Gambria sits, considering it.
“No,” I say in Khitanese. “The Sands of Time was lost long ago.”
“But what if Joon found it?” Mikail asks.
I shake my head. “That’s not possible. There’s been no sign of the relic for centuries—it was lost in the deserts of Fallow a thousand years ago when the Dragon Lord ascended.”
“All ‘lost’ means is that someone wanted people to stop looking for it,” he counters. “Joon wouldn’t advertise to Wei that he has it. He wouldn’t want anyone to know until Yusan was locked in battle. My sources say he left the palace right after we were sent north.”
I stroke my beard as we sit in silence. Joon has the Immortal Crown and Flaming Sword—the relic Gaya would’ve brought to a war of the realms centuries ago. Quilimar wears the Golden Ring. Uol, the priest king of Wei, has the Water Scepter to command an unsinkable navy. If Joon found the Sands of Time, he would have three relics. He wouldn’t need the ring or scepter to win a war. However, winning a simple battle might not be the point. He may be trying to take the last two andbecomethe Dragon Lord before the end of the monsoon season.
The thought is ridiculous until I remember Joon’s ambitiousness. Then a cold chill spreads over me.
He must’ve murdered the priests in the temple. He knew everyone would assume it was Quilimar, and the ancient edicts call for a war of the realms on any ruler who spills the blood of a Yoksa. By framing Quilimar with killing the priests, he guaranteed a war on Khitan’s soil. Wei is so assured in their constant victory, they would accept any provocation to gain more tribute. And he controls Gaya.
But it’s equally likely that it was, in fact, Quilimar. I’ll need to ask my sister directly to figure out if she did it. Hopefully, as I take her ring to give to Joon. If heisstarting a war and has three of the relics, the ring just became that much more valuable to him. It would be enough to pardon our group and give us the spoils he promised.
He, very simply, has bigger concerns than six people committing a little treason. With the odds stacked against us, it’s the only way we’ll all survive.
I’m about to point that out when Gambria speaks.
“Skies,” she says. “We can ask Fallador if he’s heard anything about the Sands of Time.”
“I have, and he hasn’t,” Mikail says.
I turn my head because that’s a name Idoknow. Fallador is one of Mikail’s sources—one I have always suspected he was in love with. It’s something in the way he says his name, a look in his eye—just a small tell. Mikail says I’m paranoid, but being paranoid doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Not all the time.
“Where is Fallador?” I ask.
“In Quu,” Gambria says. “Unless you’ve heard otherwise.”
I glance at Mikail. Of course—that’s who he went to see the second we docked in Khitan. He looks to the side casually, as if it doesn’t matter. As if Fallador isn’t the reason he hasn’t visited my bed since we left Yusan.
Jealousy flames inside me, corrupting my thoughts like poison.
“No, I haven’t,” I say.
I grit my teeth. I’m so furious I could scream. Then I remember that helping Joon will mean I’ll soon be crown prince of Yusan again. I won’t have to worry about being betrayed at every turn by the ones closest to me.
I steady my breathing and put my mind to making a plan to steal the ring, whether the others agree or not.
Chapter Sixty-One
Tiyung
Idle Prison, Yusan
Keys turn in the lock, and I’m ready. Time has passed slowly since Ailor was murdered. I assumed the assassins would realize their mistake and come back for me, and here they are. It just took far longer than expected.
Half a day has to have passed since they killed him. The blood on the stones has dried, and two meals have been served. But every moment has been excruciating.
The door opens, and I stand. I don’t want to die sitting or lying down. I need to show more bravery than before, which isn’t a high bar. I’m glad that I have this second chance to die with honor.
I brace myself, but Hana runs in, holding a torch. She’s breathless, looking around. I squint, but the torch doesn’t hurt much, since I’d been sitting with the lantern on. There was no need to conserve the oil anymore.
“Gods, you’re alive?” She sounds relieved and very surprised. Then her shoulders slump as she realizes Ailor isn’t here. She closes her eyes, shakes her head. “No time for that now.”
She’s talking to herself. I admire how she can pivot so quickly, but also, it’s inhuman.
