‘But I have no desire to be in any faction-’
‘You’re the King’s Champion, brother. As I see it, you have little choice.’
‘Tehol, I am hopeless at such games of intrigue.’
‘So say nothing. Ever.’
‘What good will that do?’
‘You’ll convince them you’re smarter than they are. Even scarier, that you know everything. You can see through all their facades-’
‘But I can’t see through all that, Tehol. Therefore, I’m not smarter.’
‘Of course you are. You just need to treat it like a duel. In fact, treat everything like a duel. Feint, parry, disengage, all that complicated stuff.’
‘Easy for you to say,’ Brys muttered.
They fell silent, staring out over the dark city. Oil lamps lit the canal walks, but the water itself was black as ink, winding like ribbons of oblivion between the squat, hulking buildings. Other lights swung in motion down the streets, carried by people going about their tasks. For all that, darkness dominated the scene.
Brys stared up at the nearest tier, watched a few lanterns slide along the span like minuscule moons. ‘I have been thinking about Hull,’ he said after a time.
‘I would hold out little hope,’ Tehol said. ‘Our brother’s desires have nothing to do with self-preservation. It is in his mind, I believe, that he is going to die soon.’
Brys nodded.
‘And,’ Tehol continued, ‘if he can, in so doing he will also take down as much of Lether as possible. For that reason alone, someone will stop him. With finality.’
‘And vengeance against those murderers will be expected of me,’ Brys said.
‘Not necessarily,’ Tehol said. ‘After all, your foremost loyalty is to your king.’
‘Superseding even that to my family?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘To do nothing would be seen as cowardice. Worse yet, I do not think I could face Hull’s killers without reaching for my sword.’
‘You may have to, Brys. Of course,’ Tehol added, ‘I am not so bound by such prohibitions.’
Brys studied his brother for a long moment. ‘You would avenge Hull?’
‘Count on it.’