"And you realize I am following my King's instruction,” Nyssa snapped.
"In no way did I say get yourself captured by Man and become some sort ofspy!" Bala hissed under her breath.
"Hey—“ Nadir cut in. "We don't have time to argue."
Bala sneered at the Princess standing before her, Nyssa's chin high and back stiff, as though trying to make herself look stern and more formidable. The sight of the fight in her eyes made Bala grunt defeatedly, and her hands fell to her sides. The corner of Nyssa's lips quirked a fraction, but only for a blink, and she said, "Hey Bala," in a breath.
"Hey Nys," Bala sighed back.
"Why didn't you ask her for something only she would know about you?" Nadir asked Nyssa.
"Because only a Venari King can manipulate wind," Nyssa replied.
Bala wasn't sure what the pair spoke of, but it made her shift nonetheless. Nyssa started looking over the fruits Nadir was pretending to be showing her. Bala didn't miss the sudden brightness in Nyssa's eyes up at him, didn't miss the bob of Nadir's throat as their fingers brushed against one another.
At one point, Nyssa started to reach for the bruise on his cheek, her gaze narrowing at the cut on his lip, but she hesitated. "What happened to your face?"
"Venari King wrath," he said, his smile softening but eyes not leaving from Nyssa's. "What happened to your arm?"
"Couldn't keep my mouth shut," she admitted.
A quiet chuckle emitted from Nadir, and he uttered, "There's my girl." And Nyssa's face lit up at the sound of it.
"Should I leave you two alone?" Bala mocked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Nyssa’s lips pursed, and she brushed past Nadir to Bala's side. "There’s something you should know," Nyssa said, holding up a fabric roll. Bala helped her take it out of the cart, noting that it was an actual sling around Nyssa's arm, but she didn't have a chance to ask about it.
"Gail was the one who brought me here."
Bala froze.
This was news.
"What?"
"Gail. The—“
"Yes, I know who he is," Bala snapped.
Nyssa paused, blinking at the sudden snap. Bala avoided her gaze and pulled out another roll of fabric.
"Why did he bring you here?"
"Why do you think?" Nyssa almost breathed. Bala's brow raised at the attitude Nyssa was giving her, and the Princess sighed heavily, looking around them.
"He was trying to barter a place in Man's court," Nyssa said. "Use me as a rare gift for the King upon his arrival. He's dead now," Nyssa said simply.
"Why do you think he's dead?"
"An Infi replaced him," Nyssa said, and Bala realized why Nadir had asked about Nyssa confirming who she was.
Bala could only blink, shifting uncomfortably. "Tell me what happened."
By the time Nyssa was done telling her, Bala was shaking. The news of Infi infiltrating as much as they had brought a stillness to her chest. Killing her friends. Taking over the Bryn.
But she chose not to tell Nyssa that Gail was alive.
"I need to know if my brother is okay," Nyssa said. "If the Infi have taken over all of the Bryn, I wonder if they have somehow pushed into other parts of the mountains. We will lose this entire world before Man has a chance. They will surrender to Man, and we'll have lost without a true battle."
