Page 53 of Black Crown

Where are you?I closed my eyes and saw the army through Tyrrik’s mind, and then he shifted his gaze to the surrounding mountains.How long have you been gone?

Since sun up.

I pursed my lips at his non-helpful answer. “Excuse me?” I called out to my babysitters.

Both young men turned to face me.

“How long ago did the army leave?”

I looked at the two young men, both of whom were surveying me as though measuring my worth. Was it written on my forehead or something? They were close to eighteen, if not already there, and curly hair the color of dry dirt stuck out in thick waves around their square faces. They were neither handsome nor ugly, and their eyes were pretty close to the same color as their hair. I’d heard of identical twins, but I’d never seen two people who lookedexactlythe same.

The young man on the right tossed an empty corn cob away. “Five hours, give or take.”

Five hours?

“Lord Tyrrik insisted you sleep as late as you wanted,” the other said, his eyes shifting to me.

“That sounds about right,” I said, turning my attention to the rumpled blankets.

The two young men stepped away from the tent a couple of yards and sat down in front of a pile of green husks.

I took the privacy they’d offered and threw off the blankets, running my fingers through my long silver tresses. They were silent as I pulled my aketon and a pair of hose out from under the blankets. I patted down the bedding, unsuccessfully trying to find . . .Where are my shoes?

Just outside the tent. On the left.

I huffed.I can’t believe you left me.

I can see the tent from here, I could burn both of them to a crisp in seconds, and I’m watching our bond. Draedyn won’t sneak past. You know I’d never abandon you. Besides, you’re invincible, remember?

Oh yeah, I forget that sometimes.An evil emperor taking over my mind helped with that forgetfulness. A lot.

Just be careful with the boys. Zakai and Zarad said they’re the best they have.

I looked at the two young men. One was grinning as he murmured something to the other. They both chuckled as they sat on the ground, shucking corn. The grinning one caught me staring and held out an ear of corn, the husk already removed. “Do you want some?” He wiggled the vegetable at me. “Best corn I ever ate.”

Beyond the guards, where the clearing had been, was a garden. A vegetable garden, with no rhyme or reason to the plants’ order, fruits of my labor before sleeping last night.

I couldn’t stop the curiosity bursting inside. What had I grown? Was there enough for everyone? Honestly, it wasn’t my biggest work . . .

Quality over quantity, that was my new motto. At least until the war was over.

I stepped out of the tent and slipped my feet into my boots. And stared.

Vines surrounded the tent—no, they were grasses, only they were mutant forms of the mountainous vegetation. The thick blades were over an inch in circumference, and at least ten feet in length. Two sunflowers lay on the ground, their stalks as thick as my wrist, the blooms three feet in diameter.

“Lord Tyrrik said you’d want to see,” one of the twins said, his voice softer than the one who’d offered me the corn.

I nodded my thanks, not grateful at all as I stared at the growth I’d created, knowing at least some of it was grown with the intention to kill Tyrrik. The back of my throat burned with shame, and I swallowed it down, disgusted not only with my father but myself.

I was too weak to keep Draedyn out of my head again. That made it twice by my count. And both times, someone got hurt. I had to figure this out.

I accepted the corn from the smiling twin and sat next to the not-smiling twin. Corn, zucchini, and tomatoes had all been picked over, and many of the plants trampled underfoot. In the back of the clearing, a pumpkin sat, untouched. Hmm. Should I take offense to that? Did they think everyone could make pumpkins grow overnight? It wasn’t the small size putting them off, was it?

Grumbling a little, I bit into the corn, sweet and crisp, but the normal thrumming of joy and pride in my chest after growing something amazing remained absent as I looked over the patch of food.

“Lord Tyrrik said you could shoot those vines straight through a Druman’s guts,” Smiley said.

Smiley had a morbid streak. I glanced at him and held his gaze. “What’s your name?”

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