Akemi would rise from the grave and haunt me if I didn't seize this opportunity. Stepping forward, I ran a finger along the bow, marveling at the frigid air clinging to its core.
Glistening light poured between the cracks in its design. The sounds of rushing waves reached my ears, and I felt deepest comfort. Like I could fall asleep right here and never wake.
I closed my eyes, letting the sensation wash over me.
Shame overtook me and burned my cheeks. I'd left home to lay my brother's soul to rest, to find him justice. Within days, I'd been dragged back home.
Maybe it was my fate to wither here, like all women born in this land.
Releasing the bow, I stepped back. When I opened my eyes, I saw Quinn staring at me intently.
His mouth curled into a wicked grin. "You'll have to forgive me, girl. I didn't bring you back home to protect you."
I stepped back, unsure what he meant. "I'm well aware you aren't trying to help me."
Quinn stepped closer, lowering his voice to a breath. "You raced headlong into danger, back in Kentoro. Protecting the king. Chasing his assassin." He paused, smirking. "Getting into bar fights."
"And look what good it did me."
"You don't get it, do you?" The room seemed to darken, trapping me in the light of his yellow eyes. "I just put you in more danger than I think you can fathom."
Looking down, I searched my thoughts. Was it illegal for women to look upon Siotha? No, that couldn't be right.
Quinn stepped back. "I was there, with Paragon Tiernan, the day the holy rapier chose him. I know what it looks like."
Realization struck me like a punch to the gut. I looked past him, at the bow sitting calmly in its stand.
It pulsed gently, with calming blue light. Calling me back to it. I staggered forward.
Quinn was lying. He had to be. A Paragon weapon’s choice couldn't look so simple. Cierthine had been much more dramatic.
The bow hummed louder as I approached.
"When Cierthine made its choice," Quinn said. "The world began to crack. But you, Diar? You're going to break it."
Chapter 24
Mare
Afell wind surrounded the white city of Tsuyan. Snow plunged from the heavens, and dark clouds blotted out the stars. It looked like a warning: to stay away.
I'd been freezing to death for the better part of an hour. Teeth chattering, I tried to admire the city I'd heard so much about. Tsuyan had never fallen in a siege. Its walls bent into a star shape, and large, jagged crystals rose from the surrounding fields. They glowed with an unnatural blue light—a light fueled by quiet magic that died if you shaved off a fragment to bring home.
Dark gray buildings lined the streets in orderly rows, covered in a heavy layer of snow. It looked cold and uninviting, yet undeniably beautiful.
Sort of like me, I supposed.
Leaning forward on my elk, I watched the front of our party. We'd traveled the north road to Tsuyan with the last of thevillagers, only to arrive and learn those who'd left before us had been denied entry to the city.
Reese sat on his white horse by the gates, arguing with a group of men.
He didn't look like he was having much success.
Liam guided his elk to stand by mine. "I should've expected this," he muttered.
I looked around the depressing scene. Roughly two hundred people gathered outside the walls, huddled around fires and hastily assembled tents.
When we first arrived, my heart had soared to see so many villagers had survived. But if Tsuyan left them out here, they would meet their doom nonetheless.
