Sheknewhe was alive. Sheknewshe wasn’t still alone in this world. For the first time in ages, a bit of hope ignited in her chest.
He’d become the Ravenminder of the warfront. And now he must have been transferred again to another tower
… So why hadn’t he written to her?
Why hadn’t he comehome?
Because of the debts,something whispered within her soul.
No,she thought.He wouldn’t do that to me.
Something suddenly felt off.
‘Take me to him,’ Ezer said, and stepped forward as if to move from the tower.
‘I’m taking you north, to serve as all citizens must serve.’ The Sacred Knight’s large frame blocked her way. He sighed, as if this entire conversation was already a waste of his time. ‘But not to him. He’s … gone.’
‘Gonewhere?’ Ezer asked. ‘To another garrison, another town? You can deliver me safely to wherever he is and I’ll serve?—’
It was then that she noticed it. The way his pale eyes had shifted, how his frown had deepened ever more. And it made sense, why Ervos hadn’t returned.
‘My uncle … he’s dead. Isn’t he?’ she breathed out.
His jaw hardened, lips pressed in a thin line. ‘War is not kind. People often pay the price.’
Ervos was the only one who’d ever cared about her in this godsforsaken realm.
She’d never imagined a world without him.
And now he was gone.
She could feel the absence of him, suddenly. Like her chest was going to split in two.
Like she was floating, untethered, in a deep black abyss. And there was no one left to reel her back in. To bring her home.
There was not a hint of kindness in the Sacred’s words as he said, ‘Are you ready to leave now?’
Ezer’s head snapped up. ‘That’s all you can say?’
‘I’m here to escort reinforcements north.’ He frowned. ‘I’ve already given you more than your fair share of time, if we’re to remain on schedule.’
A spike of heat slammed into her. The ravens ruffled their feathers as if they too sensed it, and suddenly … she imagined how satisfying it would be to feel his nose crunch beneath her fist. She imagined the pleasure she would feel at making him bleed.
She hated him.
She hated him more than she’d hated Ervos for the past two years for leaving her here without him.
For only writing her a single godsdamned letter.
For never saying goodbye.
‘You have two minutes to pack your bags,’ the Sacred said. ‘Take only what you can carry. The Minder’s tower has all the necessary supplies to accomplish your work: quill and ink and parchment, a uniform to be worn. We leave with the next recruiting wagon.’
He turned, slamming the door shut behind him.
The moment he left, her knees buckled. The dust settled around her, but she felt like she was still falling. She curled her hand into a fist around her mother’s ring, waiting for the calmness to wash over her. For some sense of peace to settle across her shoulders like it always had.
But there was only silence.
