“But I must. A good man never goes to battle dirty.” He stroked his horse’s neck, smiling gently. “I took such vindictive pleasure when you sent Unuxekome away, you know. The Sea Groom and his salt and his smiles—I hated him, hated the way you pinned your plans on him, the way you spoke to him, the respect you gave him. When he left, I was sure all my bowmen and barges would give me a suit.” He flinched as the distant mountains strobed with lightning, and then laughed at himself. “I wanted to be king. Or, maybe—to be the kind of man who you would want as king.”
