So I started there, from when she first destroyed my alliance with Lord Eyreling, to the deal I made with her to release Nadiyah, to her scaling the walls, spying on Ezrielle.He knew most of it, but there were also parts I had left out.I told him last about the dagger I had swiped from her during the masked ball.
That piece of information intrigued him the most.“What did the dagger look like?”
I described it to him, the etchings on the hilt, and Vera’s findings.His face paled a shade.
“Do you realize how close you were to death, boy?She’s a trained assassin.A Dark Walker at that.You should be dead right now.”
But I’m not.
The thought stopped me short.Was there more she needed from me?
My uncle rose from the table, cringing at the pain the movement brought.“I’m sure the other two we captured are assassins as well.The blond man is also a Kallistar, so they’ll need to keep an eye on him, but that other girl with the wound, is she...”
I offered a helpless shrug, and he nodded in understanding.
“Well,” he said.“At least that problem took care of itself.”
I shifted on my feet, staring at the floor.“The soldiers are scouring the streets and haven’t found her yet.”I hesitated.“What if they don’t find her before the finale?”
He grunted, leaning against the door frame.“If she tries to sneak into the palace, she’ll be recognized.We can’t announce this or use wanted posters because the last thing we want to do is cause panic or insinuate Paravellia does not have its affairs under control.With her skills, she won’t be found by the soldiers if she doesn’t want to be, but we have leverage with her brother.Send extra guards to the dungeons and discreetly place others within a close distance.If she tried to free her friend once, I’m sure she’ll do it again for her blood.”
I gestured toward his abdomen as he pulled his shirt back on.“Will you be all right?”
He let out a laugh.“This is nothing more than a scratch.I’ll be fine.The question is, willyoube fine?”
I forced a smile, throat bobbing.“She was a distraction.Nothing more.I’ll be glad when they find her.”
I could tell he didn’t believe me.
I would take to the streets myself if I thought it would do any good, but I knew it wouldn’t.I wasn’t sure I even wanted to see her again.Better to have them go through with the sentencing and execution as quickly as they could.Over and done with.
But I wouldn’t be able to watch.
Even after everything she’d done...I didn’t trust my reaction if I were to look her in the eyes again.
“Are you going to kiss me or kill me?”
Her words from the night of the masked ball, when I had held the knife against her throat in the alley, returned to me.
I didn’t quite know.
“Why does she want your ring?”I asked, pointing to the opal stone on his finger.
He glanced around the infirmary, ensuring we wouldn’t be heard.“Because the vile witch she’s working for wants the power stored within it.”
I crossed my arms.“Is it magic you can use?”
He shook his head.“No, I can’t.You’ve heard of how I disappeared years ago?”
I nodded.
“Once I knew I would never have a claim to the throne, I sought my own path.I joined a guild known as the Serpent’s Blades, not to become an assassin, but to learn their ways, enough so I could be used as a weapon if needed.While I was in training, one of the students possessed a natural affinity for magic.Her name was Lavinia.Anyone who is born with magic instead of learning it is of special interest, carefully watched to discern their intentions, as restraining someone with natural abilities is far harder than restraining someone with learned abilities.”
“Let me guess,” I said.“She didn’t have good intentions.”
He shook his head.“No.She wanted to conquer and control, and she was the most powerful Enchantress I have ever seen.The elders decided she needed to be stripped of her power.When it came down to it...many lives were lost.Good people I knew.”
“But she still has power,” I said.
