Page 13 of A Rift in the House of Bruin

“Gunner!” Fallon slapped his shoulder, scowling. “You know why I’m here. I wasn’t about to stand with our house. We all may be cursed, but I’m not about to give them an easy target.”

“You’re being ridiculous. Look, the ceremony’s going as planned. Nico’s given the oath. All that’s left is for the sage to stop rambling and initiate the transfer of the ring.”

“I’m being ridiculous?” She gestured to a small golden orb at his belt. “I asked you to bring a weapon, not a solric. That thing will blow us all to the afterlife, not just our enemies.”

“One can never be too prepared. Besides, you owe me. I know that you’re wrong, but I brought a weapon anyway. Or did you miss the bow on my back?”

“Once Nico is king, then you can tell me I’m wrong. Until then, I’m staying put.” Fallon turned, focusing back on the ceremony.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have worn such a flashy dress if you wanted to hide in the shadows. You’re like a beacon, refracting light like a distress call.”

“Fuck off, Gunner. No one asked you. Go back to being a lapdog for our brother.”

I had to stifle a laugh, which became nearly impossible when Gunner chuckled.

“Johan of the Rapere, your watch has ended. You have been a shield in the storm, a light in the shadowed wood. Do you relinquish the Bloodstone Sigil and with it, the burden of rule?”

The room held its breath. This was the moment Fallon had been so afraid of. I, too waited with bated breath while the entire realm teetered on a precipice.

Johan twisted the ring on his greasy finger. The silence was deafening.

“It has been the honor of my life to be one of many to serve Hiraeth,” he began, his voice echoing off the walls. “Our realm has seen many great rulers come and go. From the dawn of our kingdom, the Divine granted Hiraeth with the gift of sight. Prophecy was given to the chosen few so that we, the people, would know the Divine’s will.”

“Curse the damn fates! We don’t need a history lesson. Get on with it, Johan,” Gunner muttered, his stance shifting. He was getting nervous.

“The House of Bruin has led for centuries—a glorious and storied dynasty. But I am ashamed to admit that the Divine’s word has been lost to us. Lost because some kings refused to share it. Evil kings, who twisted prophecy to their favor. Now that I bear the Sigil, it’s revealed all of the secrets the kings before me kept. King Artos was the worst of them all!”

The crowd gasped, chaotic chatter erupting.

“Fucking bastard,” Gunner hissed, reaching for his bow.

Nico stepped forward, fists clenched, restraint etched deep in his scowl. “Johan, you’re skirting a fine line.”

“My father, Herold, was one of Artos’s closest friends. That didn’t stop him from murdering him in cold blood.”

“That’s a lie and you know it!” Nico growled.

Johan ignored him, turning back to the crowd. “My father was killed for the unfortunate crime of being born to the wrong house at the wrong time. Artos murdered him because the Divine foretold the House of Rapere would rule. I’ve seen the old texts. I’ve been translating the Book of Astrium. The proof is overwhelming. Many of you already know this to be true. We cannot allow his line to ascend the throne!”

The room dissolved into a frenzy.

“They are tainted!”

“The sins of the father shall fall to the sons!”

“Eradicate the entire line!”

Gunner stepped in front of us, arrow knocked, as the chaos escalated.

“Do you believe me now?” Fallon shouted.

“Not a great time for ‘I told you so’!” Gunner barked.

Johan’s voice boomed again. “We cannot allow the Sigil to pass to the Bruin line. We must root out the evil and usher in a new era. The House of Rapere shall restore our rightful destiny. And we’ll begin at its core!”

He stepped behind the sage, drawing his ceremonial dagger and slit the holy man’s throat.

As if on cue, the guards lining the throne room sprang into action, surrounding the nobles of Bruin House.

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