Page 403 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

Cyrus

Freya slipped out of my arms to follow August into the hallway. I needed no invitation to do the same.

“I meant Porter, senior,” Kade clarified, his haunted eyes flicking between us and the man in question.

“Gotta be more specific, Beetlejuice. I’m here now, so get over it,” she chirped, patting Orion on the shoulder as he squeezed past us and into the hallway.

Kade nervously looked to August before sighing in apparent exasperation when August’s only response was a curt nod.

“She’s good.”

“Very well.” Kade’s shadows hissed and slithered around mine, his energy expanding as he ran a palm over his stubbled jaw, taking up more room than he should’ve, as if his hold on his power was fraying. “There’s movement in the north of the isles.”

“What kind of movement?” August asked, crossing his arms as he studied the necromancer.

“Bellpost was originally along the Northumbrian border.”

“Thanks for the geography lesson,” Freya said, quirking her head as she evaluated him, her hazel-ringed jades narrowing.

“I fear they’re stirring up dissent among old allies.”

“In Scotland?” I asked. He nodded. “How so?”

“When the necromancers forced the king’s hand, his daughter was the price, but the loyalty of their bloodline has remained true to tradition.”

“Meaning...”

“We might have an advantage we’ve left unexploited.”

“You think their loyalties are still divided?” I cocked my head. “We came from matriarchs.”

“You did,” Kade agreed. “And if this theory you all have⁠—”

“You’re gonna have to be more specific, we’re working out quite a few,” Freya pointed out, and I smirked at her. Why the fuck was she needling him?

“The Arlo theory,” he said. “If the prince was truly sired by someone else, there’s a chance a faction of the bloodline doesn’t acknowledge him.”

“But if the queen loved the father, others might follow Adrastos,” I deduced.

“It’s been centuries,” August argued. “You think there’s still infighting over succession?”

“Much like our mortal counterparts, the resentment of having their culture stripped was alive and well prior to the war.” Kade chewed his lip. “I have reason to believe the intel your witches acquired—about Elizabeth and Adrastos being the favored heirs—still has legs.”

“Adrastos dies with the others,” August declared with no room for debate.

“And in doing so, you unite them all.”

“What intel?” Freya pressed.

“There appear to be three factions within the Balaskas ranks.”

“Does that include yours?” she asked sharply. Okay, I was officially missing something. I tugged Freya into my side, and she went pliant, but her eyes stayed on the necromancer, shields tight.

“By and large, my people were loyal to Koa and Khaos.”

“So… no?”

“No, but Bellpost…” He canted his head from one side to the other, weighing his words.