Other sailors also reported seeing the three ships Arie and Halladora saw vanish into the night. Other ships had fled too, but as a ship normally would.
The consensus regarding the disappearing ship was as Thyra and I had suspected: King Érebo had been on one of those vessels, and he’d cloaked them in darkness to escape. Rhistel had most likely gone with Érebo—though I continued to hold out hope that he’d simply drowned.
I didn’t know what would happen when the mages arrived in the capital, but that wasn’t my problem at the moment. No, the first thing I thought of after unfreezing my friends, all of whom had burns coating their bodies, and leaving a grieving Arie inCaelo’s care was Vale. The ship we’d left him on remained afloat, and my sister and I made our way there.
When we landed, it was to find the sailors abuzz. A sodden Rynni had been brought to this ship and though I could only glimpse her though the crowd of sailors, I saw she was awake, wrapped in a blanket, and being showered in thanks. We would check on her next. First, I had to see Vale.
Saga stood in front of the cabin door, a cage of ice shielding her. Upon catching sight of us, the seer waved a hand. Her cage of ice shattered and fell to the deck in shards.
Her face was bloodless. She’d heard the news then.
“Saga, I?—”
She held up her hands, as if to ward my words away. “Don’t apologize. I knew it would happen. He wasn’t a good king, not even a good person, really, but I’d still like to be alone for a bit.”
My friend left to come to terms with her father’s death. Hate the male though I did, I understood.
After I’d learned who my father was, and of his horrible reputation, I’d still felt grief. Of course, my father’s crimes were not his fault, but I didn’t think it mattered. Saga had lost both parents in a few days’ time and deserved to grieve in whatever manner she saw fit.
And soon I’d have to tell Vale that he’d also lost his parents. Lord Riis, his mother, and the male Vale had once called Father. My stomach tightened in anguish.
Knowing that Lord Riis had died fighting, and I’d never forgiven him for past actions, prompted a new level of guilt. I was certain that I’d carry it until my own death.
But there would be time to examine all the things I should have done and said later, so I pushed down the avalanche of emotions and entered the cabin where Vale was being kept. Thyra’s shadows had found her mate and brought him here, just as she’d instructed. Thantrel sat by the porthole, unharmed savefor a few bruises. He stared into the night, his shoulders tight and strained, but at our entrance, utter relief swept his face.
Thyra went to him, and they embraced.
“You dare return here?” Vale sat up in the bed. He eyed the shadows that I’d set to guard and protect him with the same fury that he directed towards me.
I tried to look happy and encouraging but managed only some weak semblance of my usual smile. “Vale, Rhistel used his magic on you. Deep down, you know I’d never harm you. That I love you, and do not lie to you.”
He laughed. The derision struck my soul. Vale sounded nothing like himself.
“You’ve lied since the day I met you, Isolde,” Vale hissed. “And the stars may have paired us, but others have helped me see I can’t trust you. That the realm can’t trust you or your sister.”
My throat tightened. I turned my back to him and found Thantrel and Thyra watching. My sister appeared ready to lash out at Vale, probably to tell him what we’d gone through to save him. How many had died?
Thantrel released my sister’s hand and came closer, his face filled with utter pity. “Rhistel didn’t just use his magic on him, Isolde. HetorturedVale with visions of you, and he made every vision so visceral that it felt real. That’s how it sounded, anyway.”
I inhaled, trying to calm the way my heart rate kicked up at that idea. The concept was so diabolical—soRhistel.“You’re saying he’s brainwashed against me.”
“Very much so,” Thantrel swallowed. “He didn’t do the same to me because I’m not as recognizable as Vale. Also, I think Rhistel only had the energy to inflict that much damage on one of us. Once he began stealing Vale’s mind, Rhistel’s control on me loosened considerably.”
“Yes, you seem normal.” That, at least, gave me hope.
“The moment the Virtoris Armada came into view, I was told only to stay in a cabin, but otherwise, I had my own mind for the first time in days.” Thantrel exhaled. “As terrified as I was when the shadows stole me from that cabin, I was also grateful to be free.”
“You can’t feel Rhistel any longer?” Thyra asked.
Thantrel shook his head. “I don’t think so, but Vale clearly can.”
“How long before he returns to himself?”
“I can’t say.” Thantrel cleared his throat. “All I know for certain is that he was able to work on Vale for two days.”
Two days seemed like a long time to play with someone’s mind. To inflict bouts of fear and torture one’s own brother.
My chest tightened. What if Rhistel had caused irreparable damage?
