“To keep the uprise of Jinn out”, he had said.
But it also kept all the citizens seeking help out, and all the ones who wanted to flee in. It kept exports difficult and alliances scarce.
It was a nightmare.
Now, as Nina and Cas stood in the throne room where they had declared they were leaving three years ago, similar nerves bubbled inside her, though instead of them being laced with excitement, they were mixed with dread. They awaited the King and his Court, standing beside each other as if they had been summoned to the headmaster’s quarters. Caleib stood at the end of the room against a wall, a mess of nerves like always.
When she had been smaller and more naive, Nina liked to play here. She met Cas here, in fact, after the whole fiasco with his father happened. They had stood next to each other, much like they did now, holding hands and holding back tears.
Smiling sadly, Nina did the same now, grasping her friend’s hand.
He glanced sidelong at her and returned the smile.
“We’re never here for a good reason, huh?” he said.
Nina shook her head. “Nope.”
The doors behind them boomed open and multiple sets of steps neared, sending chills over Nina’s skin. This had to be about the wall. She had scolded Cas, but he was right—she also used her magic against them.
The idiots deserved it, though.
“What a way to make your return known, Yarrow Court.” King Semmena’s voice was grating. Nina had pleasantly forgotten it during her years away.
He strode past them and turned, his dark eyes full of smoke and embers. “I’m especially disappointed in you, Miss Amana. Violence was not ever your thing.”
Nina cleared her throat, dropping Cas's hand. “They disrespected the Princess, Majesty.”
“And that should be reported to me, then dealt with by me.”
Gina and Samara flanked Arnold, the women near mirrors of each other in everything but poise. Samara’s fingertips crackled with Shadows as she angled her head, a small smirk on her lips.
Nina bowed her head slightly in silent acquiescence. “Our apologies.”
She knew she had to apologize for them both, because Cas wouldn’t. Cas had been looking for ways for the King to finally kill him and end his misery, release him from his sentence of servitude to Rimemere and the Yarrows. Which is exactly why Arnold hadn’t done so. He loved keeping Cas within his leash and miserable, knowing the memory of his past tortured him more than the mercy of death ever could.
“Unfortunately, that means nothing to me, Miss Amana.” Arnold turned toward his throne, taking long, unhurried steps toward it. “But before we deal with all that—how did you all find this girl?”
Arnold sat, bracing his clasped hands on his knees as Samara and Gina followed to sit beside him in their own seats.
Nina swallowed the urge to run from the question. She didn't trust these people; most of the Yarrow followers and protectors didn’t. She herself wasn’t even sure of the answer to that question. When the note had originally found them, they had been in Graniela, quite literally about to abandon their search. Then, that wrinkled piece of paper had landed on their Inn’s doorstep, as if carried by Winderlyn himself.
“Luck,” she said finally.
Clearly, Arnold was not satisfied with the response. “No such thing.”
“We ran into??—”
“She lived in Graniela. Alone. The birthmark on her back gave her away.”
Nina cooled her features into disinterest, inhaling a bored breath as if she wasn't caught off guard by Cas's blatant lie.
“I don't believe I asked you, Casimir.” Fire pooled in the King’s eyes. “I also don't trust a single thing you Xanthos say about Yarrows.”
“He tells the truth, Majesty,” Nina assured. “We found no other kin, or anything left behind by the late Queen.”
The lies burned like sand in her mouth, but she understood. Cas was protecting not only Sol but lady Yarrow as well. Nina wouldn't put it past the King to seek the healer out of spite if they told him the truth.
“Word reached this morning that a port town called Yavenharrow is under Jinn siege.” He observed them with calculated calmness, provoking Nina’s very soul into a tremble.
