If Grand Lord Raymond's word was law in the Broken Mountains, then Lady Melanie's word was law within the Raymond Family.
Apart from a handful of people in the know, no one in the family knew the two brothers had gone out.
Back in the Dungeon, Elvis watched Kilian enter the Cell and pressed him to keep his promise.
"Elvis, you won't even give me a few minutes?"
Back in the Dungeon, Kilian seemed to have shed his last burden. He was utterly at ease—even though he was about to die.
The calmer Kilian looked, the more uneasy Elvis grew. Emotion burned in his chest until his eyes stung.
"What the hell are you playing at!?"
Elvis lost control and seized Kilian by the collar, demanding an answer.
Kilian saw his own reflection in that contorted face as his gaze slowly lost focus. Was he looking at his former self? Or another version of their father?
"You killed them?"
"Who?"
"That elderly couple."
"They knew we'd been there, and they'd spoken to you. Why wouldn't I kill them?"
"So alike..."
"Like what?"
Kilian's pupils dilated. He went on murmuring, "I'm like him. You're like him too... If there are others after us, they'll be like him as well..."
"What are you trying to say!?"
"Give me a dagger."
Elvis released Kilian and reached for his own dagger, then stopped.
"Young master..."
A guard as silent as a shadow stood outside the Cell, offering him an ordinary dagger.
Elvis took it and tossed it to Kilian.
Kilian ran a finger along the blade, leaving a bloody cut on his fingertip. Then he looked up with a smile. "Go. Unless you want to be tied to my death."
Elvis said nothing and turned to leave the Dungeon.
Kilian's shout rang out behind