Page 156 of Thorns & Fire
‘The whole reason I came to Drevenor was to understand him.’Zavier’s hands were shaking now, and he clasped them together to still them.
‘He’s an alchemist?’Torj interrupted, his voice sharp with sudden understanding.‘Was he a student here?’
‘He wanted to be.’Zavier’s words came faster now, tumbling over each other like he couldn’t hold them back any more.‘He was the real alchemist of the two of us.But I realized that if I couldn’t save him...’His voice hardened.‘I had to be better than him, skilled enough to beat him.’
The cold weight in Wren’s stomach turned to ice.‘Zavier...’She fought to keep her voice steady.‘Why hasn’t he returned to Naarva?He has a crown waiting for him.’
Zavier’s laugh was bitter this time.‘It’s not the Naarvian crown he wants.’His eyes met hers, filled with such profound sorrow thatshe knew what he would say before the words left his mouth.‘It’s yours.’
The candle guttered.
‘Zavier,’ Torj said, his voice dangerously quiet.‘Whois your brother?’
The prince seemed to shrink further into himself, but his eyes never left Wren’s face.‘His name was Andor Terling,’ he answered, each word falling like a stone into still water.‘But he goes by Silas the Kingsbane now.’
CHAPTER 66
Torj
‘When the birds stop singing and the wind dies mid-breath, the Warswords know: this is not peace – it is the world drawing back from what approaches’
– A History of Thezmarr
IT WAS THEsecond time in as many weeks that Cal had to physically restrain Torj.He was ready to throttle the Naarvian prince.
‘How long have you known?’he demanded.‘How long have you let people die, knowing who was at the helm?’
‘I was only certain during the battle after the Gauntlet,’ Zavier replied weakly.‘I felt his magic then.Before that it had been a theory, nothing more—’
‘Gods,that’swhy his voice was so familiar.He has the same accent asyoufrom beyond the Veil!And you didn’t think tosharethis theory with anyone?’
Zavier shook his head.‘No one was supposed to know who I was...’
‘Peopledied,’ Torj spat.‘Warswordsdied.’
Zavier threw the sheets back and swayed on his feet as he stood.‘I know.I’ve been trying to stop him.Trying to—’
‘Enough,’ Wren said quietly, silencing them both.‘This is not the time nor place for this conversation.Zavier, are you able to leave the grounds?You won’t risk hurting anyone with your magic?’
Zavier straightened.‘I can leave.Though I might need something to eat first.’
Wren nodded.‘Dessa’s already fetching you something from the kitchens, and Kipp will come by to fill you in on everything.’
Torj watched her closely.‘What’s going on, Embers?’he asked.
‘Thea is coming by to get me,’ she said slowly.‘I have somewhere I need to be—’
‘Not without me you don’t,’ Torj countered.
To his immense frustration, Wren ignored this.Instead, she took his hands in hers.‘For now, I need you to promise me something...’
Torj waited.
‘Promise me that whatever happens this afternoon, you’ll wait.That you will not kill anyone, and that you will meet me in the gardens at dusk.’
Torj shifted from foot to foot.‘Wren...I don’t like where this is going.’
‘Promise me:wait.Kill no one.Meet me at dusk.No matter what.’
