Page 6 of A Kingdom of Lies

CHAPTER 3

Magic sparked across my hands. Rings of sharp, crackling ice turned my skin a violent white. I let it devour me, forging my fist into a weapon of jagged ice, only to melt and reform over and over.

The power didn’t conform. It spread with wild intention, devouring the brick wall beneath my fingers and my boots. If I didn’t focus, the magic would soon spread across the room entirely until it glittered in silver and white. Part of me wanted to let go of my control, to allow my emotions to storm outwards until I felt some space within me for more positive thoughts.

Instead, as I listened to Gyah and Althea discuss our pending journey, I held the magic at bay. My full energy would be required soon enough, even if Althea’s warning still echoed through me. The day had melted into late afternoon, yet the hours between this morning’s discussions had not dampened the threats that came with it.

Welhaven is recognised as the creation point of the fey at the beginning of time. The land is unclaimed by any of the four Courts, and thus may not be a place for war, hate, or the spilling of blood. It is sacred land and was historically used as a neutral ground for disagreements between the Courts to be discussed peacefully.

It made sense as to why Queen Lyra wanted my meeting with Doran to be there. A way of ensuring he didn’t go against the law of the land and anger his God. Yet deep down I knew there was nothing stopping me from unleashing this storm, not if the moment required it. After all, I would petition Doran to give back my father peacefully, or I would pry him from Doran’s cold, dead hands.

“… then our focus may return to our shared enemy, the Hand.”

I looked back at Gyah who spoke, running the whetstone across her sword.

“We have not heard from him since the Passing.” Althea shifted on her seat, visibly disturbed by the mention of the mysterious figure who hid within the human realm of Durmain. “Nor have our guards sent word of Hunters… or the warped, powered humans that we saw weeks ago.”

“They haven’t just disappeared,” Gyah added, not taking her focus from the edge of her sword. She flicked her thumb across the metal, inspecting just how sharp it was. “They will return. My suggestion is, we don’t wait for them to make the first move. Little is known about this Hand and his creations. It is pure luck he has stepped back from the forefront of our minds whilst we deal with the more… immediate threats this side of the border.”

“I know what you are doing, Gyah,” Althea said, one brow raised as she surveyed the Cedarfall soldier.

Gyah shrugged her broad shoulders as if she didn’t know what Althea suggested. But even I knew. Gyah hadn’t withdrawn her request to join the frontline and monitor the Wychwood border alongside the Cedarfall soldiers. Since the powered human had walked through the Mists of Deyalnar, Queen Lyra had sent countless numbers of her legion to prevent another from stepping through alive. Gyah wished to be there, doing her duty, not babysitting a capable princess.

But since Briar had disappeared, it was safer for Althea not to be alone. The assassin, like the Hand’s powered humans, would also return.

We all knew that Gyah wanted to join the efforts with a burning desire. She’d made that very clear. And yet, whilst other enemies still lingered in the shadows, it was important we had an Eldrae close by. Her ability to shift into a wyvern was rare, which made her presence paramount.

“There will come a time when I am required to be there, Althea,” Gyah said, looking up from her weapon for only a moment. “There are many others capable and skilled to protect you.”

“And until that time I am going to need you by my side,” Althea replied curtly. “Why settle for anything less than the best?”

Gyah blushed, turning her head to the side to hide the reaction. But what I noticed from Althea’s words was there was something that troubled her deeply. It had her losing herself to dark thoughts which devoured her in quiet moments. Althea did it now, fixating her gaze on a spot on the floor. Gyah briefly looked to me, both of us sharing our concern with a single glance.

“Doesshefrighten you, Althea?” I asked, sitting with them in the small circle we created.

There wasn’t a need to speak the name aloud for fear of triggering Althea.

“Nothing has the power to cause me fear, Robin.” Althea snapped her gaze to mine. She almost spat flame with the sudden reaction. “I only hope Briar is foolish enough to come and see me. There is much I have to say to her when she finally decides to show her face again.”

“And she will.” Gyah narrowed her golden eyes, the skin around them pinched into the pattern of crow’s feet.

“You said that no one disappears forever, but the Children of the Asp have never been found. I want to find their burrow and burn it from the inside.” I winced as heat radiated from the princess’s skin. Gyah noticed it too. I’d never thought it possible to see a person spit flame but could tell it was moments away from happening.

“You could encourage her out of the shadows, if you offered the right amount of coin then surely the assassins would show themselves again?” I said, clenching my hands into fists to call in the power that gloved them.

They both turned to face me at the same time.

“What are you suggesting?” Althea asked, curiosity dripping from her tone.

“The Asps kill because of coin; Briar made that clear. Would there not be a way of putting forward an abundance of money that would even entice an assassin out of retirement? It doesn’t need to be Briar who presents herself, only another sloppy initiate. Then we can find the burrow. Follow the lone Asp until it returns to its nest.”

“Just like that, aye?” Gyah scoffed.

There were other reasons I could want the help of an assassin. Perhaps, if Doran refused what I had to say to him, I would find a way to hire one myself.

I gritted my teeth, growing bored of my ideas being brushed aside. “Yes, just like that. Unless you have a better suggestion. I’m sure we would all love to hear it.”

Gyah forced a smile before returning to the sword across her lap.

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