‘The wind,’ Llinos explains. ‘The one that blew the fire out. That was me. Sorry,’ she adds apologetically.
‘I would’ve let the bitch burn.’ They’re the first words Jai’s grunted since I got there, and I’m one hundred percent sure he meant them.Despite the positive vibes I’ve got from Benny, Coulter, and Llinos, I can’t say the same about Jai.
‘We know you would have,’ Benny says flatly, ‘but we didn’t want the fire to spread. As much as we all want Zara dead for what she did to Suan, there were a lot of people in that corridor who didn’t deserve to be flame-grilled. Our plan was never to kill people. Our plan is to work together, get as many of us to the Ofur as possible, and hope that Etta deems one of us worthy to give us the gift. Remember?’
With his easy tone and smile, Benny exudes quiet confidence and charisma.
‘You’re all from the same city?’ I ask, partly to turn the conversation away from Zara, and partly because I may as well use the opportunity to learn as much about them as I can, particularly while Benny’s in such a sharing mood.
‘Sort of. Llin and I are both from Brandish. The others are from different islands. Different cities.’
Different cities? I assumed there was only one city in the Eastern Isles because people only ever spoke of Brandish.
‘So what’s your power?’ Coulter asks me bluntly. ‘Because, you know … throwing things won’t get you far.’
‘My power?’ I repeat dumbly, fingering my hair, heat rising to my cheeks as embarrassment claws at me. Gods, they invited me to sit with them, but they don’t know I’m the stripped slum rat. Maybe they assumed I had Issen blood. Either way, there goes my chances at allying myself with them.
‘Yeah. I mean, I thought that was what we were doing, right?’ Coulter says pointedly. ‘Sharing things.’
‘Yes,’ I agree, swallowing hard. I lean forward and pick up a pastry. I may as well get that before they chuck me out. With a firm grip on the sticky treat, I admit, ‘But I don’t have anything to share.’
Confusion clouds all their faces.
‘What do you mean?’ It’s the first thing Loch has said, and his voice is unfeasibly quiet. Then again, I guess if you can hear footsteps from however far away, you’re not a great fan of shouting.
I’m not sure how I should respond. Telling them I’m completely powerless seems foolish, but given Zara didn’t hold back from calling me stripped before I set her alight, I’m not going to be able to keep the truth hidden for long.
‘I’m Rose Kultavaris,’ I say after a pause.
I figured that would be all I needed to say. That they would gasp and exchange pointed looks before hastily retreating from my presence. But though Benny and Llinos exchange a quick glance, the others look at me with complete confusion.
‘You’re gonna have to give us more than that,’ Coulter says.
Huh. ‘You honestly don’t know?’
‘Yeah, we’re just really good at playing thick,’ Jai replies sarcastically. ‘No, Rose Kultavaris, we have no idea who you are. That name should mean something to us, I gather?’
I take a deep breath. ‘My mother was Reeva Kultavaris. She was the one who helped birth the queen’s second child.’
And just like that, I see realisation colour the rest of their faces. Tension wraps itself around me as my throat tightens. I try but fail to swallow the sensation down. Now that they know who I am, they’re probably pissed Zara didn’t get rid of me when she had the chance.
Llinos’s eyes lock on mine, and my fingers twitch for the dagger at my side, but they’re full of the sticky treat instead. Way to go, Rose. You’re going to die because you had a pastry in your hands instead of a weapon.
‘I am so sorry,’ she murmurs. ‘I was twelve when it happened. I remember the upset through the islands. The grief. It was…’
She doesn’t finish her sentence. She doesn’t need to.
‘The queen was an incredible person,’ I say stiffly.
‘Yes. But that isn’t the only reason we grieved. People die every day in childbirth. Sometimes healers just can’t get there in time. And sometimes the healers aren’t enough. It’s a cruel reality and I don’t know anybody who hasn’t been touched by it at some point. But to punish the person who was there to help … that should never have happened. I’m sorry for your mother. And your baby brother … I can’t imagine how horrific that must have been.’
I sit dumbfounded and breathless.
People I considered my friends, and people my parents considered their friends, left us the moment the king made his ruling. Yet here are strangers who don’t blame my mother. Who don’t agree with Korvane’s ruling and are bold enough to say so.
While I’m still gaping, Benny speaks up. ‘Is it true that the prince was the one who said your mother was responsible?’
My jaw clenches and my nostrils flare in anger. The words, when they come, are said through gritted teeth. ‘He lied. The queen told my mother to save the baby at all costs. And she tried, but …’
