Chapter 92 - 092: Settlement
The council member hesitated before speaking, as if testing the weight of his own words. When he finally said it, the news landed like a physical blow. Zane had not been imprisoned. He had simply walked off the fighting ground after the challenge and vanished from the main settlement.
Rylan’s expression went cold. He had expected Zane to remain in Wolfrine, even if only to brood and cause trouble. The news caught him completely off guard.
"Where did he go?" he asked.
The council member shook his head. They had no idea.
Rylan turned toward the doorway, his mind racing. He had spent so long fighting to reclaim Wolfrine that he had nearly forgotten the most dangerous variable. Zane was still out there. And he was no longer bound by the rules of a ruler who had to remain inside the settlement.
"Find out where he went," Rylan ordered.
The council member bowed and left quickly.
Rylan remained standing long after the man was gone.
Anaria watched him from across the room. She already knew what was eating at him. Zane had seen her. He knew about Ana, Kenai, and Kai. And he knew exactly how much Rylan cared about them.
Rylan turned toward her.
"Why wasn’t he stopped?"
Another council member shifted uncomfortably before answering. Under Wolfrine’s laws, there had been no grounds to imprison him. Zane had lost the challenge, yes, but he had not technically broken the rules of combat. A losing challenger was allowed to leave. But Zane was different. He had crossed lines before, and he still needed to answer for them, royal blood or not.
Rylan’s jaw tightened "And his supporters?"
"They’re still here."
The council member explained that Zane had cultivated loyal followers during his reign. Some had served him for years. Others still believed he was the stronger ruler, despite his defeat.
Rylan listened in heavy silence "We cannot simply arrest everyone who supported him," the council member continued. "That would spark another conflict within Wolfrine."
Rylan rubbed his forehead, exhaustion creeping into his voice.
"So he walks away after everything that happened."
"For now, yes."
Rylan looked toward Anaria.
His concern was no longer about the throne. Zane knew she existed. He knew about the child. He had already seen Kenai and Kai standing beside her like sentinels.
Anaria noticed the worry etched into his face and walked closer.
"You’re thinking about us."
"Of course I am."
"He doesn’t know where we’re staying."
"He knows enough."
Rylan’s voice dropped, tight with restrained anger.
"He knows you’re my wife. He knows about Ana. He knows Kenai and Kai are here. That’s enough."
Anaria placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him.
"We aren’t going to panic because he left."
"I know."
"But you’re still worried."
Rylan didn’t argue.
"I just don’t want him getting close to you."
Anaria met his gaze calmly. "Then we’ll be careful."
Kenai, who had been listening nearby, folded his arms.
"And if he does come back, he won’t be dealing with you alone."
Kai nodded in agreement.
Rylan looked between them before giving a small nod.
"I know."
The reassurance helped, but it didn’t erase the tension from his shoulders. Zane had already proven he would do whatever was necessary to keep his position. Losing the challenge had changed his circumstances, but Rylan wasn’t foolish enough to believe it had changed his nature.
For now, there was nothing else they could do.
Far beyond Wolfrine, Zane had already left the main settlement with a small group of loyal beastmen. They moved through the forest in near silence. Zane’s clothes were still stained from the challenge, and the cut above his eyebrow had dried against his skin.
He had said almost nothing since leaving.
The defeat had clearly angered him, but he had not shown the kind of rage his followers expected.
Eventually, they stopped in a clearing.
While the others prepared food and checked the area, Zane sat against a tree and stared into the distance. His mind returned to the challenge.
Rylan had changed.
That bothered him more than losing, he had expected an injured man who would struggle to last through the challenge.
A beastman eventually approached him "There is a message from the southern settlement."
Zane looked up
The messenger explained that several beastmen had suddenly become violent, attacking people without warning. Others had simply disappeared afterward.
Zane’s expression remained flat, muttering as he slowly stood up"Interesting?"
The messenger waited for orders, but Zane did not give any. Instead, a slow, cold smile spread across his face "That’s good."
The beastman blinked "My Lord?"
Zane turned toward the southern settlement, but his eyes were fixed on something far beyond it "Let us see how you handle this, little brother."
The messenger exchanged confused glances with the others. They did not understand. They had expected Zane to be concerned, to send aid, to do something.
But Zane simply turned away from the southern settlement and began walking in the opposite direction. "Let’s move on" he said flatly. "We still have a lot of work to do."
The beastmen immediately fell into step behind him, though confusion lingered in their eyes.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Zane glanced back once toward Wolfrine.
His brother had taken the position he had wanted and although Zane lost the challenge, he had not forgotten anything.
But this was not the revenge yet.
The corruption was spreading, and soon it would reach Wolfrine. Rylan would have to face something far worse than a challenger with a grudge.
Zane would be far away by then, building something new and better
And when he returned, there would be nothing left for Rylan to rule.
Meanwhile, back in Wolfrine, Rylan had begun facing the responsibilities that came with his position. There were people waiting for decisions, settlements needing attention, and problems left behind by Zane that could no longer be ignored.
And the strange corruption has already started spreading through the settlements.