Soryn just shrugged and opened the door for Ashiyn. There in the courtyard was the emissary. The tall man sat atop of a pristine griffin. The man's cloak, the griffin's armor, and the ridiculous banner all emissaries carried bore the unmistakable colors and crest of King Errance.
Ashiyn strolled down the stairs to the courtyard, imperious as always. "What brings the emissary of the world to my humble doorstep?"
The man looked him over as if to confirm Ashiyn’s identity, then cleared his throat and retrieved a scroll. He showed Ashiyn the official King's seal before ripping it open and reading from it. "The exalted Lord Errance, King of the World of Men…”
Ashiyn lost interest as the man continued with at least twenty more pointless titles. He crossed his arms as he waited for the message.
“He requests the presence of Lord Ashiyn, scourge and bane of the world of men, so that a treaty may be discussed in private." The emissary finished, then took a paper and a quill from the same bag and gave Ashiyn an expectant look over his rimmed spectacles.
"You may tell Lord Errance that I decline. I have no interest in a treaty." Ashiyn snorted and turned back to the entrance.
The emissary took quill to paper to write but stopped mid-way with a look of shock. "King Ashiyn, no one denies King Errance! Surely, reconsider."
Ashiyn paused to look back at him. "Very well. You may tell him the treaty I propose is that he steps down and allows me to take his place."
The emissary sputtered in disbelief and was still doing so by the time Ashiyn passed through the doorway.
Soryn closed the door behind them, then looked at Ashiyn. "Was that wise, my lord?"
"Lord Errance has fed the blood of his people to the darkness for long enough, don't you think? He doesn't have what it takes to rule." Ashiyn shook his head. "Be a good man and make me something else to eat. I am quite hungry."
Soryn's eyes betrayed his continued skepticism, but he bowed low to Ashiyn and disappeared to cook as ordered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Soryn made a meal as requested and set it in the dining room but declined the opportunity to join Ashiyn and Seraphine for dinner. Instead, he walked up to the very top of the castle. The day was stormy and grey and the waves surrounding the castle crashed loudly below and sizzled whenever they broke over the stone enough to reach lava. He sat down on the edge the roof, feet dangling to the dangerous sea below. Marista’s body was long gone, but he couldn’t help looking for it. What had driven the woman to that fate? Ashiyn was cold, but he never hurt the women he was bedding.
Soryn sighed and raised his gaze to focus on the clouds churning above. He loved to listen to the storms, though the apocalypse had drained the clouds of any rain. The wind whipped at the thick robes he wore, but the chill was refreshing after the heat of the castle. His gaze drifted to the dark tower in the distance. Though it lay in ruins now, Rurik’s former home still marred the horizon. He shuddered, his mind lost to memories of the day Ashiyn had saved him from being sacrificed at the top of that very tower. Did that Ashiyn still exist? Soryn thought he saw it from time to time, but he was not certain. It had been so long.
“Soryn, I have been calling for you,” Ashiyn’s voice rang out strongly against the wind.
Soryn looked over to watch Ashiyn saunter out onto the roof. Though it was well hidden, there was concern on his friend’s face. For a moment, Soryn felt shamed for making Ashiyn come back to the roof. He climbed back down to safety. “I’m sorry, my King. Did you need something?”
“No. I don’t need anything,” Ashiyn said, as his golden gaze turned from Soryn to look over the land stretched beyond the cliffs. “I remember riding with you over those plains. Remember, you thought Illusion would eat you?”
Soryn glanced across the cliff. Back in their childhood, the castle had stood on even ground with those plains, but time and battle had destroyed the land surrounding it. Rhadamanthus in his paranoia had made the castle an island on a cliff. The once beautiful plains were now nothing but dry dust, thanks to the apocalypse. “I remember,” Soryn said softly. “I wish we could go back to that time. All of the sneaking out together as young men, learning about the world and each other, even though it was forbidden.”
“What happened when I flung you away?” Ashiyn asked, his voice low.
Was that remorse that Soryn heard in his tone? Soryn glanced at Ashiyn. If that was what he heard it did not show on Ashiyn’s handsome face. His friend had made an art of hiding his emotional responses to anyone who was not close to him though. Perhaps the years had dulled Soryn’s ability to read Ashiyn. “I didn’t dare race back to you,” Soryn admitted. “I was afraid of Rhadamanthus using you to destroy me. I had to make sure you were in control before I came back. I went and trained the boys in Rurik’s tower until they were all grown men and could survive on their own. Then I helped them find good lives. It was rewarding to help them, but I missed you.” Soryn paused and met Ashiyn’s gaze. “I felt like I was dying every day I could not see you. So, I snuck in as your servant.”
Ashiyn’s eyes flashed with pain. “How long were you here?”
Soryn waved a hand to indicate Ashiyn should not worry about it. “It
