Was this unknown thing the real reason Oris and Ivan had fallen out? The real cause of the First Line uprising?
And if whatever it was would anger the old Baron of the First Line, why had he gone along with the uprising? Ivan had been anHeir, not the Baron.ThatBaron Vylan had lived well into his old age.
I had no answers, but this felt important. Something about the information hummed through my brain, like bees jammed into a jar. I went back to reading, pulling my own notebook closer, so I could write down the important information. I wrote it in a code that only I would understand, and perhaps Iker, using parts of the High Language we’d been taught by the Votresses early. Not the whole language, but enough that we could decipher the alphabet.
There were some Second Line citizens who could fluently read the High Language, a cautious safety net in case something tragic befell the Votresses. I wasn’t one of them, but I could read enough to create this cipher.
Meela appeared in the doorway, a frown on her face. “A message has arrived from the closest village. It was sent by Kian for you,” she told Avalon.
Moving quickly, Avalon thanked Meela and ripped open the sealed envelope. Her eyes shot to Hayle, then around the rest of us, her face growing pale.
“What does it say?” Vox asked her softly.
“That the Second Line have announced themselves and have begun marching toward Fortaare. We are at war.” She swallowed hard. “And that Baron Zier Tarrin has been charged with treason, and is set to be tried and executed in Fortaare.”
Fuck. Fucking fuck.
It was too soon. Why was my father marching already? Something had happened, and I needed to find out what. I needed to get to a source. We needed a plan.
Avalon was shaking her head, even as Hayle wrapped her in his arms. “I saw this. My dream wasn’t just a dream,” she murmured against his chest.
“What?” I asked, and she turned toward me.
“Last night. I saw Zier with his head on a chopping block,” she choked out, her body swaying against Hayle’s for comfort.
I looked at Vox and Hayle, before finally turning to Iker. What should wedo?We couldn’t walk right into the lion’s den; it was obviously a trap set to maneuver us to Fortaare. How did they even know about our connection to Zier?
“We can’t stay here any longer. The time for garnering support is gone. We need to join the rest of the Second Line army,” Iker said in a low voice. “If Baron Vylan catches us in Fortaare, he will use you to lure in your father, then execute you both.”
I closed my eyes against the weight of this decision. One thing was certain: we needed to leave here immediately and head to a larger city to gather more information.
There were no good options, and I prayed to the Goddess that my father had a plan.
Nine
Avalon
By the time we’d gathered our things, Meela had collected enough supplies to last us two days, which was as much as they could spare until Kian returned. We stood around their small kitchen, and I took a deep breath. It was all coming on too fast, and I wasn’t ready.
Reeba stepped forward, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Avalon Halhed. When the time comes, you will have the courage and wisdom to do what needs to be done.”
I swallowed hard. “I just wished I knew what that was.”
She didn’t say anything further, just nodded sadly. We were leaving them the horse, because we could only move as fast as the slowest of us anyway, and perhaps Powell or Celis would need her eventually.
Speaking of Powell and Celis, they stood off to the side, frowns on their faces. They were healing, though; I could see a lightness in their features that had been missing for the past few days. Clean and dressed warmly, they looked like any other teens.
I moved toward them. Reaching out, I gripped Powell’s hand. “If I stumble across your brothers, I’ll tell them you’re safe. Is there any other message you’d like me to pass along?”
Powell’s jaw tensed. He seemed so young right now, his eyes wide, and his feelings right there for everyone to see. When had I begun to feel so old? “Can you tell them to whisper my name in my father’s ear as they slit his throat?”
Celis gasped softly beside him, but I gave him a crooked smile. “I’ll tell them.” I hesitated. “Don’t let the darkness steal what’s left of your light, okay?” I looked back at Celis. “Don’t let fear stop you from living. The greatest revenge is living like they never broke you.” She nodded, her eyes too wide. “I’ve met some of the Librarians, and they’re fierce. Warriors whose weapons are books—and occasionally a dagger. It’s a noble profession, and if you choose to follow the path, I know you’ll be amazing.” I thought about Librarian Enora back at Boellium. Was she still there? Had she evacuated with the Lower Lines?
Hayle’s hand rested on my spine. “We need to go, if we’re going to make it to Third Line land by nightfall.”
Hesitating only slightly, I reached forward and wrapped my arms gently around them both. I felt a strange kind of responsibility for these two. They allowed my touch, both reaching up to pat my back.
“Be safe,” Celis whispered.
