A moment later, a woman in sodden skirts comes through the trees. Her blond hair is in a long braid, and she has a baby strappedto her chest. She’s got a crossbow in her hands, too, and her eyes are fierce. Her gaze skips across the bodies on the ground before landing on me. She swallows, then looks at the trees.
“Adam,” she says. “Are you sure there aren’t more?”
“No,” says Saeth, which isn’t encouraging. He drops to a knee beside Reed for a moment.
“Is he all right, Da?” says little Ruby.
“Just sleeping. Put your head down.” He only kneels there for a moment before he stands, and I meet his eyes.
He shakes his head, then says, “Two to the chest.”
This was supposed to be easy. Simple. I want to be sick again.
“Francis is breathing,” says Nook. “I think a rib is broken, though.”
“They’re going to find you,” Lennard says to me. He winces, bracing a hand against the arrow in his gut. “They’re going to find you, and they’re going to make you regret what you’ve done to your people.”
“I haven’t done anything to my people,” I say.
“The instant they found proof, you ran! Youhid.”
His words hit me like a fist. It’s not just the words, though; it’s the betrayal in his tone. Is this what everyone thinks? Is that how the consuls have spun this?
The last night I was in the palace was the same night Arella Cherry and Captain Huxley tried to speak to the people about how I was poisoning them. The night patrol chased me through the woods, and I ended up in Violet’s barn, where Quint found me with Thorin and Saeth. We’ve been hiding ever since.
Maybe the consuls didn’t have to spin anything. It’sexactlyhow this looks.
“Your Majesty,” Saeth says quietly. “We shouldn’t remain here.”
I hear what he’s saying. He’s urging me to make a decision.
I don’t want to make it.
At my side, Saeth is still pointing that crossbow. His voice is grim. “On your order.”
My breathing is tight and shallow. I’ve never done this part. This has always been Corrick’s role. I don’t want to be a part of it. It doesn’t feel brave. It doesn’t feel cowardly either. It feels horrific. My stomach clenches again.
Lennard’s eyes shift to Saeth. “We werefriends. We were friends, and now you’re going to shoot me.”
“You’re a traitor.”
“In front of your daughter? Do you know what they did to her?” His voice darkens. “Do you know what they did to yourwife?”
“Da?” Ruby squeals, her tiny voice breathless.
“Headdown,” Saeth snaps.
“Adam!” Leah cries from across the small clearing.
Everyone thought my father was such a great king, but he was never forced to make choices like this one.
Maybe that’s my own fault.
Our choices are our own.
The little girl is crying against Saeth’s shoulder now, and her hands are wrapped around his neck, but he hasn’t moved. His jaw is tight, but he’s still waiting for my order.
I don’t deserve this kind of loyalty.
