The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

Whitley would mention me by name. There was just no reason for it. That left only one of the dark mages piecing it together and informing Endell.

Endell asked, “Are you saying you made no accusation against me?”

I was already too deep into this. I wasn’t going to try to get myself out yet. “I did not,” I lied. “Why did you think I did?”

If he couldn’t tell me it was the king, Leon, or Barrett who had informed him, then it had to have been a dark mage. That would be more proof than I needed to confirm that he in fact had been working with them and probably still was. I knew that we’d defeated many of them, but many more got away. They had last been seen walking through Curdith Forest on the way to Rohaer, but it wasn’t as if Nykal could have his men follow them all the way there. These sorcerers were too dangerous to watch. Nykal’s scouts would be found and killed. That meant these dark mages could’ve turned around at any point and come back. They probably had. They clearly wished to weaken us before Rohaer could march on Lycast.

Endell stared at me for a while. Normally, I wasn’t a good liar because I was always afraid I would be caught. But this situation was different. I didn’t care if Endell thought I was lying. Go ahead, I thought. Accusing me wasn’t going to get him anywhere.

Eventually he started to laugh without humor. Then he shook his head. “All the lies. Aren’t all of you tired of it? I am. I think it’s time we be honest with each other.”

Whitley raised his voice. “Yes, and I will start. It’s clear to me that you’ve never grown up, Endell. You’ve done nothing but complain since we were kids, and you do nothing but complain as an adult.” He slammed his fist into his other hand. “Now is the time to act. Dispel these rumors by signing a magical contract pledging your oath to fight with us against dteria. Only then will I and the other nobles accept your apology and know that you mean to help us rather than hinder us, as you clearly have been doing for many years.”

Endell raised his voice to match Whitley’s level. “I would’ve gladly signed such a contract, but his majesty has not offered.”

“You could’ve traveled to the castle and asked his majesty whenever you pleased!”

“That is groveling! Would you grovel after you had been falsely accused of helping dark mages extort the good people of Newhaven? No, you wouldn’t. You would demand an apology, but I’m not demanding anything. Before I offer any help, I expect an apology and a formal request. Only then will I sign any contract he wishes.”

Whitley put up his hand as he took a breath. “Let us not succumb to anger. Do you mean what you say? You have never helped Cason or the dark mages?”

“My lord, I have not.”

Whitley seemed shocked.

“I am choosing to be the honorable one,” Endell said. “I will kneel before you, the king, and anyone else his majesty tells me to kneel before if that’s what it takes to prove my loyalty. But I do want an apology from his majesty for acting on false accusations.”

Lines formed across Whitley’s face as if he was pained by the statement. “The king is not an arrogant man. I’m sure he will request your help, but the apology you want might not come until you prove yourself again. You may not have been working with the dark mages, but let’s all be honest here. I’m sure not every accusation about your corruption was baseless. You have always sought power.”

“No more than you.”

Whitley folded his arms.

Endell let out a sigh. “I apologize, my lord. It is difficult to change, but I am trying. I do hope that you see that.”

“Yes, and I appreciate your efforts. Do we have a plan?”

Endell lifted his glass. “To the future of Lycast, and the part I will play in it.”

We all raised our glasses to join him. “To the future of Lycast,” we echoed.

I supposed that meant we were going to have to trust Endell now. I wondered what the chances were that he really had never worked with dark mages. The king had admitted that there were only accusations of it, no proof. I supposed it was possible, but it seemed unlikely given the beneficial change to the capital that had occurred when Endell was replaced with Byron Lawson. If Endell had really been putting in an effort to hamper the dark mages, the city wouldn’t have been in such bad shape when Byron was appointed head guard.

There was one possible explanation for that, however, but it didn’t seem to fit Endell’s character. If Endell was lazy or didn’t care about his job, then many dark mages could’ve made a home in Newhaven and taken advantage of the other people living there.

No, I didn’t trust him, though I would have to start trying to if he signed a contract agreeing to fight with us against the dark mages. From what I knew, there was no way to go against the contract without destroying it through the use of a deninger, and Barrett would know when his contract was dissolved. Endell knew battle, I had heard Barrett tell the king. He was a commander and a powerful enemy if we were to make him one.

But I had a feeling that it didn’t matter what we wanted to make out of him. He was who he was.

“Now I think it’s time I apologize,” Endell said.

“Please do,” Whitley replied.

“I know I was difficult when we were children. I blame myself for us growing apart.”

Whitley wouldn’t take his eyes off Endell, looking as if he was in disbelief. But Endell was waiting for Whitley to reply.

He seemed speechless. “I never thought I would hear you say that.”

“It’s the truth, but it’s not all of it. You guessed correctly