“And when did the Emperor disclose this?”
“When he commanded I walk to the edge of the stage with him.”
“But you stood in your designated place the whole ceremony.”
“Fuck.” I cast my gaze outward, as if the answers lie somewhere above the pines. “That’s what I worried you might have been spelled to believe.”
“What in the Continent are you on about?”
“I saw a weird warbling magic surrounding all of you when I tried to imbue you with a sense of urgency after the Emperor claimed we were to be married.”
Fray’s eyes widen until the full circle of his irises is visible. “What in the fuck did you just say?”
“Would you prefer to land before I explain?”
He releases a heavy breath. “Yeah, I probably should.”
He flies slower than he had before, though still fast enough to blend the shapes of the landscape below.
Fray drifts above what appears to be a thick blanket of fog, pocked with the pointed peaks of evergreens. He careens us over to hover above a wide circle absent of anything striking through before we descend in the center of it. My skirts billow upward along with a shudder as the damp fog covers our already freezing forms in slick, frigid mist.
My eyelids stick as I try to blink until I’m able to squint, and our boots crunch down over the thin blanket of ice coating every dead stalk of grass. The forest is made up of the same pine trees surrounding the Imperial Palace, yet the fog above seems to amplify the moonlight, casting ominous shadows to contrast with the strangely ethereal brightness. Something in the looming line of fog overhead pulls on a heavier sense of dread than every fear of the unknown creatures lurking behind our backs.
Fray releases the harness from around my back, and I sway in place while the chill wind burns every inch of my exposed skin. Though the sting is a welcome distraction from the nausea setting in.
“Before I explain, I need to know—did you see them?” I ask.
Fray shakes his head and looks down at his boots, apparently knowing I meant Cirrin and Varic.
My lips screw up behind the mask, though nothing can stifle the tears from welling along my lash line.
“The last I saw of them, Lars was rushing forward with Malin running after him, and that was just before part of the ceiling fell where we stood. Cirrin grabbed hold of Varic’s shoulder, and they jumped in the opposite direction of where I flew.”
“Then what took you so long to find me?”
“I could see Malin and Lars with you, and as I started to fly in your direction, there was a scream that sounded like a young witch?—”
My cheeks wobble as he sighs. “I know my responsibility is to you, and I shouldn’t?—”
I shake my head and reach for him, then squeeze his forearm, pulling his attention. “No, aside from Varic, Malin is the next most capable of keeping me safe in a situation like that. You made the right choice, Fray. Besides, it explains why you were covered in more dust than we were.”
The edge of Fray’s mask rises before we each cast our gaze skyward.
“We could go back—” I begin.
“You know we can’t.”
Swallowing is nearly impossible with the tension in my throat—the action being just as useless as blinking against the onslaught of tears threatening. But I will not cry for the loss of them. Not yet. I will not mourn those I do not know to be dead.
“I know it feels impossible—” Varic’s voice resounds in my mind, repeating the words he said when I was filled with panic.
My chest heaves as I release a heavy breath against the fabric covering my face, and stare at the way it dissipates into a thin cloud of vapor.
“You can do this. I promise.” His voice was so caring; it squeezes my heart. “Pull in your next breath with me.”
I go against my nature and listen to his words, pulling in a deep breath through my nose as more tears well.
“Come back to me, mei waella.”
