A continuation of the scene excerpted two weeks ago.

He shut his eyes again, briefly, and swallowed to ease the pounding in his head.

He said, aloud, “You can’t trust him. Tell me you know that, at least. Tell me it’ll take more than a square meal to make you forget he had a knife to your throat.”

Ryn said, “I can’t trust that he’ll be loyal to me—no.”

There was a moment’s silence between them.

“I’m not Tarien Varro reborn, Magryn,” Tyren said.

For more excerpts from my WIPs, browse through the Sunday Sample category.