Alawani sat upright and pulled her close. ‘I am going to protect you, Tèmi, and if that means finding refuge in the north, then that’s what you need to do. I’d be bound to you forever if I could.’
‘What do you mean?’ she said, staring into his eyes, trying to find meaning through the shadows cast by the flames.
‘I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I can’t imagine a world where your heart doesn’t beat next to mine,’ he said, placing his palm on her chest.
She tried to form a smile, her lips curling slightly, but it faded just as quickly. Her heart rate quickened, and she could feel her pulse at her fingertips. It was as though she could no longer tell fear from anxiety or nerves from excitement. Everything felt heightened and raw, and the more she tried to hold on to something – a thought, an idea, or hope – it faded as quickly as it ignited in her.
‘You can turn off your agbára. Save your strength,’ L’?r? said.
Alawani did as she asked and they sat in silence, holding each other as the darkness engulfed them again.
‘I can’t believe you grew up here before we met?’ L’?r? said, breaking the silence after a long moment.
‘Thanks to Command, I only spent about two first suns here,’ Alawani said. ‘I owe her my life.’
‘Was it that bad?’ L’?r? was glad he couldn’t see her face, and the guilt written across it at the mention of Command.
‘It was, but I had no choice. Even after Gbàgede, this place was still in my future. The Lord General assured me he’d have a place for me as captain whenever I returned. Whether I wanted it or not.’
L’?r? shifted. ‘Don’t you get to choose? Isn’t that what being a prince is all about? No responsibility and no orders?’
‘Yeah, that’s true, but most royal children end up here; I think everyone just expects it. Half of the soldiers here are descendants of kings and queens going back many generations. The Lord General and all those who lead or have led the military before know that anyone with even a drop of royal blood will have stronger agbára than the average person. So they believe it is our duty to use those powers to protect the kingdom and the crown. Even though anyone can join the army, royal descendants can become high-ranking officials – no matter how far removed from the ancestor who sat on the throne. I know for a fact my mother expected me to take over from the Lord General one day. She’s ambitious like that.’
‘Oh gods, your mother. Do you think she’s okay in the capital? I mean since everything happened.’
‘I’m sure she’s fine. She is a queen. There isn’t much the Lord Regent can do to her,’ Alawani said. ‘And trust me. She can take care of herself. I’d worry for anyone who crosses her path more than I would for her,’ he said. ‘But I wish I’d seen her before leaving or spoken to her. She’ll be so confused about everything.’
L’?r? squeezed his hand. ‘We can find a way to get a message to her. I’m not sure how, but I promise to try.’
‘Didn’t think we’d ever be leaving our home,’ Alawani said.
‘This isn’t my home. It’s never really been.’ She felt a surprising pang of loss as she said the words. ‘This kingdom has taken everything from me.’
Alawani pulled L’?r? back into his arms. ‘You haven’t lost everything,’ he breathed. ‘You have me.’
L’?r? smiled, ‘Yes, I do.’ He was the last person she had left, the last pillar standing, the love she couldn’t afford to lose.
He closed the gap between them, and she let him kiss her, slowly welcoming his lips to hers. She climbed over his legs and straddled him, allowing him to take her mind off misery, and with open arms, he welcomed her in.
L’?r? jumped at a loud click in the door. They both froze. Another click and they were up. Alawani’s agbára shone bright, L’?r? pulled out short thin blades from her hair. The soldier who tossed them in had taken their bags and weapons and searched them but hadn’t searched her hair. His mistake.
The door cracked open an inch and as soon as they moved, Rmí said, ‘If you attack me, I’ll raise an alarm. Hold your fire, I’m here to make a deal.’
He waited for Alawani’s light to dim before he walked in. L’?r? was ready to pounce.
‘Speak. Quickly,’ she growled.
Rmí tossed them their belongings. ‘The storm is picking up. I’m guessing that was your plan?’ When they didn’t respond, he went on, ‘Look, the winds picked up about a light bead ago. The storm and hail will be here soon. The crown heir and the maiden Milúà are in this keep together with the Lord General. The main keep has emptied of soldiers and the last wall, as usual, has gone underground to avoid being tossed off the battlements. I can get you out.’
‘The crown heir is here?’ L’?r? said, her heart racing in her chest.
‘I promise I can get you out,’ Rmí said again.
‘You locked us in here for an entire day. Why would we trust you?’ Alawani said, the light of his agbára slowly growing again.
‘I want out. I want out of this wretched kingdom, but I can’t do it alone. I’ll help you if you help me. Whatever happens, I need to leave Oru today. Deal?’
‘And how do we know this isn’t a trap?’ L’?r? said.
