“You say you fight against Empress Morganya,” Seyin continued quietly. “You say you wish to create an equal world under a monarchy. But it is the monarchy itself that is the fault here. The people—Affinites and non-Affinites alike—have suffered for too long under the theory of a benevolent ruler. It is time we had a say in the way our lives are ruled.” Seyin spread his hands. “The future is in the hands of the people.Thatis the mission of the Redcloaks.”
It felt as though her world were shifting, signs she had missed earlier blazing to life. Yuri loved her, but he had never promised her anything—not a throne, not an alliance, not even a common goal. She’d hinged all her hopes on him and his revolution. In her own creed for justice, for equality, she had never paused to question whether they were even on the same path.
But she had experienced life both privileged and oppressed; she had been a princess and an Affinite. Surely…“I’m not like the other monarchs,” she said, her voice raw. “I know how it feels to be an Affinite, to be told that you’re unwanted and to be reviled by society. I’ve seen what happens to the weak and the vulnerable in the darkest corners of this empire. I want to change the system.”
“Simply changing the system isn’t sufficient,” Seyin said. “We need tobreakthe system.” He paused and lowered his hands, almost apologetically. “But, enough of grand political philosophies. You see now why the Redcloaks cannot and will not ally with you. You are the heir to the monarchy, Anastacya. You are the antithesis to our movement.”
She thought back to a moment that felt like a long time ago, standing back in the moonlight with only the Syvern Taiga and the silhouette of the fire-hearted boy she’d known.
The Redcloaks were her only possibility for an alliance, and Yuri one of the only people left whom she loved—yet the reality was, they were far from fighting on the same side of the war.
The Redcloaks sought a revolution.
She sought the throne.
But—no. They faced a greater threat right now than who ruled and how they ruled. Morganya’s grasp was tightening all along the Empire, and it was only a matter of time before she reached them, too, snuffing out any possibilities of resistance.
Theywereon the same side, for now. She had learned that the enemy of her enemy was her friend.
Yuri would see that. They’d bring down Morganya together first, and they’d work out their differences after. Because, Ana thought, if they didn’t unite now, there would be noafterat all.
That night in the Syvern Taiga, Yuri had sought her out to ask her to return. He’d said,And remember that I love you, no matter what you choose.
She needed to speak with him. She was wasting time with his Second.
In the whirl of her thoughts, she suddenly noticed that a hungry look had seeped into Seyin’s features. His hands were at his hips, resting on the hilt of a sheathed dagger.
“The monarchy must die, Anastacya,” Seyin said quietly.
The shadows around them deepened. Cold crept up Ana’s back. Instinctively, she awakened her Affinity.
Seyin stepped forward.
And then, out of the stillness, a second flare of blood appeared. Fast approaching.
Seyin’s eyes flicked to the entrance of the dome, his expression shifting again. The light emanating from Ana’s globefire dimmed; the shadows held their breath.
Ana turned, her Affinity poised.
A figure burst through the double doors: a girl, hair disheveled, eyes wide. She wore a dark cloak, the insides of which flashed red.
Seyin frowned. “Yesenya.”
Another Redcloak, then, Ana thought, watching as the girl came to a stop a dozen steps from them. “Seyin,” she panted. “The Imperial Inquisition is here.”
A chill ran down Ana’s spine. She’d fled many ravaged villages since she’d been on the run; the Imperial Inquisition wasn’t supposed to have arrived so quickly.
“Deploy the units,” Seyin said. “We lie low, continue our reconnaissance.”
Seyin’s tone was sharp, commanding, and in that moment, Ana understood why Yuri had chosen him as the Second-in-Command of the Redcloaks. She disagreed with him on the path forward, but there was no doubt Seyin was an effective leader.
A leader who had begun to draw together a plan, starting with understanding exactly what Morganya was doing.
Ana watched him, a plan beginning to take shape in her head. Up to now, she’d been focused on surviving day-to-day, on eluding Morganya’s forces. But she couldn’t fight an enemy that she didn’t even know.
If she were to speak to Yuri, if she were to try to convince him that she was fit to lead in the fight against Morganya…then she needed a concrete plan.
And that always began, as Ramson would say, with knowing the lay of the land.Reconnaissance.
