Page 125 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“I can hear heartbeats, and with a touch, I can slow or hasten them. Even stop them.”

“We’d like a demonstration.”

“I—I’m not sure how to go about doing that. If I slow it enough, the person will pass out. They’ll be fine, but . . .” I trailed off, staring at the four of them. The woman was the only one not looking at me, staring straight ahead instead.

“We want you to show us how you stop a heart. Then we want you to start it again.”

“What?” I felt my eyes grow wide.

“Mistress Miriam has come today to allow you to demonstrate.” The woman still stared, unmoving.

“I’ve never stopped a heart and restarted it. I could kill her.”

“That is a risk she has agreed to.” Filenti’s grew impatient.

“How will you know if I am successful? I could just slow it enough and then hasten it again and say it stopped.”

Why did I say that out loud?

“I will know because I am also a harrower, Lady Highclere, though my gift is only auditory. I cannot affect anyone else." My jaw dropped; finding out once again about another person with my abilities was unexpected. I recovered and crossed my arms, feeling the glare on my face as I spoke.

“I still don’t want—what if I can’t restart it?” I watched Miriam, waiting for her to meet my stare. To agree with this was preposterous.

“Do you want to perform the ritual with Prince Rainier or not?”

Divine hell.

“Am I done after this? If I do it, will that be enough?” My heart raced, and I was struck with the sudden knowledge Filenti could hear it. Good, I hoped he could hear just how terrified I was that I might not be able to bring her back. And what if I couldn't? What then?

Filenti nodded slowly.

“And if I fail? If she dies?”

“Mistress Miriam knows the risks, and she has agreed to it. No harm shall become of you if that’s what you mean. I have a contract here if you’d like to look over it, releasing you from any responsibility.” Filenti held a paper out toward me, and I briskly cut the distance between us, snatching it out of his hand. “I had a copy delivered to the palace this morning, but you may keep this one.”

I glanced over it, skimming to see that what he’d said was indeed true. But still, responsibility in front of the Crown and Myriad was different from the accountability I would feel in my soul and upon death. That I’d knowingly contributed to killing a woman? Even if it was an accident? But what choice did I have? I wondered if Filenti was getting some jealous, vindictive kick out of this. Since he couldn’t do what I did, he wanted to make me do something like this with my own gift? My thoughts strayed to Keeva, oddly enough. The Myriad must have mixed up our tasks. I was infinitely more suited to make a cloak, and it was apparent where her proclivities had lain. I paced for a moment, still watching Miriam stare straight ahead. I reached out, spearing my divinity at only her, ignoring the men around her. Her heart was racing. She didn’t want to do this. What did these men have to gain by making me do this?

“May I talk to Mistress Miriam in private before I do this?”

“Absolutely not.” The man with the handkerchief spoke. He had a long thin nose, and his eyes were rather close together. I didn’t hide my scowl. I didn’t know what to do. Something told me it wasn’t just the ritual on the line if I didn’t do this. I walked toward the woman and studied her. Why her? She was a bit older, likely in her fifties. She had dark brown hair, threaded with silver, and it was pulled back in a bun that made her features look more severe. Her eyes were gray, and she had a slight overbite. I knelt in front of her and gently touched her neck, still unsure about what I planned to do. I stifled a gasp as a voice broke into my mind, drowning out my internal thoughts.

“Do not react—listen to me carefully. They suspect you are not what you appear. Do not prove it by bringing me back. If you try to save me, they will kill you, and thousands more will die because of it. You have to stop my heart. The seer has foretold it. It is the only way. I am ready.”

Feeling my heart rocketing and my eyes enlarging, I pulled myself together. I couldn't lose my control, especially not when Filenti could hear my heart. I pulled my hand away, taking slow measured breaths.

“I’m sorry, I need a moment. I’ve never successfully done this, and I'm nervous.”

“Take your time.” Filenti nodded, and the man with the long nose turned to glare at him.

I started pacing. Miriam had been in my head, and she sounded agonizingly desperate. This was a punishment—that much was clear. What had she done for them to volunteer her in this? They thought I wasn’t what I appeared to be? What did that even mean? Thousands would die? I reached out again, listening for her heartbeat, and it had slowed considerably since speaking to me. Had she calmed because she knew I heard what she had to tell me?

“Why is she the volunteer and not one of you three? Surely, one woman cannot be braver than the three strong men before me.” I hoped perhaps one of them would stand up for the fearless woman.

“You would do best not to hurl insults at us. You are only here because King Soren is on his deathbed. You are barely worth our time, let alone the time of a crown prince.” The master with the handkerchief spoke, his voice thick with disdain.

“If she dies, will I still be sufficient?” I felt disgusting asking it, knowing she would die if I did what she asked. But I had to know.

“Yes, I thought we established this.” Filenti stared at me, annoyance growing in his features.

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