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anger in every stride, and he was fully prepared to bear the brunt of it.
    “This is not how I wanted to achieve victory.” Xander’s voice was shaking with indignation.
    “Does it matter?” Cynric asked, but he already knew the answer before Xander even answered.
    “It does to a moral man,” Xander said.
    Cynric stood, closing the book he’d been reading. “I deserve that,” he said. “And I know you are a man of action, a soldier. But consider, Xander, that there are many weapons in a war. Was it so wrong to use the villagers’ beliefs to our advantage? We knew spring was coming to Windbourne; it had already come to the south. Had we relied on breaking them militarily, in the time it took, more would have died from hunger. Ultimately, promising a new king who could restore spring won our objective from within. We overthrew Avin; isn’t that what you wanted?”
    “I wanted a fair fight, Cynric,” Xander shot back, clenching and unclenching his fist as he paced. “I didn’t want her maligned and disgraced for something she couldn’t control.”
    Cynric arched a thin brow. “You speak very passionately on behalf of a woman you claim not to love.”
    Xander placed his hands on his hips and moved over to where the advisor sat. “Don’t test me, Cynric.”
    “I deserved that, too,” Cynric said coolly. Then he sighed. “I serve two masters in this house, Xander—you and your father. You are both very different men. Your father was in favor of this plan.”
    “I should have been told!” Xander slammed a fist down on the table, nearly upsetting a cup of wine. But the advisor didn’t flinch.
    “I agree.” Cynric nodded. “And I hope you can forgive me and accept that I will never betray you again.”
    “Were it any other man, Cynric, I would not forgive,” Xander finally said with a weary shake of his head. “I know you have my best interest at heart. But now I understand Avin’s hatred for me.” He paused. “Although, in truth, how could she have ever loved me if she betrayed me.”
    “Hmm…” Cynric tented his fingers. “She resents you for lying to her people, even though you had nothing to do with it. You resent her for lying to you when she said she loved you. Are you sure that was her plan? Do you really know the story behind her betrayal?”
    “How could I? Avin would give me angry tears before words.”
    Cynric chuckled. “I’ve always found the best way to find information, my liege, is to ask. Perhaps just as you draw out her submission through training, you can also draw from her the truth of what actually happened.”
    “I’m not sure I want to know,” Xander said. “Already my father bristles over Avin being allowed to live. I’m quite sure he’ll be even angrier when he hears I’m moving her from that tower.”
    “Your father is not as wise, or as good, as you are, Your Highness,” Cynric said. “From the time you were a lad, I knew you’d be the better man. I believe he knows it, too. And you understand matters as your father does not. Things ebb and flow, and wrongs have a way of being righted. Yes, you must master Avin, but in a way that makes her your ally. Perhaps if you take the time to learn her story, you will earn her obedience, and her trust.” The advisor put a hand on Xander’s shoulder. “You cannot have spring without winter.” Cynric winked knowingly. “Remember that.”

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “I trust the new chamber is to your liking?”
    It was the first time he’d seen Avin since having her moved from the drafty tower to the large room next to his, complete with adjoining quarters a nursemaid to replace the two he’d dismissed from caring for Avin.
    “As confinement goes, my own room is better than a prison tower,” she said, but he noted she did not thank him.
    “You’ll find your new maid to be an improvement over the other two.” Xander crossed his broad arms over his chest. “I do not want cold surroundings or care to distract