Thane's Confession

He was waiting when she arrived, standing rather than seated. That told her he’d guessed at least the shape of what tonight would be, before Garrick’s message had finished being delivered.

“Fenn told you something,” Thane said, before she’d fully closed the door behind her. “I can see it on you.”

“Fenn told me almost nothing. He told me enough to know there’s something, and that you’re the only one who’ll say the rest of it to my face rather than making me piece it together from an old man’s fear.” Isolde stayed near the door, deliberately, wanting the distance for whatever came next. “My father was dying before the coup. Of the wasting sickness. The same thing eating the thornwood now. Tell me that’s not true, Thane, and I’ll believe you, because I don’t think you’ve lied to me once since you rode through my gate.”

He didn’t answer…