Saga’s hands flew to hermouth.
“Before you say anything,” Inga said, “we did not tell you to protect you.”
Silence hung through the air until Saga turned to the spymaster. “Butheknows?”
“He,” Inga looked at her first love, the love of her life, “was the first person to experience my whispering. He has kept silent for many turns and is trustworthy.”
“Who else knows?”
“My family kept me a secret. So my father, my mother—stars rest her soul—my siblings too. Lord Vagle bound them to secrecy in a blood oath. Then your father knows and your brothers. That is all.”
“Half-brothers,from what Isawin my vision.” Saga’s voice came out small, and she stared at Rhistel again. “He’s one too?”
“The ice spider gloves are not because of powerful Winter magic, but because Rhistel could not control his whispering magic for a long time.” Inga gave a sad smile to her son. “That is no longer the case. He looks docile but do not be deceived. Rhistel fights me even now. His thoughts, though suppressed, are not peaceful.”
“What do you mean?” the spymaster asked. “Will he hurt you?”
“He’d like to, and I’m not the only one.” A quick glance at Saga made the queen’s meaning all too clear. “I’m afraid our plan must change, Leyv.”
“How so?”
“Rhistel is already thinking about how to harm Saga. And how he’ll control Magnus, take power, and hunt Vale tokeep this secret. I will not allow it. I must stay here and keep control of him.”
“He’d really hurt me?” Saga spoke softly, but not weakly.
“You, my love, are the only trueborn child of King Magnus and yes, Rhistel would do anything to protect his title as heir.”
Saga caved inward, as though someone had punched her in the belly.
“I know it hurts to hear such a thing. It tortures me to think that my children could harm one another, but I believe you must come to terms with it, and fast.” The queen turned her attention to the male who had been by her side, if only in spirit, all her life. “I’ve searched Rhistel’s head. The king and Lord Roar went toward where the Ice Tooth Range and Red Mist Mountains meet. They’re in search of the Ice Scepter. Rhistel doesn’t know exactly what led them to that area, but he believes Warden Roar has something to do with it.”
Lord Riis displayed no sign of shock at the mention of the Scepter. He’d known as much from Vale. The king had, at one time, suspected his own family of holding a famous Hallow of Winter’s Realm.
“More than that,” Inga let out a long sigh, “a coinary in a place called Eygin informed my husband that Vale was there, so I assume Magnus will go there too. He’ll search for Neve.”
“No,” the princess cried out, but her mother did not break eye contact with thespymaster.
“Take Saga,” the queen said. “Find Vale and protect them. Please Leyv.”
“Remember,” Lord Riis sought to assure the queen, “Vale and Neve are on the road already. Most recently in Vitvik, and while I cannot pinpoint where Eygin is, it is not Vitvik.”
Inga swallowed. “A small mercy.”
“Yes.” He faced Inga, not wishing to say what he needed to say next. “And I will go, though, I dislike the idea of leaving you in this predicament alone.”
Though the words destroyed him, he knew better than to ask her to come with them.
The queen looked out the window. “I wish so many things could have gone differently. I wish I could have apologized to Princess Neve myself, but I must stay behind. This is how I will keep Winter’s Realm together for as long as possible. Rhistel has grown strong, and I cannot control him forever. When he breaks free, he will tell Magnus all that I’ve said. All that I’ve done. Perhaps I can escape before he does so.”
They both recognized it was unlikely.
So this was goodbye. Unable to stop himself, the spymaster took the queen in his arms and kissed her.
Saga might have been watching, but she said nothing as they kissed, as tears ran down their faces. The merchant’s son and the lord’s daughter had loved one another since they were young. When the truth of Inga came out, as it always did, the realm would implode. These might be their last moments together.
“Keep Saga and Vale safe.” The queen pressed hercheek against the spymaster’s chest and added. “And as for Neve, tell her I am sorry for my part in her tragedy. Tell her thewhole truth, Leyv.”
They broke apart, and after one last kiss, the princess flung herself into her mother’s arms. A few moments of tearful bargaining on Saga’s part proved fruitless. Queen Inga insisted she leave and told her daughter that if she did not do so willingly, she would force her.
