31. Stig

31

Stig

S HE WAS ALIVE. TAMSYN WAS ALIVE.

Complicated and ugly sensations curled and twisted through me as I watched her with Dryhten, her husband . Relief. Obviously relief. But joy, too. Overwhelming joy. Because she was alive.

But also...

I really wanted to kill Dryhten.

Disappointment washed through me in a bitter wave when I realized I couldn't. I no longer had a reason to do so. At least no reason that would meet with my father's approval.

And then...

I realized I still could. Why not?

I was a warrior. He was a warrior. That was what warriors did. We fought each other. That was how scores were settled. Killing him would be doing the world a favor, after all, and I did not require my father's permission to do that.

I'd have to consider how to go about this, though—selecting the right moment to justifiably challenge him. That wouldn't be too hard. He always provoked me. He was the provoking sort.

I would kill Dryhten and Tamsyn would be saved. Then... if she wanted me as much as I wanted her, we could be together.

She would be free. No longer his wife. No longer a whipping girl.

She would be free to choose.