Watching them interact, magical and reguls alike, it’s inspiring. Both have their equal measure, the same fairness of opinion. Knowing that there can be continued unity even after the king falls, it’s good enough reason to at least try.
Jessamine trails her eyes over to me and smiles softly before squeezing Naaveen’s hand.
“Then we go, we must leave right away then.” She says.
I watch the women discuss what to do as Naaveen flips through his book. The old weathered pages crinkle with each turn of the page.
“What do you look for, Naaveen?”
He glances up at me, his brown eyes warm and inviting, “A way to save you. If we can save at least one person, it makes the king that much weaker. If he loses his executioner, it ruins his appearance of strength.”
He resumes his flipping. He and Rune would get along—they both seem to believe in the good in the world, and damnit if The Hidden can pull off this, then maybe I would too.
“What if the king became aware of your magic, Alora? We can’t risk it, we can’t lose you too.” Helena’s firmness strikes around the room. She has a point and I can’t say I love the idea of Alora getting too close to Euron, especially if Orlin’s suspicions will be on high alert.
“It is the only way,” Alora demands and the rest of the room pauses to listen, “I will go, appearing as a willing consort to the king. And the only way I accomplish that, is by showing him I’m interested in him and revealing my magic. I won’t discuss this further. It’s too important to me.”
Her eyes flame with the same hardened expression as before and she looks at me reassuringly.
I hate it, but she’s right.
They all look at me, eager to hear what I have to say, “It’s a risk, always with Euron, but I can confidently say he would be willing to do anything to keep her in his proximity.”
“Then so be it.” Alora adds, offering little space to interject.
Jessamine moves towards her, “If you go, I go too. You’ll need all the help you can get to keep safe.”
And with that, the plan hatches. The ruse of Lady Orlah is formed. An educated merchant’s daughter eager to find a position within the courts. A tail as old as time for young unmarried women.
Except this time there’s a catch. While Alora distracts the king, the rest of us will scour the castle, specifically the king's room and office for the unmistakable leirunes, as I’ve come to learn their name thanks to Naaveen. And once we’ve located them, we’ll get the fuck out and won’t look back.
Chapter 27
Alora
We dress quickly, knowing that the horrors of the world are just outside the city. This moment can’t stay like this, encased in glass to be preserved forever, much to my disappointment.
Leaving River’s End so soon, after spending merely two days back, wasn’t what I planned.
Abandoning the sanctuary of the underground village should feel harder than it is, but yet, I find myself excited by the prospect of freeing Kassiel.
I should want to stay home with Oak, the warmed pools, and with the people who’ve become my family, but yet it’s all shifted.
Where there was once only vengeance for my parents, who were reguls with a lowborn daughter who had magic, and Hanin’s tragic ending, now something more fuels me to live.
Seeing the depths of King Euron’s sadistic ways, knowing what more people may possibly endure at his hand was met with something greater—the possibility that hope would change the realm.
I look to Kassiel, who sits there in the grassy meadow just out the door while I pack up my final pieces of clothing and feel the butterflies in my stomach flutter.
I roll the clothing tight before stuffing it in one of Dahla’s saddlebags.
Without looking back, I exit the cottage I’ve spent nearly all of my adult life in, and close the door for the first time, not worried if I won’t return.
Kassiel is now standing next to Dahla, rubbing her nose and whispering into her face.
Caym and Leeson are also nearby, packed up and ready.
As soon as they heard about our plans, they didn’t even give me a chance to argue with them about following us.
