Von Nevus darts a quick glance over his shoulder. “Quiet.”
I laugh—loud and vicious. “You should be imprisoned alongside me for your part in Rowenna’s schemes.”
“Enough!” Von Nevus slams his fist against the bars. “I hoped a week down here would make you cooperative, but clearly, I was mistaken. Perhaps after another week…”
“Leave me forever. I’d rather rot than help you.”
Von Nevus leans down so our faces are level “Where is your sister?”
The question catches me so off guard, I topple onto my backside. “What do you mean?”
“She never came. I waited at the base of the mountain with horses and supplies for our journey to Tashir, but she never came. And you somehow ended up back in the Fortress with the bleeding prince. And she hasn’t tried to contact me this entire week. Did she return to Tashir on her own?”
He sounds almost hurt by the prospect, and I’m more than a littletempted to tell him that’sexactlywhat Rowenna did. She abandoned him because she never actually cared about him. She was only using him. But I’m too flummoxed by his utter lack of knowledge. Surely, Alaric told his councilors everything that happened on the mountaintop as soon as he awoke?
Unless he still hasn’t awoken.
My throat is so tight, I almost can’t get the words out. “Is Alaric dead?” I whisper.
Now it’s Von Nevus’s turn to look flabbergasted. “Of course he isn’t dead. Why would you think that?”
“Because he had one foot in the grave when I dragged him back to the Fortress. And I obviously haven’t seen or heard from him since.” I gesture around my cell.
Von Nevus sets his jaw. “Tell me where Rowenna is; then I’ll tell you about Alaric.”
I shake my head and rise up on my knees, refusing to cower beneath this vile man. “If you’re telling the truth and Alaric’s alive, why hasn’thetold you about Rowenna and what happened on the mountain? How do I know you’re not lying about his condition? About everything?”
“I had three hours of meetings with the man before breakfast this morning,” Garitt erupts with frustration. “Alaric awoke the morning after you brought him to the gates, not long after the healers administered blood and stitches, and he was discharged the following day. He immediately resumed his responsibilities, except he’s even more unrelenting than before—if that’s possible.”
For the first time in a week, I draw a full breath. He pulled through. But the longer I sit with this update, the more my relief is overshadowed by confusion and a feeling of prickling unease. Alaric has no reason to stay silent about my guilt. No reason to protect me or my reputation after what I did to him. He clearlyisn’tprotecting me, seeing as how I’m imprisoned, so why isn’t he shouting the truth for all to hear? And proclaiming Rowenna’s demise?
“WhathasAlaric said about that night?” I ask Von Nevus. But he folds his arms across his chest.
“No more answers until you tell me where Rowenna is.”
“You really don’t know?”
“I wouldn’t be down here if I did.” He sneers down at me.
“Rowenna’s dead—actually dead this time.” I spit the words out like a poisonous berry and gaze down at the floor, so I don’t have to see Von Nevus’s reaction. His pain will shatter me and infuriate me. He has no business mourning my sister, but I don’t seem to be capable of doing it, so perhaps I should let him. A week later, and I still don’t know how to feel. Can’t decide if I miss her or despise her. Revere or revile her.
Von Nevus staggers back, his gloved hand pressed to his lips. “You’re lying. She can’t be dead.”
“I’m not and she is,” I say, flat and matter-of-fact. “I’m sure her body’s still lying on the mountaintop if you want to retrieve it. I obviously haven’t had a chance to do so.”
Von Nevus shakes his head with horror. “You really killed your own sister instead of the enemy prince?”
“Ididn’t kill anyone,” I fire back. “Rowenna fell over the cliff edge.”
Garitt rolls his eyes and tosses his hands. “That lie has already been used.”
“Ask Alaric if you don’t believe me. He watched it all.”
“Alaric doesn’t even remember his own father’s death or taking the throne, let alone what happened atop the mountain,” Von Nevus mutters.
“What do you meanhe doesn’t remember?” I demand, hardly able to hear my own voice over the pounding of my heart.
“Exactly that. King Alaric couldn’t tell us why he was on the mountain or who attacked him. He insisted he never saw Elodie Tomasko up there and refused to acknowledge any sort of relationship or attachment to you beyond your perfunctory marriage on the Tomb Flats. That seems to be the last thing he can recall—almost as if the last few monthsnever occurred. Or were erased.”
