King’s Wrath

Corbel put his hands up defensively. ‘All right. Hush.’ His mind was racing. How could he keep this situation under control?

Barro’s confusion deepened, his brow almost hooding his eyes. ‘All right? All right?’ he demanded. ‘You mean you agree?’

Corbel sighed. ‘I clearly didn’t kill you,’ he said, his exasperation spilling.

‘It’s done,’ Evie said, sounding suddenly drained. ‘I’ve put him to sleep. We need to talk,’ she said, her voice hard, eyeing them both.

Barro shook his head. ‘I don’t understand any of this.’

Evie glared at Corbel. ‘Are you going to explain?’

He shook his head slightly. ‘You’re the one taking control. Why don’t you throw us straight into deeper danger? Your father —’ he began but was cut off by Evie.

‘My father, whoever he was, was a cowardly dog. If I’m to believe what you’ve been telling me then what on earth was in his head to think he was doing me a favour sending me off with you in the manner he did, all the secrecy, and the risk of such dislocation?’

‘He kept you alive,’ Corbel said.

‘For what? Ask yourself. What do you think we can achieve in terms of the grand fight you seem to believe we are up against?’

Before Corbel could think of how to answer her, Barro began to get to his feet and Evie snapped her head around to glare at him. ‘And I’d suggest you remain still for a while longer.’

‘Who are you both?’ the bandit asked, sounding deeply bewildered. ‘I thought I heard the name de Vis being bandied around. But perhaps that’s just part of my present madness because I am sure I am dead.’

Corbel felt momentarily sorry for the man. He walked over and helped Barro to his feet. ‘Slowly,’ he said. ‘Listen to her regarding your health. She knows what she’s talking about.’

Barro’s fist bunched Corbel’s shirt. ‘Answer me, damn you. I should be dead, right? Gar knows I felt the keen pain of your sword entering my flesh.’

‘Listen to me, Barro,’ Evie said, her tone plain. Gone was her polite bedside manner. ‘You’re going to have to accept something that seems impossible. You are walking proof that magic happens. Get past it!’

Corbel threw her a glance of gratitude. He’d feared for a moment that she was going to launch into a discussion about medicine and physiology. But she ignored his gaze, continuing to stare hard at Barro. ‘Do you believe in magic, Barro?’

The man looked between them both but Corbel refused to look at him. This was too difficult. Besides, it wasn’t right. It was opening them up to a raft of new problems.

‘I believe only in what I see,’ Barro answered carefully.

Corbel watched Evie’s eyes flare. ‘Excellent,’ she said, all brisk efficiency. ‘Then you believe yourself healed?’

‘I have no choice, do I? But I want to understand how it comes that I am whole.’

‘I’ll explain again. I used magic on you,’ she said matter of factly. ‘I healed you.’

‘But that’s impossible,’ he began, again flicking his glance between the two of them. ‘Prove it. Heal the boy,’ he said to Evie.

‘I don’t have to prove it to you. I have already shown you by the fact that you are not bleeding out into the soil. I’m sorry to say that it’s too late for him. He is already dead.’