49
Blood blooms across the emperor’s chest.
He tries to stem the flow with his hands but already his cloak is stained scarlet. The dagger clatters to the floor as he falls to his knees.
Everyone is screaming.
And that’s when I realize – the emperor is not the only one bleeding.
Time seems to slow as I take in the rest of the Crowned Council. Queen Yvainne, Queen Aspen and Queen Hydra are all drenched in blood, each of them clutching the spot over their heart. One by one, they all collapse to the ground, which has ceased its shaking.
Some of the guests have fled the chamber, while others are seemingly immobilized with shock. I can just make out a terrified Renly in Kai’s arms as he and Elaith disappear through the towering golden doors.
A team of physicians swarms into the chamber just as River reaches me. His presence seems to jolt me awake and I rip the sleeves from my dress, which he uses to staunch the flow of blood still bubbling up through the deep gash in Queen Hydra’s chest.
This can’t be happening. How are the Council bleeding out before my eyes?
My gaze falls on the tendrils of power tethering the queens to the emperor. I hear Caius Castellion’s voice in my head.
I was the puppet master. I pulled the golden threads of life.
Even as I watch, the tendrils flicker slightly then begin to fade.
Of course. Because that’s what they did, the Council – pledge their lives and their power to him who reigns over us all. And in that moment, as they were linked together as one, Fox had stabbed his father through the heart.
An agonized scream rises above the others. Kestrel Calloway is hunched over the emperor, tears splashing on to his face as she holds it in her hands. Hal is crouched next to her, his entire body shaking. I whip my head round, looking for Fox. He’s standing motionless, clutching the Eye of the Past round his neck.
And I understand. Sifa’s talisman – it gave him a vision.
Freya didn’t die of the sweating sickness. She was killed in cold blood all because of a prophesy – murdered by her uncle, King Balen.
Fox’s eyes are wild with shock, his features twisted with pain.
To break the world, you must first break his heart.
The Cleaving … The Rift …
The boy who broke the world.
Realization floods through me just as an awful keening sound fills the chamber. Grandmother kneels beside Aunt Yvainne while a wailing Seraphine rocks her body back and forth.
Then – silence.
Complete and utter silence, as though the very air is holding its breath. It’s only when I hear the soft chuckle that I realize why.
King Balen has emerged from nothingness into the centre of the pedestal. He glances around at the bodies of his fellow Council members and tuts. ‘Such a waste.’
All around me mouths are opening and closing, but no sound is forthcoming, because sound is carried on the air, and the air belongs to King Balen.
The king walks the circumference of the pedestal, stepping daintily over his brother’s legs and coming to a stop in front of Fox. ‘Oh, nephew. Just look at what you’ve done.’
Fox lunges forward, but King Balen has evidently placed a barrier of dense air between them and Fox is unable to touch him. I watch his gaze dart towards where my dagger lies discarded near the emperor’s body. King Balen notices too. With a delicate flick of his wrist, he sends the weapon flying across the chamber. Then, an invisible stream of air pulls forth Sifa’s Eye from where it sits tucked beneath Fox’s shirt. I let out a silent gasp of horror as the talisman hovers gently a few inches above his chest.
King Balen beams. ‘I knew it. Oh, you clever, clever boy. The Eye of the Past. How long I have searched for it.’
Roots sprout up across the pedestal, spreading out towards King Balen, but he just makes another careless gesture and the golden chain begins to tighten round Fox’s neck.
‘Such a prize.’ The king reaches out to stroke the Eye, just as he stroked Freya’s cheek. ‘I thank you, nephew, most ardently, for finding it for me.’
