The queendom took Hector’s death hard, particularly Raithe.
These books—Hector’sbooks—meant something to him.
Maryn’s message wasn’t for me. It was a warning for Raithe. To finish what the queen regent had started in the courtyard.Thiswas Raithe’s punishment.
“We must fetch more water,” I urged Letti. “Quickly!”
Not a single book had survived.
“She can’t get away with this,” I declared to Gregorios in the observatory later that afternoon.
It was impossible to focus the rest of the morning with the tutors. The advisors shadowed us in the council room as I was lectured and tested on a blend of royal efficacy, protocol, and economical duties. Their advice went in one ear and out the other.
Maryn, once again, skipped today’s lessons.
“She can,” Gregorios said simply.
“Why would she do something so cruel?”
“What’s done cannot be undone now,” Gregorios replied. “Hector and Raithe served as guardians for eleven years together. Even without eyes, I knew how much Raithe admired Hector. When he died last year, it was a shock to us all—especially Raithe.”
Perhaps that was why he seemed soeagerfor the lashings. Maybe it was to mask the pain of losing someone he cared about.
“It is not your job to worry about him, Novah. Let us focus on yourhudrotraining instead.”
The pages depicting the various uses ofhudroblurred together. There were a million other things that demanded my attention, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the pain he would feel upon his return to the palace. If it was a fraction of what consumed me in the wake of Basil’s death, he would need someone. No one deserved to grieve alone.
Anxiety brewed as I anticipated all the things my grandmother would say upon her arrival. Basil’s death would devastate her. We would grieve together, and the truths that I deserved about my past would come to fruition in time. Because we had plenty of that—I was nowhere near close to findinghudro.
Someone knocked from outside the observatory. “It’s me,” came a muffled voice. “Letti.”
“Enter,” I said, remembering how warded rooms opened for Chosens. For me.
Letti’s face was unusually grim. “Felaf and Raithe are back.”
I shot to my feet. “Where are they?”
“They’re in the stables. Wait?—”
I dashed past her, the desire to hold what remained of my family stronger than my guilt, my resentment—my shame.
Chapter 35
Raithe
“She’s coming,”Felaf announced as she unharnessed Echo across from Cobalt’s stall.
I stroked Cobalt’s neck in a soothing rhythm as Rahzlyn’s quick footsteps raced through the palace.
No longer did I have one terrible truth weighing on my shoulders, but now two. Both were necessary deeds that could bear unimaginable answers to the questions we all sought.
“I don’t like this, Raithe. What we just did…”
“Was necessary.” I turned to face Felaf. “Stick to our story until I say otherwise.”
Her shoulders drooped. “But we won’t be lying to only her. Gregorios should also?—”
“He’ll learn of this eventually.” When the timing was right.
