But Grey lifts a hand. “Are you going to rule Syhl Shallow, too? You’ll steal the crown from one magesmith and put it on your own head?”
To my absolute shock, she looks him dead in the eye and says, “If necessary.”
Behind her, there’s a hint of unease. I don’thearanything spoken, but there’s a little ripple through the men and women assembled there.
They don’t like this, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“They don’t want a magesmith on the throne,” says the king. “They hate magic. What will you do with this power once I am gone?” he says calmly. “Will you surrender yourself as well?”
“I will return the magic to this creature,” she says.
“Youcannot,” Tycho snaps. “If we could give it back, don’t you think we would have already?”
That hint of unease rolls through the crowd a second time.
Grey lifts a hand again. His eyes flick to the chained scraver. “You have him on a chain, Karyl. It certainly doesn’t look as if you intend togive it back.”
“Iwillgive it back,” Karyl says, seething. “I don’t want this magic in my veins.” She gives the chain a sharp jerk, and the scraver makes a small sound. Despite everything he’s done, a spark of pity flares in my heart. “He is on a chain to ensurecompliance.” She glares at the king. “Surely you remember, Your Majesty.”
“Grey never kept anyone on a chain,” Tycho growls.
“Tycho,” the king says fiercely, his tone full of warning.
“Youdidn’t. Iisak was yourfriend. He was my friend. You have never used magic to harm anyone—”
“Silence!” Karyl snaps.
But Tycho isn’t looking at her. He’s glaring down at Xovaar. “I know your magic was stolen from you. I know you want it back. I know why you hate magesmiths. I understand now. But the Truthbringers arenot your allies. She cannot give you back your magic. She cannot protect whatever scravers you have left. Just because they hate magesmiths as much as you do does not mean they areon your side.”
“I saidsilence!” Karyl cries, and wind roars between the trees, bringing snowflakes. Everyone shivers.
But not Tycho. He hasn’t looked away from the scraver on the ground, and for as much damage and heartache as this creature has caused, Xovaar hasn’t looked away from Tycho.
“I know you hated Lilith,” Tycho says, his voice straining over the wind. It’s stinging my cheeks and burning my eyes. “I know what she did to Nakiis, and I know why you were afraid of Grey. I do. I swear to you, I do, Xovaar. But Grey didn’t take your magic— he didn’t even want it. Neither did I. There is not one magesmith left whostoletheir magic from scravers.” His gaze narrows, and he looks at Karyl. “Well. Perhaps one.”
“The end justifies the means,” she says, seething.
“I rather doubt it.” Tycho looks past the scraver at the Truthbringers. “You came to the palace with fire. You tried to kill the queen. Believewhat you want, but if you had come to the king with your fears, he would have listened. Instead you brought threats and violence and death.” Tycho looks back at Xovaar. The scraver’s claws flex against the ground, and he bares the edge of his fangs.
Tycho doesn’t flinch. If anything, sadness reflects in his eyes. “You sought out help from rebels and traitors and spies, Xovaar. Perhaps you found what you wanted, but I promise you this: if you had come to the king for help, you wouldn’t be on a chain. If you had come to me for help, I would have answered.”
For one blazing instant, the wind stops. The sudden silence is shocking.
Then Karyl loops that chain once around her fist, as if reassuring herself that the scraver is still under her control. Another wave of unease rolls through the Truthbringers.
But my eyes are still on Xovaar, who hasn’t looked away from Tycho.
Brave, kind, caring Tycho, who somehow finds a way to discover empathy in every situation, even when he’s staring death right in the face.
“You’re losing your army,” Grey says to Karyl, speaking through the silence.
“Oh, you think so?” Lady Karyl smiles, and her eyes are so dark. “You can say what you want to this scraver, but it doesn’t matter. They hate him, too.” Her eyes narrow. “I’m done listening to you all. So perhaps it’s time to do what we came here to do.”
CHAPTER 39
CALLYN
We’ve pulled back to the forge. Nakiis and Igaa told the queen that their presence might draw Xovaar and that we should hide elsewhere— or flee altogether. King Grey and his soldiers had horses, but it’s still not enough for all of us, and I know the queen won’t run while her husband is out sacrificing himself— if the soldiers would even let us.
