Page 105 of The Concubine King
Ethyr bit his lips together.
She clenched her fists, still striding back and forth.“That’s why Lyrian needs to get rid of him.”
“Lyrian doesn’t need to get rid of anyone,” Ethyr said.“I know it’s a shame to lose someone like Gionan—”
Poyut whipped to face him.“It’s not a shame, Ethyr!It’s a ploy!How can you not see that?Now all he needs is to get rid of the servant steward and me, and he’ll have complete control over the palace and you.”
“I wouldn’t let him do that,” Ethyr assured her.
“You let him do this!”Poyut cried.
“Lyrian interrogated the staff and all trails led to Gionan,” he replied firmly.Poyut scoffed.“Maybe you don’t want to believe Gionan is capable of something like this, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t.He dislikes Lyrian as much as all the others.He was very loyal to Yorith, you know that.He’s perfectly capable of strategizing a way to undermine Lyrian’s authority—”
“Ethyr!”Poyut huffed, exasperated.“You’ve known Gionan for months now, and you take Lyrian at his word instead of considering that he may be lying?”
“He has no reason to lie,” Ethyr told her sharply.
“He has every reason!”
“Regardless,” Ethyr interjected loudly.“Lyrian has the authority to dismiss and hire whoever he wants without reason, doesn’t he?If he wanted to be rid of Gionan he could have done it weeks ago.Even if you don’t agree with his decision, that doesn’t mean he cannot make it.”
“Not if you disagree.What reason has he given you, other than his word, to possibly make you believe Gionan suddenly abandoned all his morals?”
Ethyr sighed, rubbing his temple.“He… it’s…” He closed his eyes.He couldn’t tell Poyut the truth, that Gionan hadn’t made it all up.Certainly not in the middle of the palace halls.“I can’t tell you,” he said.“You just have to trust me, he had good reason.”
“Why don’t you trustme?”Poyut demanded.
Ethyr looked up at her incredulously.“Seriously?You told Yorith everything I let you know in confidence!”
“I told you why I had to,” she replied sharply.
“You didn’t have to!”he exclaimed.“You made everything worse!”
“Imade everything worse?”she scoffed.“I was trying to protect you.I’m trying to protect you!”
“I don’t need your protection,” Ethyr snapped.“I don’t need you treating me like a child.I’m your king, not your brother.”
She opened her mouth, but his last word closed it, and she looked at him with a hurt offense that went beyond their argument.Ethyr’s resolve quickly shattered.
“I’m sorry,” he exhaled, looking away from her.“I didn’t mean to…” He shook his head.“I’m just sick of being treated like a prop with no thoughts or knowledge of my own.I deserve trust, too.And respect.”
He dared a peek back at her.Offense had softened to sadness.She sighed and dragged a hand over her face.
“Come with me.”She turned and stalked out of the palace, not giving Ethyr any time for questions or doubt.He hurried after.
“To where?”
“You’ll see.”
Poyut saddled her own horse while a stable boy prepared one for Ethyr, and like before, Ethyr mostly had to sit and let his mount follow Poyut’s.
“Are you sure we should be going alone?”he asked nervously as they trekked down the mountainside towards the city.
“I can’t risk bringing anyone else.”
They didn’t go far into the city.Along the top roads were the beautifully pristine houses of the government officials, guild heads, or the wealthy.None of them, not even the servants rushing about, showed any interest in them.Poyut stopped in front of a tall house with columns up its sides, wrapped with ivy.Beside the entrance archway was a little table with a bell, which Poyut rang.A short, plump woman popped into the doorway and regarded them expectantly.
“The divine king, here to see Justice Malor,” Poyut said.The woman looked twice at Ethyr, then dipped into a bow.
