“Further evidence of Victoria’s deceit. How she corrupted Ilryth for her benefit.” Fenny motions for Lucia to come and stand before the council as well. “Tell them what you told me.”
Fenny knows of Ilryth’s and my love. Of what we did. I have damned him, and myself, the Eversea, and the whole of Midscape. Maybe the world.
Lucia drifts to a stop, looking between us and the chorus. After what feels like an impossibly long time, she says, “I don’t know of what you speak, sister.”
“Lucia,” Fenny growls.
“I will not speak against my brother.”
“The chorus commands it!”
“You are not the chorus,” Lucia fires back. “You are merely a stand-in for our brother and a sad one at that. I thought better of you, sister.”
“How dare you! I am trying tosaveour family.”
“Enough,” Remni says.
As the sisters begin to squabble, Ilryth shifts to look back at me. His expression is unreadable. He’s not betraying any of what he thinks, even for a moment.
“It’s true? You’re married?” he whispers, only for me.
“I can explain…”
Ilryth shakes his head and looks away.
“Let’s kill her and be done with it,” Ventris demands.
“It is possible for human traditions to change,” Sevin points out. “Perhaps we are staking too much on ancient records to determine her character.”
“None of this helps alleviate our problems with Lord Krokan, or this claim of Lady Lellia’s ailments,” Crowl points out.
Everyone speaks over each other. Louder and louder. But my ears hear none of it—nothing but quiet ringing as I stare at Ilryth, who still won’t meet my gaze.
What have I done?
“Enough!” Remni silences us all with a shout and a slam of her spear that causes a burst of light to strike against all corners of the room. “Enough. This dissonance will get us nowhere. Lucia, leave. Warriors, take Ilryth and Victoria to the chambers of the anointed anddo notlet them leave until the chorus has decided their fate.”
CHAPTER49
We are guided backto the chambers I previously occupied. There is a whole ocean between us, rather than just a room. My body is numb. Heavy. It’s a wonder I can float or swim at all.
As we arrive, the chorus’s song hums through the seas—if it can even be called a song. It’s a cacophony of five voices singing at once, all off-key, not quite in the same time. Stopping. And then trying again to no success.
The warriors leave us in the room, positioning themselves at the start of the tunnel that leads up to it and on either side of the balcony outside. But, for the most part, we are alone. Especially since the spear-wielding men and women can’t even bring themselves to look at us. I wonder if this was part of Fenny’s plan. She knew we would be placed here, together. Alone. Perhaps she’s hoping we can find a way to escape.
Or maybe she wants Ilryth to stew in hatred for me and that’s how she plans on getting him back on her side so she can free him.I am trying to save our family, she’d said. If Fenny can convince the council that I deceived Ilryth enough to twist his morals…that I used some power I don’t possess to steal his better sense…then maybe they’ll spare him.
She was shrewd, a bit harsh, but never struck me as cruel for cruelty’s sake. And what I do know is that she loves her home and family more than anything. Perhaps…it was all an act to save him. But not me. She never really cared much for me and I’ve crossed lines she wouldn’t forgive. Fenny would absolutely let me die, again, to save her brother.
Ilryth…
He’s said nothing. I turn, bracing myself. He’s right there, yet half a world away, staring.
“All right, let’s get this over with. I don’t want to play your games,” I say curtly. Maybe I’ll rise to the role Fenny has arranged for me. Maybe I can hurt him enough—hurtusenough to break this. And then he can be spared from whatever fate awaits me.
But just the thought is a red-hot poker to the backs of my eyes. I’m not ready to let him go.
“Games?” His expression becomes shadowed as he drifts forward and out of the glow of the anamnesis planter on the wall. “I’m not playing any games.”
