“It lies with Princess Carina Ravindra. It always has, it always will,” she said, straightening as best she could with the restraints still in place.
“Are you a liar, Kresida?” I whispered. “Have you sworn an air oath to Queen Antares?” My eyes scanned hers as they widened. Nerissa had told me she expected as much. And according to Ronan, it was why Nerissa had received such backlash when she promoted Vulcan to her second, years ago, as he claimed he would never swear an air oath. Nerissa had served her uncle, and the air oath that she’d sworn as a War Slayer had ended with his death.
“While I believe your loyalty to Carina is true, I can’t be certain you’re not bound to her mother. I cannot trust you. At least not entirely.”
“Untie me,” Kresida shook with rage. “Untie me or?—”
“I amdone,” I snapped. “I am done being ordered around. I am done bowing to your queen. I am done being held captive.”
Ronan chuckled, earning a hiss from Kresida. I spun on my heel and stalked from the small chamber, Vienah and Ronan closely behind.
I led Ronan and Vienah through the village as people shuffled about in the early morning. Men, women, and children of all ages set to work, many of them forgoing the bones and white paint, appearing far more friendly. They casually observed us, curiously glancing in our direction as we walked by.
We stopped dead in our tracks as the tree line shook, a boom rumbling through the needles. My jaw dropped as two ivory tusks, each longer than I was tall, crushed through the trees. The massive creature that emerged was covered in shaggy, brown fur with one long snout that swung along the snowy ground as it stomped through the forest. A Bone Warrior sat atop its back, spear resting casually against her shoulder. A line of downed tree trunks dragged behind the massive beast.
Ronan let out a low whistle as we watched the beast enter the village.
“Good heavens,” Vienah whispered beside me.
“I don’t think they answer to the heavens,” I murmured, though I smiled and couldn’t help but share in her awe.
“I like this new Lyvia,” Ronan muttered as we made our way to the center of the village. “Sounds like this matron gave you more than a pep talk.”
I glanced sidelong at him.
“I was being honest,” I said, eyeing the guards that trailed us despite our freedom. “I’m tired of all of it.”
“I know,” he said, voice softening. Vienah remained quiet. She didn’t know everything that had unfolded in the last year. Ronan placed a hand on my shoulder, halting me. I turned toward him, and he settled his gaze on mine. “We’ll get back. We’ll do it all.”
Something in my heart melted at the truth in his words, at the softness in his expression. “We need to find the others we left at the lake. Contact them somehow.”
My mouth quirked to the side. “Already ahead of you, Commander,” I said, throwing him a wink. Ronan’s returning smile would have sent butterflies dancing in my stomach a year ago. Now, it flooded me with the steady warmth of friendship. I turned to Vienah.
“Let’s get these taken off,” I said, holding up my wrist. While her brown eyes still held deep shadows beneath them, the smile she offered me was full of light and determination.
