Page 31 (1/2)
"Do it," I say "And quickly"
Belén spurs his horse on We snack on late-harvest apples as ait for him Beyond the smoke and charred remains of the countryside, the city of Basajuan is beautiful, with rolling adobe buildings painted in bright pastels It’s a lot like my home in Brisadulce, but its nestled location in the crook of two es makes it a little cooler, a little wetter, and the result is lush and colorful by comparison
Hector has checked and rechecked his weapons Now he fiddles with the saddlebag, taking iteain
"You’re as bad at waiting as I a a water skin "You’re right," he says "I’h Waiting on a horse Unable to pace and bite your thulare, but he doesn’t notice because his face has turned distant and grave "This situation has the potential to go very badly"
"Yes"
"Not just for us," he explains "For the world The Deciregi could not have known it when they planned their conquest of this city, but you, Crown Princess Alodia, and Queen Cos to be in the same place at the sah, pulling back on my horse to make way for a wo the side of the road to avoid , it didn’t occur to erous situation" It was a rushed and painful moment Franco had stolen Hector away, and I had just learned that Conde Eduardo was engineering a civil war "But maybe it provides us with an opportunity too"
"What do you nored your su no one’s counsel but her own Itin my face makes him pause "What is it?"
I openI’ve been forcingAlodia again
"Elisa?"
"I’ down around us I have to defeat the most powerful sorcerers in the world, only to dash back home and stop a civil war Why do I even care about her? Why is it so iaze, e an idiot"
He chuckles, and I snap lare at him, only to find his face full of empathy
"I’m sure it did not escape your notice while ere aboard Felix’s ship," he says, "but I ad his arms over the porin "I followed hihtword from Felix can still cut aze off toward the city, as the rightness of his words stick in ut I do want Alodia’s approval Hers and Papá’s And I’ it It still bothers er and shipped norant of essential knowledge pertaining to ht, they didn’t even bother to attend my coronation
"Alodia alanted me to be better," I say softly "Different And I spenther expectations"
"I was there during the otiations between your father and Alejandro Trust me, she cares for you very much"
I’m not sure what to say to that
"Alodia assured us you were destined for great things," he adds "She even quoted the prophecy, ‘And God raised up for hi your head?"
"I don’t think I’ve fulfilled that prophecy Not yet Maybe not ever"
He’s about to say soh traffic toward us "Jacián himself is at the southeast tower," he says breathlessly
"What did they say? Have the ani the city yet? Ishis head "I’m a traitor here, remember? That’s why Cosmé washed her hands of ht We must take you before them"
He can’t mask the pain in his voice How hard must it be for him to return here? To see old friends and fa when he should have died a traitor’s death?
Mara’s face is stony She sits stiff and tall on her gray gelding, as if prepared for battle I expect she won’t relax until Belén and Coss are between theo" And we ride forward, faces set with deteruard toould hardly be called a tower by Brisadulce’s standards It’s only three floors high, with a sle’s nest at its apex, where a crossbowman stands at the ready We dismount from our horses and hand the reins to Mara The rest of us stride right through the door and into a busy ar blades,armor They launch to their feet and surround us with swords in the space of a breath
We put up our weaponless hands to shoe mean no harm "I require audience with Captain Jacián," I say "I am Queen Elisa of Joya d’Arena"
They stare in astonishment, weapons half lowered A few drop to their knees and bow their heads But one points to Storm and says, "An Invierno!"
"My royal ambassador," I say loud and clear "And under my protection"
"Is Jacián here?" Belén calls out
"Fetch the captain," someone calls out, even as whispers of "traitor" and "spy" echo around us The weight of daggers in ins to feel conspicuous How fast could I draw them?
An explosion booms, too close, and all the weapons rattle in their racks The guards shift uneasily, torn between keeping an eye on us and rushing to their stations
"Trebuchet," Hector says "I recognize the recoil One of the guard towers nearby took a shot at the Deciregi"
"They’re closing in," I say
The guards part to make way for someone, and suddenly he’s here Jacián Sharp featured and dark, with a deep glower that I once foundHe elbows his men out of the way and barrels toward , then he pushes et a better look "When word reachedan arood to see you, Jacián"