Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Dungan’s POV

“Your majesty. I know you’ve been elsewhere, so I want to bring you away of this week’s agenda…” Gentry drones on and on about all the public appearance I am having to make after my coronation. I could care less.

I turn back to the intelligence reports following the Hou Ndours. No one has seen or heard of the dark master. In the few courts and taverns, they say there is a new supreme commander with five lieutenants controlling the fleets. Yet, no one even knows his name. He hides in the shadows. He could be the supreme commander, or he could be behind him, but I seem to be unable to get anyone close.

“Sire, I’m going to make you wear the frilliest outfit to the indoctrin-“Gentry threatens in his monotone. Sometimes, I am shocked with how much he pushes my boundaries.

“No, you won’t because I’m to appear as a warrior; that’s military garb, not prissy infant. Gentry, I understand you want to hear yourself speak, but I really don’t need half of these events. I’m fully King, and right now, I have more pressing matters.” I say, looking down at the intelligence reports.

Gentry sits down and crosses his arms. “I went over the reports this morning. Nothing new, and I want to call back a few because they are placing themselves in high-risk positions. I don’t want them to disappear.”

“That’s fine. Something doesn’t add up, though.” I say in a near growl.

“You think this Dark Master will be back with a vengeance?” Gentry says, playing with his thumbs in his lap.

“Yeah. He has some pretty loyal servants with a good connection with darkness. It shouldn’t take long to regroup. We will more than likely be targeted.” I fumble through the reports.

Gentry cleans his teeth with his tongue, and it makes me cringe on the inside. “I’ve been compiling information for you about some small occurrences of the dark master since you weren’t employed. After the conversation, I wanted to try to piece to find a few more pieces. I believe you are right. I started to wander if they wanted unfettered access to Redland for their search, then why didn’t they ally with us and just misdirect us into not looking closely at their interests.”

“Honestly, the king was dense, but your family line has been feared for some time. As long as you support the king its hard for them to get anything past you.” I mumble the compliment softly.

“Personal experience?” Gentry smirk reminds me of a trained dog. I nod, and he has a moment of bliss, but he returns. “Distracting us wasn’t the only thing they were doing. I believe they have some role in the Turmac civil war. Reports say the final battle was against the exiled prince and some kind of saritne. It's supposively a demon that eats men.”

“Not quite a demon. Its something that feeds on someone and then can steal their appearance. Was there an imposter in Turmac?” I say, looking quizzically.

“Yes. Someone who had been trusted by the Lions. Promoted highly in their court. I’m still waiting for information on how long the imposter had been in place, but limited information has been out.” Gentry shifts in his seat. “Between the upset of you coming into power and the need to support his servant in Turmac, he had to have used too much power. Not to mention they Hou Ndour officer had been nervous since some incident in the white forest.”

“Incident in the white forest?” My attention is quick. “Anything having to do with a man named Tian?”

Gentry chuckles, “Yes. The same Tian who was reported being defeated by a white wolf in the Redland battle for their capital.”

“When was that report?” I say angrily.

Gentry takes a breath a bit, “During the festivities. Redland’s little rebel group apparently had their princess with them. So, it looks like our common enemy might get on their feet and start over again. With your history, I didn’t think you wanted to push them too hard. We gained the ground we wanted with the Hou Ndours. Figured you wanted to give them a chance to rebuild before picking a fight with them.”

I really didn’t want to fight against them. He’s right there. But withholding information about my mate is infuriating. He doesn’t need to know that, though. I push away from the desk and lean down almost in a silent prayer.

“The princess is no more than a child. Did she really defeat Tian?” I ask lowly.

Gentry nods, “The report didn’t look like it had been exaggerated. Tian had been in the final defense to keep Redland. During the battle, Tian encountered the princess, which led into a one-on-one fight. The rebels leadership managed to keep pushing the Hou Ndours into the sea while leaving their best fighter fighting the princess. At some point, Tian turned into a large bear, and the princess changed to her wolf, and then Tian ran away with all the other Hou Ndours. More than likely, she distracted him until she had some backup, and he had no reinforcements. Now, are you ready to tell me how you know Tian was involved with the incident in White Forest?”

I bring my head up and lean back in the chair. Gentry looks at me and then out the window, probably to check our time. We have about an hour before I’m expected anywhere, so this is probably the best time of any. “How much of my whereabouts were you given?”

Gentry shrugs, “I was aware when you placed yourself in our troop of unsavory ones. Lost track of you when their military captured them. Found you again traveling in the desert when I was given a threat directly by you. Then, anything was rumors.”

“I was involved with the incident in White Forest. Tian was using a powerful artifact in a cruel ritual. I had to stop him. I was at the time training the little princess who wasn’t able to control her magical powers and was a ticking time bomb. Because of the altar stone, Tian was stronger than me in more ways than one, and what was worse was the little princess tried to fight him then. She imploded when he recognized she was a weakness of mine and escaped through one of those portals. The artifact was destroyed, and everyone around it burned to a crisp.” I say quickly and try to avoid Gentry’s scrutiny.

Gentry remains speechless and then shakes his head. “That’s what you do in your second life?”

“That and I have a colony of refuge lupines being ruled by what was the exiled prince of Turmac. I haven’t had a whole lot of time to check on their wellbeing lately.” I say with a laugh.

Gentry groans, “Give me the information, and I will do what I can. This princess is still a weakness of yours?”

“Yes. All my family are.” I say with some conviction.

“I won’t hold anything back from you then.”