“All right.”
My limbs were stiff as I moved them so I could jump off the branch, and I was grateful for Ivren’s arms catching me when pain radiated up my legs as I landed on the pine needle–riddled ground.
Ivren held me there for a second too long. His smile widened when color rushed to my cheeks. “I promise I won’t let them eat you.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“Besides,” Ivren continued as he stepped back and started walking. “It’s not the karls that are the problem. Not really.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked as I followed him out of the woods, instantly wishing to fold into myself when eyes drew our way and tracked us as we started down the path to the lake.
“Think about it.” He shot a look around us that made me reach for the weapon no longer thudding against my back. “He purposely pits the karls against us in the Hird.”
My spine stiffened. “So that the strongest leader will remain standing.”
“Is that really the case?” Ivren asked. “Or does he want to make sure we know we’re expendable?”
I slowed my strides. “We shouldn’t?—”
“Youreally fucking shouldn’tbe talking about these things.” Viljan came to my other side, a low noise resounding in the back of his throat. “Simply thinking that is grounds for banishment. Execution. Ending of a bloodline.”
Ivren’s jaw worked. “Where did you come from?”
“Do you think you’re the only one keeping tabs on her?” he snarled. “Clearly I’m needed, since you both appear to have lost your fucking minds. Talking about such things…”
“Viljan, you shouldn’t be here.” More karls surrounded us, and their attention was drawn our way as we reached the glen spreading out before the lake.
“Look, that’s the Sweengard heir. Is she finally going to graceus with her presence?”
Laughter whipped my skin.
“Should we bow?”
“She’s got her bodyguards with her to ensure she doesn’t get covered inkarl stench.”
“Do you think she threatens them into submission, or do they get off on being treated as trash?”
It took everything in me not to let my neck arch at the whispers trailing us.
“Don’t listen to them,” my guard said.
But how could I not? If I survived, I was supposed to rule over these people. I was supposed to be their commander at the academy, lead them into the battle in strange lands—become theirchief.
My father had never ruled with fear or deception or cruelty. He’d been respected.Loved. And I wasn’t going to be the one to break that legacy, even if it meant I wouldn’t be the person they followed.
“Leave,” I ordered.
“What?” Viljan turned to me after giving some karls one of his vicious glares.
“I said, leave.” I didn’t look at him. “I don’t want you here.”
“Elvara,” Viljan snarled. “That’s not?—”
“It is my choice.” My eyes went unseeing as I held back tears. “I am your heir. You are my guard. You will follow my orders. I don’t want to hear another word. Leave.”
He looked at me as if he didn’t know me anymore. As if I was a stranger.
Maybe that was the truth. Over the past weeks, parts of myself had died with Lika and my father. Perhaps one of those fragments had become too large.
