Greatness. Absolute power. My father’s favorite words. His brows lifted, indicating he was listening.
“The execution should be public, held in front of the full Court,” I said. “Perhaps even opened up for the humans to attend.”
His eyes narrowed, and a small smile developed on his face as I went on.
“This was an egregious crime. A public hanging would be the perfect way to ensure there are no future attempts to harm the royal family—or subvert your supreme rule. Making a public example of them will cast a quelling terror over the human population of Avrandar and the Earthwives alike. They’ll see how futile it is to try to defy you. Much cheaper than another rebellion,” I said.
For an excruciatingly long moment, he just stood there, dagger in hand. Then he sheathed it.
For the first time, perhapsever, it appeared he was going to listen to me.
“You’re right,” he said. “Get your horse. You’ll ride up front next to me.”
To his men, he said, “Put the girl and the witchbothin the prison cart.”
He looked from the screeching Earthwife to Stellon, who was fighting his restraints and cursing me non-stop.
“And keep this one bound so he doesn’t murder his brother. Let’s go home.”
Chapter28
Not Enough
Stellon
The three pillars were no more.
I no longer knew—or wanted to know—my brother.
Staring at his back as he rode side by side with our father, I wished I possessed the glamour of flame-throwing. The two of them would be nothing but smoldering crisps right now.
My horse was farther back in the pack, tied by a lead line to another horse since I was bound and unable to guide it or do anything but sit helplessly and ponder the depth of my stupidity for putting my faith in either of them.
Jolting along the bumpy road in the prison cart beside me, Raewyn didn’t look at me or respond to my questions about her well-being and her family.
I supposed that was smart. We were surrounded by soldiers loyal to my father, and the scowling Earthwife sat right beside her. The woman would no doubt use any scrap of information she could get to save her own hide.
The Hennessey family had not been found in any of the villages searched by my father’s men—to my great relief.
At least Pharis had gotten them to safety—or perhaps they’d fled on their own—before my father’s troops had arrived and searched their village.
A couple daysinto the miserable ride, my brother dropped back to walk his horse even with mine.
I’m sorry it had to go down like that. I was only trying to—
I blocked him out until only silence remained, refusing to look at him or acknowledge his attempts at mind-to-mind conversation.
Raewyn spoke to him though.
“Now I know why they call you the Prince of Tears,” she said. “I used to assume it was because you broke so many girls’ hearts. Now I know it’s because you’re actually the Prince of Lies.”
“Listen to me, Wildcat,” he began in a low voice.
Wildcat?
“No,” she interrupted, sticking her hand through the bars. “Never call me that again. Neverspeakto me again. There’s no point in listening to anything you have to say.”
He went silent for a few minutes, staring at her intently.
