Bound to the Alpha King novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Count

"Five more," said Embla. "Six white stones keep him on the throne, and we have one."

She said it in the corridor outside the throne hall with her arms folded and her flaxen top-knot slipping sideways.

"Who's ours?"

"The River. Gisbert has the East Marches, the Lower Dale and the Heron House for certain."

"The rest?"

"The rest are waiting to see who bleeds."

"Then let's go and be seen," I said.

We started at the north end of the guest wing and knocked on every door.

The lord of the Salt Road received us in his shirtsleeves, a heavy man with a face.

He listened to Embla for a minute and a half.

Then he said, "No."

"My lord," said Embla.

"I like the king well enough, but I won't tie my House to a man who is tied to a Fen girl."

"I'm standing right here," I said.

"I noticed."

Down the hall, somebody coughed.

It was not a cough I liked.

It had a wet rattle in the bottom of it.

I stopped talking.

"Who is that?" I said.

The big man's face changed.

"My grandson," he said. "Six years old. The Chancellor's physician says it is only a chill."

"How long has he been coughing?"

"A week."

"Does he breathe fast? Do his ribs pull in?"

He stared at me.

"Take me to him, or tell me to my face you'd rather keep the physician."

He took me.

The boy lay on a pile of furs, small and hot, with his lips gone grey at the edges.

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