“No,” said Gladdis firmly, “this young man is not a lackey of the Empire, and he came to me only because he was angry for his friend and wanted answers. He does not deserve to be thrown into the sea like this, and I will not ask someone else to do the deed forme. I regret not being there when Fienna had to be dealt with. At the very least, I can see this man off.”
Fienna stared at Gladdis. “Despicable” was all she said.
“It is rich coming from someone who’s about to kill hundreds of thousands of people,” agreed Cain.
Fienna turned back to him.
“No, she’s not.”
“She’s not what?”
“She’s not going to kill hundreds of thousands of people. You’re going to stop her.” Fienna’s face was gentle as ever.
“Fienna, I am hallucinating right now from a poison so strong that I can’t even lift a finger. I’m tied up in something, a rope or a chain, I can’t even tell. How do you expect me to stop her?”
Fienna leaned so close their noses almost touched.
“Do you remember when I first found you on the streets? When the fruit seller caught you stealing an orange and I begged and begged him to let you go if I paid him? You were shouting in Arlandais.”
Cain nodded. His neck moved.
“Why would I save a twelve-year-old child like that? Was I made of money then?”
“No.”
“That girl you helped… What was her name?”
“Arienne.”
“When you gave Arienne your bread, did you expect something in return? Did you help her run away because she would do something for you?”
“No. Not any of that.”
“Do you think I gave that woman’s money to Arlanders because I wanted something in return?”
“No.”
“Then why did you do it? And why didIdo it?”
“Because we could.”
He could now feel the tear rolling down his face.
Fienna smiled.
“Since you’ve found out what I tried to do, you’ll do it for me, right? You’ll take over where I couldn’t finish? Because you’d done everything I asked for. My clever and kind Cain.”
Fienna stroked his cheek. His eyelids fluttered on their own. The night breeze brushed the back of his hand.
The rocking of the boat lessened. The ex-legionary had stopped rowing.
“This looks like a good spot, my lady.”
“Is that so?”
The two were rising, but Cain was not paying attention to them. He was gazing at Fienna. Her braided hair glowed as if she were wearing a crown of light. Cain looked up at the night sky. The overcast sky was dark as ink, with no moon shining down.
“The Capital may look shiny and bright, but the people there live a hard life. When this is all over, I want you to take care of them.”
