Allies are important,I remind myself as I press the wax seal of Obsidian's crest down on all three documents. He slides the dagger out from the sheath across his chest and sets it in my hands. I slice it against the soft skin of our palms, and raise the blood-coated blade above the agreements, watching the droplets stain the parchment.
“For Allora,sit hic sanguis fata nostra in gloria signet. Ad ludum regum et reginarum."I murmur, and Rorin presses a kiss to the side of my hair.
“For Allora.”
Rorin
The court was quiet once our guests took their leave; everyone was exhausted from the days of entertaining and meetings.
We'd all split off afterwards, too tired to carry on with any more conversations. The minute I stepped into our bedroom, I shucked off my clothes and shoes, falling face forward onto the mattress. Eveera giggled quietly at my display before my consciousness blinked out.
When I woke, her side of the bed was noticeably cold and empty. Worry started etching its way in when I noticed her sitting down in front of the fireplace, her attention fixated on the flames.
"What can I give you to know your thoughts?" I call, sliding out from underneath the covers to join her. She stills for a momentas I nestle in, my arms wrapping around her chest to fit her snugly against mine.
"Ha — why ask when you can just waltz into my mind and find out?" She rasps, her head lolling against my collarbone.
I lean down and place a kiss along the warm column of her throat, brushing her hair away with my cheek. "Because I want you to let me in."
She hums in response, tilting her face until our lips graze lightly against each other."So demanding…"she sighs into my mind before looking towards the flames again. "I sent word off to Baelor and your father." My blood runs cold at the thought, and I rear back, trying to find the words to rebut that statement. "I want to finish this, Rorin. With as little bloodshed on our side as possible."
"And you have a means to do that?"
"If Baelor is as impulsive as I think he is, then yes — I do."
My fingers scrape along my scalp, waiting for her to explain. When she doesn't, I'm forced to prompt her with, "and those means would be?"
"I'm going to trade Pruella for your father."
I feel my jaw drop, disbelief crawling up my throat as I sputter, "e-excuse me?"
"Baelor can keep Vellar and his kingdom, but his pursuit of Allora must end." She says the words coldly, her voice detached from her body. "The dealwemade was I help you — I get my revenge on your parents."
"Right, but there are a few flaws in that plan, Nightmare. One of which is the part where Baelor gets to keep Vellar, which negates our entire agreement. The other is that there is no guarantee he will genuinely end his pursuit."
Her head shakes, golden irises flicking over her shoulders at me. "Of course, we can't guarantee it, but once we rid him of his Evendell soldiers — all he will be left with are human men andwomen, his Guards, the kingsguard of Vellar, and no Illusionary. They won't stand a chance against us on the battlefield. We will have led him into a false sense of security, and when he tries to strike again, he will fall."
"And Vellar?"
"Vellar will be free of him, and you will be able to assume the throne if you choose."
I drag my hand along my chin as I try to envision her plans. "What about Pruella?"
"With her father dead, she can do whatever she wants. She could rule even. That is, if there's anything left of Hadartorule once we're finished."
A trade…I think to myself, unsure that this will work or if we'll just be led into another trap. "So all we need to do now is wait to see if they've accepted?"
"They already have. We leave for the border tomorrow evening."
"Tomor—"
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Our heads snap over to the doors, confused as to who would be knocking at this hour, until I hear Will's voice come through— "Rorin? Rorin, I need to speak with you! Ror—"
I stalk over to the doors, pulling them open, and revealing his disgruntled form. "What is it, Will?"
“Get dressed.”
