“I won’t.” He finally looked at me with remorse, yes. But also shame. “I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
I stared at the arena.
At the swords, grunts, and grins. I’d never seen Geryll grin like that while training, not once, not even on the rare occasions when he bested Nadya, who he always compared himself to.
I’d indulged his misplaced desire for battle long enough.
My mind raced, desperate for a solution.
I could command him away from battle, but that would only stiffen his resolve.
I needed to provide an alternative he would gravitate toward.
Geryll was smart.
Attentive.
He had a kind soul that shouldn’t have been hardened, not like this.
Wanted to be like his father so badly, he was willing to risk his life for it–
“I have an idea.” A fleck of one, but it was a start. “How about you come to the Capital with me?”
Geryll lit up, part confused, part hopeful. “Why?”
“Your leg, for one. But they have the best war archives there. I planned on studying them myself, but I doubt I can make the time. Think you can help me?”
Geryll’s eyes narrowed, even as a glimmer danced in them.
I knew he knew I was drawing him away from battle–but the opportunity was too good.
He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, like he was doing me a grand favor. I let him.
“Better than sitting around in the fortress untilthis–” He bared his teeth at his leg. “–heals.”
“Perfect.” I patted his shoulder, sighing in relief as we walked back to the fortress.
It was short-lived, however.
Now I had to face The Huntress.
Chapter 18
Allie
Igrimaced at the pile of parchments mocking me from the table.
Poor Dax had left my room only ten minutes ago, rolling his aching wrists and with an unsettled look in his eyes after he’d chugged three truth serum vials. We’d spent the entire day hunched over numbers and names.
Each time I read one of them, my breath stuttered as a fresh wave of guilt and helplessness took over.
Some of these people I’d seen dead with my own eyes.
A few had fled Sanctua Sirena, according to Dax.
But most were lost beyond his skills of gathering information. They might have been trapped in Aquila under Silas’ rule, fled to lands unknown, dead.
