Until something dark and murky clouded the surface of the water. Jade kneeled on the bridge and peered down at the cloud of blood that marred the river. Nicolas’s blood.
Forty-Six
The sun hung low inthe sky, bathing the world in a golden light. The glittering ribbon of the river shone in the distance, holding its secrets captive. The scene might have been beautiful if not for the horror and death the last few days had brought. A red sky as the sun fell would have been more fitting.
Jade leaned against the balcony railing of her assigned quarters in Castle Venemer. She shared the room of a captain stationed at the castle, as Jade’s residency was only temporary. But she was alone for now, and she stood in silence in the fresh air, trying to reckon with the outcome of everything.
She caught sight of the river again, which mocked her with its apparent serenity. A body had never risen to the surface, but the amount of blood in the water after Nicolas dove in hadn’t been minimal. For all she knew, he may have been carried by the current out of the city and would wash up on the shore somewhere later. Regardless, she had no reason to believe he’dmade it out of the river alive. She’d seen the shot hit him, she’d seen the blood in the water. Few would survive that.
Her stomach twisted at the expectation of his death despite it all. Jade hadn’t wished death on Nicolas, but then again, perhaps that was the only way. If he’d lived, he would have been able to influence whomever he wanted until he reclaimed his throne. He needed to pay for his crimes, for the innocent lives lost. Though it wasn’t in the manner Jade would have preferred, he had.
A door creaked open behind her, but Jade didn’t look back. No doubt her roommate had returned from the dining hall. Jade had skipped dinner, no appetite to urge her out of the quarters.
Slow footsteps approached her, crossing over the threshold of the open door to the balcony. A figure clad in white came beside Jade and mimicked her posture, leaning against the balcony railing. Jade shot a sidelong glance at Grand General Devereaux. She chose not to stand at attention or salute. She didn’t have the capacity, the last two days thoroughly weighing on her. It might come back to bite her later, but Jade had made her decision and stuck by it.
“Arabella was crowned,” Devereaux said casually, making no reference to Jade’s utter disregard for protocol. “The guards found the true priest in the robing room. He said he’d thought he was supposed to stay in there, but he couldn’t recall why.” A pause lingered between them. Devereaux didn’t need to say what she was thinking for Jade to pick up on it. Nicolas’s sorcery.
“Reynauld’s body was removed, and the ceremony continued, crowning Arabella. Given the fragile state of things, many of us came together and decided it was in the best interest of everyone to recommence at once.”
Jade nodded, lost for words. Why had Devereaux personally come to her quarters to tell her these things in such a cavalier way?
“The kingdom has a modicum of stability once again, thankful largely to the work you did.”
“The work I did?” Jade rounded on Devereaux, meeting her severe stare. “The work I did sent us chasing false leads. The work I did got people killed. No.” She shook her head emphatically. “There was nothing about the work I did that benefited the kingdom in any way.”
“You kept Arabella alive. We have a new queen.” Devereaux met steel with steel. “If you hadn’t gone to Nicolas last night, you may not have learned the truth and been able to stop him from killing Arabella. Now she is queen, and her rule will hopefully bring an end to the law calling for the deaths of all magic-wielders. That will save many innocent lives.”
Jade didn’t have a response to that. Devereaux was right about that much at least. It was what Jade herself had wanted. But did it negate all the bad that had happened? Prince Reynauld was dead. And Alanna. And Lord Grannam. And so many more. All on Jade’s watch. All after Jade had followed incorrect assumptions and had chosen to work for her mysterious informant whom she barely knew. One victory couldn’t erase that guilt.
Devereaux tipped her chin up, appraising Jade. “You don’t see the benefit in what you did?”
“I do,” Jade conceded, her tense shoulders relaxing. She turned to look back out over the city. “But it’s one good thing in a sea of bad.”
Devereaux propped one elbow on the railing, leaning on it and facing Jade. “Life is a sea of bad, Captain Ni’ihm. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate the good.”
Jade rolled her lips, fighting to keep the unexpected tears stinging her eyes at bay. She nodded, her throat too thick to form words. Perhaps Devereaux was right. She had ultimately succeeded in helping bring an end to the Conflict of Succession and established the new heir on the throne. Even if that heir wasn’t Reynauld. The true line was intact.
But how true had the “true” line been with Nicolas still alive?
He never would have taken the throne, Jade reminded herself. He’d gone about it entirely the wrong way. There might have been a path for him to retake his crown, but manipulating and murdering people was not it. As itstood, his crimes would have come to light and would have prevented him from becoming king. He had crafted his own dark fate. At least that was what Jade decided to believe.
Devereaux pushed off the railing. “Whenever you’re ready, we’d like to schedule the promotion ceremony for you and Captain Redman. You’ve earned it, Captain Ni’ihm.”
The grand general turned to leave with another nod from Jade, but Jade whirled around and spoke again just as she stepped through the open door into the quarters.
“I’m truly sorry, Grand General. For working with Nicolas and keeping him a secret from the military.” Jade dipped her head in remorse. “I never should have stepped foot in that farmhouse, let alone agreed to work for him and then hidden it.”
A small smile cracked Devereaux’s stony façade. “You went to him, yes, but I don’t fault you for doing what he said. His influence is overpowering, even to the trained mind.”
Jade gave a closed smile in return, but as Devereaux crossed through the room and opened the door to leave, Jade’s mouth fell open and a deep furrow creased her brow. What did Devereaux know about Nicolas’s influence? And against a trained mind?
The question formed on Jade’s tongue just as Devereaux shut the door behind her. Devereaux had been working at the king’s side for a long time and within the castle even longer. She must have known Nicolas as Artis, as the young prince. When Jade had asked Devereaux if she’d known of Nicolas, the private guard to the king, Devereaux had said yes. But Nicolas had never been the king’s guard. Devereaux had lied.
Jade gasped, her eyes searching the stone floor of the balcony as though it could provide her with answers. Had Devereaux known that Artis had escaped death and was seeking the throne? That he was the one behind all of this? If Devereaux had known...Did Nicolas have her in his pocket this entire time? Had they been working together?
Her reference to his “influence” pointed to her knowing he was a sorcerer. Perhaps she even knew of the plot by Mervyn and Reynauld to kill the prince because of his magic. Jade turned to face the railing, gripping it with both hands to steady herself. Nicolas’s words from their last encounter in the bunker came to mind.
I had to entrust someone on the inside to continue dosing him.
