybe it’s a good thing that you came to warn her.”
“Why did you ally yourself with Wormwood?” Golmin asked. “Why work to not only overthrow the queen, but destroy her reputation? Why didn’t you tell me anything?”
“I knew you wouldn’t approve.” Ettrias looked away. “When I first came to Belanore, I had no idea that Talin was clueless about my father’s plan. I thought she was part of it, the same as Red Wolf. I had to have revenge.”
“Revenge.” Golmin scoffed. “I considered joining you. Working with Wormwood and putting you back on the throne, like it was supposed to be. But going to all these lengths for revenge? This isn’t like you.”
“I was angry at the world for abandoning me. Angry enough that I wanted to get back at the people who wronged me,” Ettrias said. “That’s…changed. I thought I was angry at my sister, at Red Wolf. That’s faded now that I know she had no idea what our father did. If she had, she wouldn’t have stood by and done nothing. And Red Wolf…well, I haven’t forgiven him yet. But I now know why he did it.”
Golmin didn’t respond.
“I suppose I owe you an apology for going behind your back. Forcing you to choose between me and your duty to the Crown.”
“I would probably have joined you if you’d asked.”
Ettrias huffed a half-laugh. “It’s a good thing you didn’t. As it stands, it’s not too late to undo the damage that Wormwood has caused. I hope.”
“You’re serious about this?” Golmin asked. “Fixing things, I mean.”
“Yes,” Ettrias said. “I want my name cleared. After that…maybe the two of us still have a chance to pick up where we left off ten years ago.”
Golmin cracked a smile. “That would be good.”
Ettrias glanced at Red Wolf. “I just wish…it wasn’t him. Father could have sent someone else. Anyone. Hired some abijo assassin. But he used Red Wolf instead.”
“It’s all in the past now,” Golmin said. “Red Wolf made his choice.”
He had to admit, much as he still wanted to be upset at the man, that there had been little ‘choice’ in such a matter at all; Red Wolf would either condemn Ettrias or himself. And perhaps it was ultimately a selfish decision, but Golmin understood why he made it all the same. Refusing the king would never have gone well for someone like him.
Ettrias quirked an eyebrow. “Are you still mad at him? You’re not the only one he’s kept secrets from. Talin didn’t talk to him for a week when she found out about his Hellhound abilities.”
“I thought…we trusted each other.” Golmin shook his head. “Turns out he’s been lying to me for ten years.”
And if he had told you, then what?
“I count it as a good thing you didn’t know,” Ettrias said. “Knowing how far my father went to pull off his plan…”
Golmin understood. If he had known, if Red Wolf had told him, and Arnas had found out, there was no way he would have escaped the king’s wrath. Arnas would have made certain that he never told another soul.
There was a knock on the door. Ettrias stood and went to answer it, revealing a messenger.
“Kadis’ search parties have returned,” the Drakel said. “He asks that you attend his war meeting, Prince Ettrias.”
“I’ll be down in a moment,” Ettrias said. He turned back to Golmin. “Well, duty calls, or whatever the seven hells you guards like to say. We’ll have to catch up some other time.”
“Of course,” the captain said. “I’ll see you later.”
The door creaked, and then Ettrias was gone. Golmin turned his attention back to Red Wolf.
“Get better soon, you big oaf,” he muttered. “I promise not to be too mad at you when you wake up.”
I don’t know what I’ll do otherwise. He didn’t voice the thought.