Page 91 of A Courage of the Chosen

Chapter 26

Elsie

Relief is a powerful emotion. It exposes you in the most vulnerable of ways, and often highlights how you really felt.

Tavish has been quiet since he felt Cal and I having sex, the bond completely closed off for the first time since the battle. While I’m grateful for the peace, and relieved I don’t need to spend so much energy keeping the two bonds apart, it makes me question what he’s up to, and when he’s going to make good on his parting words.

I subconsciously used that thread to keep tabs on him too, and I’ll be damned if I’m the one to open it.

I also hate how much relief I felt when news reached Callahan and I that Hector had passed our test. The route that we told him the wagons would take remained quiet. No Dorche. No Brollachan. No leak from him.

It made me acutely aware of just how much I suspected him in the first place. A fact which hurt when I gave it too much room to breathe.

Cal said it was sensible to be wary, especially after everything I’ve been through. But Hector welcomed me with open arms when I first arrived in Elfayne, and hasn’t doubted a single thing I’ve told him. Not trusting him is a betrayal no matter how I try to rationalize it.

Hector waits patiently one seat from my left, having relinquished his usual chair to Callahan, whose hand rests on my knee beneath the table. Since the night of the ball, he’s touching me whenever I’m within his reach, as though something has been unmoored in him and he has no interest in leashing it again. They talk between themselves about battle strategies when we face the Dorche army, as the rest of the council filters in one by one, bowing in my direction.

Once everyone is seated, and refreshments have been brought into the room, Lady Navin is the first to break the silence.

“Did the supplies safely make it along the Girvan, Your Majesty?” Her voice drips in smug satisfaction, and she purses her lips to hide the obvious smirk on her face.

Reyne’s eyes bore into the side of my head. We didn’t tell her about what we were doing. Not because I don’t trust her, but because we needed to test Hector without her influence.

I can’t bring myself to look at her right now.

“The Girvan?” Lord Fettis asks, his face starting to turn the shade of mottled-red that I’ve come to learn means he’s about to lose his shit.

When his eyes find me, they’re brimming with outrage. “You told me they were taking the Dalveen. You also told me that I was the only person you had discussed this with.” The accusation lies heavy around him.

“Lord Garside, what was it I told you?”

He runs his tongue over his teeth before he answers. Teak eyes hard and unreadable. “You asked my opinion on the wagons traveling along Ratagan Pass.”

I nod. “And General Macleod. What did General Knox discuss with you?”

Reyne’s quiet intake of breath is a sharp slice as she pieces together exactly what I’ve done.

“Dendbroch. He told me they’d be traveling along Dendbroch to the south.” Hector admits reluctantly, masking the hurt in his eyes that I don’t want to observe too closely.

“You see, I worked out that the only way those wagons weren’t reaching their destinations so frequently was if someone amongst us was leaking that information.”

Everyone grows still, waiting for my next words.

“I thought it might be Hume, and so removed him as my advisor. It’s important for me that I trust those who sit in this council chamber and help me rule my kingdom.”

“And yet you see fit to test us?” Lord Fettis spits.

“Yes. I do,” I reply with a strained smile. And here lies the crux of it all. I couldn’t trust them without knowing.

“Because when Hume was removed, with no way to know what our plans were, those supplies still never made it. Which meant one of you was continuing to work with the Dorche. So we came up with a plan. One where I told each of you a different piece of information on the route, and scouts were sent along each to see which of you would betray me.”

It’s then that I risk a glance over at Reyne, and wait for her judgement. She presses her lips together and a beat passes. She dips her head subtly, and with that, I know we’ll talk this through and she’ll see the reasoning.

“How dare you!” Lady Navin screeches. “You fed us your lies, just like Raghnall and Tavish did! How are you any different?”

Reyne turns to her. “I’d choose your next words carefully.” She tilts her chin toward where Callahan’s face has grown darker than usual, and to Brodie’s tense posture. Both of them seemingly on the verge of dragging her ass out of here.

Only this is my battle, my council, and they will respect me. “Why is it that the only route where Dorche and Brollachan have been spotted was along the Girvan?”