Read Angelaeon Circle 2 - Eye of the Sword for Free Online Page B

strong sense of destiny, and he could snarl like a lion when he was angry—another reason to keep parts of the past well hidden.
    “I’m sorry you missed dinner.” Trevin rubbed ointment on his upper arm.
    “I don’t regret missing the king’s excesses,” said Jarrod, “but I do regret losing an opportunity to study our three guests.”
    “You’ll have your chance. Unfortunately, they may be here a while.”
    Dwin ducked into the room. “They’re lodging at the palace. With their dog.”
    “And you procured them the best rooms, didn’t you?” Trevin put the lid on the ointment and wiped his hands. “No doubt you played nursemaid and told them a bedtime story.”
    “I did not. I saw only where they’re staying.”
    “So you can join them for ale in the morning?” asked Trevin.
    “Cork the venom,” said Jarrod. “You know what feuding between brothers leads to. You’ve seen Rejius and Benasin fight.”
    “They’re immortal,” said Trevin.
    “Which only means that if you two feud, you’ll have less time to make it right before the end.” Jarrod gave them a stern look and headed down the hall.
    Dwin pulled an amphora from a trunk and unplugged it. “A little wine? As a peace offering?”
    Trevin snatched the amphora and plug from Dwin’s hands. “I’ve had my fill of peace offerings.” He replaced the stopper, but his anger was not as easily bottled. He shook the amphora at Dwin. “You cloud your mind with this stuff.”
    “No I don’t. It makes me feel good.”
    “Can’t you feel good without a drink? Too much of this stuff numbs you.”
    “It makes me happy.” Dwin rolled out his mat.
    “Has it ever occurred to you that Rejius supplied you with strong drink to keep you happily in his control?”
    “He provided you with drink too. And women. He never brought me women.”
    “Rejius never controlled me that way.”
    “No?” Dwin snorted. “You did everything he asked of you.”
    “Because of
you
, Dwin. Lord Rejius knew I’d do anything to safeguard you. He threatened your life to control me.”
    “Don’t tell me you weren’t in it for yourself as well.” Dwin plopped onto his mat.
    Trevin huffed. His brother would never know the compromises made for his sake. “At least we had the sense to get out before the king hanged us.”
    “
You
had the sense, and I went along. Now you’re to be a comain. As for me—”
    “You’ll stand up for yourself and become something more than a drunkard, I hope.” Trevin slipped the amphora back into the trunk.
    “It’s settled, then,” said Dwin. “You’ll be a comain, and I’ll be a spy. Like the Asp.”
    “The Asp lives in the Dregmoors. No one knows who he is. You’ve no notion of what his life is like or what danger he faces to send information to the Angelaeon.”
    “Exactly.” Dwin lay down. “I’ll be a spy. I’m practicing already.” He yanked his cloak over his head.
    Trevin yanked it off. “What do you mean you’re practicing already?”
    “I’m spying on the Dregmoorians. When they walked into the tavern at Drywell, I recognized the skinny one.”
    “Fornian.”
    “Dagger devil.” Dwin rubbed his throat. “I saw him in Redcliff over a year ago. About the time Lord Rejius became the king’s physician.”
    “Then why didn’t Fornian lead them to Redcliff?”
    “They’d still have been stopped at the gate. Varic wanted someone to get them inside without a confrontation. I told them I could take them straight to the palace.”
    Trevin threw Dwin’s cloak at him. “You should have stopped drinking one beer before that. Give it up, Dwin, before you’re as burdened with regrets as I am. No more spying.”
    “Too late.” Dwin dug into his waist sash and brought out a small scroll. “You’re not the only one who can pinch a pouch.”
    “Whose pouch?”
    “Hesel’s.” Dwin tossed the scroll to Trevin.
    “Hangman’s noose, Dwin! Sometimes I think you have no more sense than your