As Caz turns in, Benny and Ruben talk in whispers while Kyor and I remain silent.
Part of me doesn’t want to break it. At least if we’re not talking, he can’t say anything else to hurt me.
When he nudges my knee with his, I assume the action was accidental, until I look up and find he is staring at me.
‘Do you believe me?’ he asks softly. ‘About Thea?’
I don’t bother lying. There are already enough lies between us. ‘Yeah.’
He reaches for my hand and laces our fingers. ‘It’s only ever been you, Rose. Will only ever be you. We’re going to get through this. I know it.’
I snatch my hand back and lower my voice to a hiss. ‘Just because I believe you about Thea, doesn’t mean that we’re okay. We’re done, Kyor. Get it through your thick head.Youwalked away fromme.’
‘Rose, there’s more going on than you know. You know I can’t tell you everything. I want to, I promise. I wish I could. I wish you could understand?—’
I shake my head. ‘Don’t try to distract me with explanations of vows and secrets. You didn’t tell your father the truth about my mother,’ I jeer back. ‘Was there a bond there, too? A vow?’
His silence confirms his answer.
Maybe there are things I don’t understand,can’tunderstand, but some parts of this mess are perfectly clear. My mother’s ruined reputation will remain because Kyor doesn’t have the balls to stand up to his father. ‘Do you actually like him?’ I ask. ‘Respect him? Think he’s a good leader?’ I press. ‘Because I can show you how he treats his subjects in the slums. And you told me yourself that people in the Eastern Isles don’t like him.’
His lips press together, and for a second I think he’s going to clam up and refuse to answer me, but then he speaks again.
‘It’s not about liking him or even respecting him. It’s about knowing what he’s capable of.’
‘Kyor, you’re the Prince of Morathka,’ I say. ‘You have power.’
The bitterness of his scoff takes me by surprise. ‘I’m the prince. He’sthe king. I have enough battles to deal with right now; he is not one I can take on at this time.’ He speaks carefully.
A frown mars my forehead. ‘What battles?’ I press. ‘You mean the Issen?’
He draws his tongue across his lips. ‘I can’t tell you, Rose.’
Frustration roars through me, and I stand and start to walk away. See how he likes it.
‘Rose,’ he calls after me. ‘Can’t. Not won’t.Can’t.’
My pace slows, but I don’t look back. Whatever bind his father has on him, it doesn’t change anything.
As I move across to the other two men, Caz is still shuffling around on her mat, clearly awake.
‘You okay?’ she asks me.
‘Not really,’ I respond truthfully.
‘Guys,’ Ruben interrupts. ‘I knowhesays Galreck, and I know that Benny has to go to Galreck, but I really think the rest of us should discuss Rowell again. We’ll be reaching a crossroads in a few days. It could cut an entire day off the trip.’ He looks at me and deliberately places his hand beneath his ribs. ‘Every day counts, right?’ He doesn’t need to say any more.
As if I could forget. Every time I close my eyes, I see the lace pattern on my brother’s skin. Imagine it spreading.
The thought that he could be discovered and killed before I even have a chance to find a solution is enough to make me want to grab a horse, gallop back to the High Hold, and send William into hiding. But cowering your whole life isn’t a solution. That isn’tliving.Which means I need another way to save him, and that’s the Issen.
The only way is forward.
As Ruben awaits my response, Kyor stalks over to join us. ‘We are going to Galreck,’ he says through clenched teeth. ‘And that is final.’
Ruben’s hands flex as he tries to steady his own fraying temper. ‘You may be a prince, but you’re not in charge here.’
Kyor surges forward and squares up to Ruben, using his not-insubstantial bulk to intimidate. ‘We are on Morathkian soil. As such, I am whollyin charge here.’
