He had given me that necklace as an engagement gift—but he was promising me something long before.
He endured my attempt on his life, my ignorant fear, and my foolish escapes.
Teo knew the meaning of forgiveness long before I did. He exacted justice when necessary, protected those he cared for fiercely, and forgave them all.
He let go of the awful things that Lijasa did to him before we met. He became someone in spite of his cruel father. He healed, and opened himself up to me.
Fearlessly.
I desperately want that.
For the first time in weeks, I hear his voice without pain. Not a memory.
A message.
Chapter 16
Opal
TEO
It took us merely four days to reach a snow-blanketed Zlosa.
We rode every second the sun was up and slept just long enough for our beasts to rest. Luckily, the motley gang of wolves, bears, and one towering alce didn’t hold us back in comparison with the speed of theglacialmaras.
“My tits are going to freeze right off,” one of the elves says, followed by a round of hearty laughter that I don’t join.
We are positioned on a nearby hill overlooking the royal palace. I should be searching for my wife, but my eyes follow the point of the towers, up to the top room. I stare at the spot where I was subjected to Lijasa’s attention for months on end. It’s insane that I can see the spot where her bedroom once was amidst the massiveness of the city.
When I finally have time to distance myself from the cruel memories, I bottle the torrent of emotions coursing through my body. Too many feelings will only make me sloppy.
The palace seems so big in my mind, but truly, it is small compared to the lumber yards and slave pens that stretch outendlessly in either direction, over hills, and into the trees. They have their perfectly manicured gardens a mere ten paces away from the pitiful gates that hold back their slaves.
I see no woman dragged around on a lease, so I take a moment to gaze into the city. Only a few great manors are in view, surrounded by the dozens of smaller houses for those in the lower classes. I spot the bathhouses, the barracks for the giant warriors, and the dining halls.
It is all unfamiliar to me.
All I know is the palace and all the horrors that went on there.
Is the reason that she’s not out in the open now is because she’s trapped somewhere inside the palace? Is she subjected to Rhokler the same way I was subjected to Lijasa?
It’s almost too painful to entertain.
“You look at trees as if you’ve never seen one,” a voice says behind me, much closer than expected.
I turn around, thinking they are speaking to me, but instead, I see Glyni and Ulla holding baskets full of scavenged food.
I sigh. These elves are not so bad. They have been kind enough on our treks, which is not what I expected.
Ulla shoots Glyni a wary look. “Before this trip, I saw them for mere moments and never so up close. Didn’t you know that most of our cities were underground?”
Glyni laughs. “Yes, I’m very curious as to how you survive without the sunshine.”
Ulla shrugs and taps her crystal. “I’mvery curioushow you survive without crystals to sing to.”
As if on cue, Niht starts to sing a common working song.
The quartz towers Ulla had set out for goodwill and peacefulness hum back—granted, he’s no Velen, but it’s a pleasant reminder of home. I know that the large crystals will soon reverberate our battle songs, but for right now, I let the elves marvel.
