Taking a deep breath, Vi forced herself to calm and began moving. She relaxed her spell and pulled up her hood once more. She could hear people moving outside, low voices drifting in through the doorway. Vi crept forward, scanning the docks; most of the Knights had fanned outward and were now far away.
When she slipped out, the nearest Knight had his back to her, and Vi disappeared into the side alleyway.
She ripped the hood from her head, throwing it on the ground and running from it as though it was about to give chase. As though that was the source of the darkness she’d felt. She weaved through the city, eventually sprinting onto the main road. The castle grew in her field of vision and Vi didn’t even bother slowing her pace as she dashed by the guards stationed at the end of the drawbridge.
“You there—”
“It’s Yullia.” Vi spun, bouncing from foot to foot, stalling long enough for them to see her face before turning and resuming her run. They didn’t give chase.
Her side burned as she took the castle stairs two at a time—up the main staircase, then through a door into a narrow spiral stair. She bounded down a hall, not far from where the council chambers were. Vi didn’t even bother stalling to check if Deneya was there. Instead, she went right for her room.
The door snapped against the wall, reverberating with a low thud as she threw it open. Vi had to resist the urge to slam it in her haste. Instead, she slowly closed it, locking it behind her.
She raced to her bedside and hoisted the heavy down mattress, flopping it over onto itself. Underneath the mattress were woven grass panels, supported on slats of wood. Vi dug her nails into a panel, prying it upward. She set it aside and then carefully removed one of the wood slats.
With trembling hands, Vi retrieved the Sword of Jadar from its hiding place.
She clutched it to herself, shaking, holding onto it like a child she thought she’d lost. As though the Knights had found it while she was gone. As though she was the one being played the entire time.
Vi cursed under her breath and ran a hand through her hair, trying to get a hold of herself. She had killed before, she’d kill again. Yet something still rattled her about the feeling of how…easyit could be. She loathed the delight she could find in it, the feeling that there would be little repercussion.
Risking the end of the world should be repercussion enough. She’d sworn to end this and wouldn’t let her emotions get in the way.
Staring at her hiding place and reflecting more calmly on the events of the night, Vi knew it was time to act. Taavin had been right—she had to get the sword away from Norin, especially with Adela closing in. A plan formed in her head and Vi stood, starting for the door once more.
Down the hall and to the left was another room, nearly identical to hers. Vi gave a few soft knocks. Zira was a light sleeper. Anyone who made a living fighting for their life and others had to be.
“Yu—” Zira’s eyes dropped to the sword the moment she opened the door. A frown crossed her mouth briefly before it formed into a hard line. “What is it?”
“I have a task for you,” Vi whispered softly. “But it won’t be an easy one.”
“What is it?”
“I need you to die.”
“Excuse me?” Zira narrowed her eyes slightly. Vi had the distinct feeling that if she hadn’t built up such a solid rapport with the woman, she would already be cut down.
“Not literally. May I come in and explain?”
“You’d better.” Zira stepped to the side and Vi entered. Her fingers had gone numb from how tightly she was clutching the weapon.
“The sword needs to be hidden—above all else.”
“I don’t disagree.”
“I want you to take the Sword of Jadar, tonight, and flee the city.” Vi leveled her eyes with Zira’s, knowing full well what she was about to ask. “I need you to take it, and I need you to die in the eyes of the people.”
“So no one comes after me?” Zira reasoned.
“Exactly. We will say you were doing rounds and were cut down by a man in the alleyways.” The alleged attacker would, of course, be revealed as a Knight of Jadar. “I will procure a body and there will be a Rite of Sunset held for you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Fiera will know then.”
Vi had been debating this ever since the plan began to solidify in her mind. “Yes. We can trust her with the knowledge that you are alive. But she won’t know you have the sword. She can’t know.”
“What will she think then?”
“I will tell her we devised a plan to counter the Knights, and they needed to suspect your death. Which isn’t untrue.” Vi wiggled her fingers on the blade and tried to relax the bowstring-tight tension in her shoulders. It did little good.
