But his words brought Ellina up short. She drew back a little.
It was true that Ellina cared for Venick. After everything they had been through, after a bargain made by firelight, after Venick pulling her from a river and promising her safety, after watching him pummel Raffan because Raffan had hurt her, because Venick wanted to hurt whoever caused her pain, and especially now, after seeing what Venick had risked for her and her country—how could she not care for him? Butlove?
The word condensed like fog, blurred and chilled the air around her. No. She could not allow herself to believe that. Ellina shook her head. “I do not love him.”
Dourin’s smile became a mere crook of his mouth. He laid a gentle hand over hers. “Of course not.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Venick lay on the floor of his prison-suite, staring at the ceiling. Unmoving. Unblinking. His eyes burned, but Venick refused to shut them. His vision became weird. The ceiling morphed and spun, light to dark to light again. A mirage.
The sound of footsteps approaching broke the trance. Venick blinked. Listened to the shift of feet halt outside his locked door. Thesnickof the bolt. The door swung wide.
It was Dourin. Venick knew it was without having to look. That elf had been his only visitor these past six days, besides the servant who brought him meals and the occasional guard come to taunt him. But it was too late in the afternoon for meals. And Venick knew those footsteps.
“Lazy,” Dourin accused when he spotted Venick sprawled on the floor. The elf nudged him with the toe of his boot. “And I thought you were a tireless warrior. What will the queen think when I tell her how worthless you are?”
Venick closed his eyes. Tried—very deliberately—not to snarl in response. Deep breath, then letting it go, andthen, calmly, “I wouldn’t be worthless if you let me out.”
Venick could hear the smile in Dourin’s tone. “If I let you out you would surely do something foolish, and then what would the queen think ofme?”
Venick rolled to his feet. “We’ve discussed this.”
“Yes,” Dourin replied. “We have.”
It was an old argument, worn threadbare between them these past six days. Venick wanted out. Venick wanted to start planning. Venick was tired ofwaiting. While the southern army advanced, they did nothing. It was wearing away at his sanity. If he was to be a prisoner here, hell and damn, at least let him be useful. That was why he had come, wasn’t it? To warn the north about the southern army and to help them prepare. He could be teaching Ellina and Dourin about possible scenarios for attacks and counterattacks. Could be discussing the southern army’s next move, who was leading them, what they wanted and how they would aim to get it. They could be devising a series of plans, then redevising them based on the number of soldiers they could secure.
Which was currently zero.
His frustration grew.
“When will the queen return?” Venick asked Dourin for what felt like the hundredth time. Dourin threw him an annoyed look. He didn’t know. Venick knew he didn’t, yet couldn’t help but press. “She is taking too long.This,” he swept a hand around the suite, “is driving me mad.”
“And I thought you enjoyed the pleasure of my company. Careful, or I will think you ungrateful.”
“We should be doing more.Youshould be calling on the legion.”
Dourin tsked. “Youareungrateful.”
Venick stalked to the window, yet made no move but to brace his hands against the frame. Dourin wasn’t wrong. Venick should be grateful. He was here, and alive, with only a few fading bruises to show for his struggles. Yet Venick couldn’t ignore the sour taste in his mouth or will away the knowledge that the north was still woefully unprepared to face an attack.
“Rest assured, human,” Dourin said lightly. “We are evacuating nearby cities, just like you wanted. Those elves will start arriving in Evov any day now. They will be safe here.”
Venick spun back around. “And if Evov’s magic fails?”
“Unlikely.”
“In war, nothing is unlikely.”
Dourin rolled his eyes, which rankled. Venick knew most elves did not take his warning seriously. Even those who did didn’t, really. The northerners did not understand, because they had not seen the army, and because they had been taught to believe elves didn’t kill other elves. That was old law. Deeply ingrained. Even those who believed the southern army was coming didn’tfeelit. They were unafraid, because they were used to being unafraid.
Venick needed them to be afraid.
“We are not completely without defense,” Dourin said. “There are some legionnaires in the city.”
“Not enough.”
“There is Farah’s guard.”
