My booted feet slap against the ground as I dart between fluttering tents. Two energy signatures pulse faintly in the distance.
I run faster.
But I’m too late.
Faramir stands outside our tent, his face a picture of manic fury. Four bodies lay scattered around him.
One man sways on his feet, blood dripping down his chin. With a start, I realize it’s one of my father’s personal guards. The corpses—my father sent all of them to protect Faramir.
What has he done?
“Fara—”
My brother’s boot slams into the ground. A thick root erupts from the earth and tunnels through the man’s abdomen, emerging from the other side, dark and bloodied.
I stand frozen in shock. Faramir so rarely practices his earthwielding in my presence, I’d forgotten how powerful he truly is.
The final man’s corpse falls to the ground with a dullthud. Faramir stares at the bodies, eyes vacant, a stiff sneer stretched across his face.
“What have you done?” I rasp, still staring at the bodies.
“Did you know?” His voice is oddly calm.
“What are—”
“DID YOU KNOW?” he roars, launching himself at me, hands gripping my tunic. His eyes are wild, the left one twitching uncontrollably.
“Get your hands off me.” I knock him back. “What the fuck are you talking about? Why did you kill them?”
Behind us, soldiers begin to wander over at the commotion.
“Theyattackedme,” he seethes. “Onhisorders. He means to assassinate me. He’s always preferredyou.”
Truth. Or, at least, Faramir believes it to be truth.
The soldiers draw closer, whispers echoing through the night.
Skies damn me—I need to handle this quickly.
“Sulon,” I call out as he shoulders his way through the men. “Bury them. They turned on the crown prince. I’ll handle the matter with the king upon my return—he’ll be furious to know his men went behind his back and tried to assassinate his heir.”
“No, my father—” I grab Faramir’s collar, cutting him off before he can utter another word, and drag him inside the tent.
He shoves me away, teeth bared in a snarl.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I was walking back to the tent. And they fucking. Attacked. Me.”
No prickles.
“There must be some misunderstanding. When we get back to the palace—”
“You’re a blind idiot,” he grits out. “They were acting under Father’s orders. If you think I’m going to let this stand—”
“You have no proof of Father’s involvement. Let me—”
“Steal my throne? Fuck that, Zevayr. You’re a fool if you think I’m going to hand it over to you.”
