Rhone’s grip clenched harder as he dragged the child closer, until their faces were mere inches apart. “If you run to save your own life, the Divinities will curse you. And I will find you and kill you.” He flashed his teeth in a silent snarl. “The Butcher will help me.”
The boy’s frame shook, his fear-flooded eyes darting to Carver. His flinch was immediate. “Yes,” he rasped. “I’ll do it.”
Rhone shoved the boy away, his expression hard as he watched the child scurry off.
Carver’s gut tightened. Even if the boy ran to the nearest guard station, reinforcements would come too late. It was possible there were guards in the crowded square, but they wouldn’t be enough. And if the rebels were smart, the uniformed men would be their first targets. Then they’d start killing everyone.
The need to tear through the crowd until he found Amryn nearly undid him, but it wasn’t the practical choice. Ford was with her, and so was Ivan. They’d protect her and Elowen.
Carver needed to mitigate the threat to them.
He reached in the satchel for a crossbow bolt, his words clipped as he said, “I’ll target the shooters. You start clearing the square as best you can.”
“No.”
Carver’s head jerked up.
Rhone’s expression was inflexible as he took the crossbow. “I’ll get the shooters. You clear the square.”
Carver frowned. They both had training, but he was the general. It was his responsibility to engage the enemy.Hisrisk to take. “Rhone—”
“Your attention will be divided,” the knight said. Surprisingly, his expression softened. “Search for your wife and your sister as you handle the evacuation.”
Carver’s debate was brief. They didn’t have time for this. And Rhone was right—he would be distracted.
He handed over the satchel and Rhone slung it over his shoulder before withdrawing a bolt. His motions were sure and steady as he loaded the crossbow, his hands strong as he drew back the taut string and nocked the bolt in place.
“I’ll keep an eye out for any patrolling guards,” Carver said. It was the only backup he could offer the knight.
Rhone gave him a nod. “May the Divinities light your way.” With those final words, Rhone headed for the nearest occupied rooftop while Carver entered the square, issuing low, harsh orders for people to leave the square immediately, by order of the emperor. The men and women were startled by his command, but even though he wasn’t in uniform, his order was imposing enough that no one argued.
As he moved, his eyes roved the crowd, searching desperately for a flash of crimson hair.
Chapter 41
Amryn
“Iseverythingallright?”
Amryn glanced over at Ford, who was watching her with a slight frown. She attempted a smile, though she had no idea how she fared. “Of course.”
Tiras was long gone, but his powerful influence had taken a while to melt away. By the time Ivan had emerged from Ysabel’s tent, Ford and Elowen had finally noticed Amryn’s existence again. They hadn’t seemed aware of the passage of time or their loss of focus. Ford had even eyed the small space between them and gently admonished Amryn for wandering off. As if she’d been the one to move, when Ford and Elowen had been the ones to drift away due to her brother’s silent prompting.
Her heart was still beating too fast. The whole encounter with Tiras had been surreal. She only knew for certain it had happened because the fan she’d bought was gone. Tiras had walked away with it still in his hand. She didn’t even know if he’d been aware he was holding it.
Saints, her brother had been here. She’d seen him. Spoken to him. Her thoughts raced with everything he had said—and not said—and her emotions swirled in a chaotic torrent. Tiras had sought her out. It was a little terrifying, considering how much he frightened her. And yet, despite everything, the encounter had relieved an old and festering wound inside her heart.
Her brother was alive, and he was not indifferent to her.
Ford was still frowning at her. They were moving toward the fountain in the center of the square. Elowen and Ivan walked ahead of them. “You’ve been quiet,”he said, his voice low so it stayed between them. “I wondered if that fortune teller said something to upset you.”
Amryn knew there was no point in telling Ford that her brother had been here. For one, he didn’t know shehada brother. For another, it would bring up all sorts of questions, and while she trusted Ford greatly, she couldn’t tell him that her brother was an empath.
She needed to tell Carver, though. Tiras knew who he was, and while Amryn had managed to dissuade him from killing Carver or Rix, she knew there were no guarantees when it came to her brother.
Just as she knew she could not forget that Tiras had come with the intention of taking her away.
Aware that Ford was waiting for some reply, Amryn released a breath. “No, I’m—”
