You should be grateful. I’ve figured out what you were doing. Who you were helping. I turned it around for us, boy.
Even when he captured King Grey, it had nothing to do with resentment for magic or protecting Syhl Shallow.
It had to do with money.
I should kill you both, he said.They’ll probably give me a reward.
“I should have known,” I say bitterly. The king winces and shifts his weight again, and I glance at his injuries. “Would it help if I pulled the arrows?”
He studies me for a long moment. “I don’t know.” He swallows, and even that looks painful. “I don’t know what power is bound into them. It might make it worse if I can’t heal.” He flexes his wrists, then winces. “Can you unchain me?”
“Da took the keys.” I hesitate. “The links are too thick to cut. I could try to melt the chain using the forge, but it wouldn’t be quick.”
“Do it.”
“It’ll hurt. And if he catches me—”
“Then do it now, before he returns.” His voice doesn’t rise, but there’s a command in his tone that makes me jump and scurry for my tools.
The leg of the forge isn’t close to the opening to the firebox, and the chain isn’t very long. The king has to lever himself backward a few inches, and I tug the chain until his shoulders are twisted to a near inhuman angle. He sounds like he’s breathing through his teeth.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sorry—”
“This isn’t making it faster, Jax.”
“Yes—yes, Your Majesty.” I manage to get the very edge of the chain over the lip of the forge. “It’s not long enough.”
He tries to rise onto one knee, but his leg won’t support him. Not with an arrow through his thigh. I wrench his arm back another inch, and he makes a sound—then quickly follows it with, “Don’t stop.”
I get a link into the fire, wedged there with my tongs so it’ll get hot enough. I’m so close to the heat that sweat slicks my forearms already, but I don’t dare let go. The pain is almost unbearable, and a gasp escapes my lips.
Then the king says, “When these soldiers come, who will you stand with?” He pauses. “Who will you fight for?”
I don’t know what to say. I never thought it wouldcometo this.
But of course itdid. I made a choice then. And I have a choice to make now. No one has ever asked me a question like that. Fear sits like a ball of lead in my stomach—but so does determination.
For the first time, I think I understand the note in Tycho’s voice when he said,The actual soldiering, not so much.
I do know one thing for sure. “I don’t stand with the Truthbringers,” I say. “I stand with Tycho. If he would fight for you, so will I.”
“Tycho risked his position at court for you,” the king says. “He risked hislifefor you.”
I inwardly flinch, then blink sweat out of my eyes. “I know.” I draw a shaky breath and watch blisters erupt on my fingers where they grip the chain. “I know.”
“Make it worth it.”
I nod. The chain begins to glow red.
“Almost,” I say. “Just another minute.”
“Do you have any soldier training?” the king says, sounding like he’s speaking through clenched teeth. “Can you fight, if it comes to that?”
I’d laugh if it weren’t all so serious. “No. None.” I hesitate. “Well …”
“Tell me.”
The chain turns yellow. I reach for my pincers. “I can shoot. Tycho taught me.” The chain gives, and the king’s arms pull free so quickly that he almost falls over.
