Chapter 161: The Last Detail

~ TARKYN ~

"It's the right decision, El," he said, his lips and tongue feeling too thick because his head was spinning. "With me there the chance of Zev being pushed to violence is a lot less, I think. I have forged a connection of sorts. He trusts Harth to bring us together so I can show him the truth. And… and if I can get him to agree to peace—at least as long as we negotiate—then you don't need me on the other side to help you in the event of battle, because there won't be one."

He said it much more confidently than he felt.

"I agree," Elreth said, though her face was stern. "But that doesn't mean we can ignore the risk…"

Tarkyn listened numbly, his head spinning—should he tell El? Or, as Harth had correctly identified, was the risk too great that she would give up on peace.