Page 87 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“I read your paper, you know,” Mr. Victors said. “The essay meant to win over your dream college. Such passion for your subject is an inspiration.”
Oh, look. Someone else attempting to use my paper as a manipulation tool. I admit, though, I admired his confidence. His ability to steer a conversation. To intimidate while remaining unflappable. His peace hadn’t wavered for a nanosecond.
“Does Soal require a gardener?” It was as good an explanation as any, I supposed. And yes, it was a temptation unlike any other. To get my hands on the flowers growing atop the Rock ... No!Focus.
The glower grinned a little. “Sitting here, speaking with you, I’m reminded of a time I found a pritis stone. It was so dirty, I almost tossedit. Had I done so, I would’ve lost the key to my own rescue, simply because I didn’t recognize its value.”
I guess I was the dirt-crusted stone in this scenario. “I thought the maddened hated those stones.”
“They do. Soalians hate thatCuredmisuses them. Of course, you have no idea what they are because you filter everything through their ocean of lies.”
“Enlighten me, then. Correct my wrong assumptions. Help me understand your truth.”
For the first time, he demonstrated a thread of anger. “It isn’t my truth butthetruth.”
Anger blasted from Cyrus, too, but he said nothing.
“Enlighten me,” I reiterated.
Mr. Victors drummed his fingers against the table. “Give me a second to remember my serious face, so I don’t accidentally lighten the gravity of the moment.” As he experimented with different facial expressions, I bit my tongue.
Are you kidding?Tick tock. I had a thousand more questions, and he was playing games.
Deciding on a stoic veneer, he continued in a heavy tone. “Soal is the answer to every problem. The old gods rise. The war heats. Pritis stones die but shouldn’t. There’s no such thing as coincidences. Judging by the sections of your book you’ve told me about, we both know you help us bring downCured.”
“I never told you—I won’t ever—” I caught myself. No more mental mazes. “Please, go on.”
He leaned in. “Do you wonder if Shiloh broke from EOS ... or ifCuredbroke him without it?”
I clutched the edge of the table. Of course he’d brought up a topic sure to set me off. “People can’t be made to break without the Madness.”
“Can’t they? Do you even know whatEOSstands for? Let me answer for you: no. You know only what you’ve been told.”
“Time is up.” King Tagin’s voice spilled from overhead speakers, dripping with anger.
Mr. Victors chuckled with delight. “I must say, his upset is intoxicating.” He smirked at Cyrus. “Astan’s defeat is assured, and all the Dolions know it.”
Astan, a name Shiloh had mentioned as well. A detail I might’ve latched on to at any other time. Now, I worried more about people breaking without being infected. If they could bemadeto break ...
Cyrus eased to his feet, helped me stand, and ushered me toward the door. Though I didn’t want to leave, I didn’t protest. I cast a probing glance over my shoulder.
Mr. Victors’s innocent smile returned, shining with megawatt brightness. “The pleasure was mine, Arden. I look forward to our next interaction.”
The door slid closed, ending our interaction but not my inner turmoil. I couldn’t deny he’d made an impact.
“Brace yourself,” Cyrus muttered. Frustration and concern percolated in his command. “Yourinterrogation begins in five. Four. Three.”
My stomach lurched. Yeah, his father must have questions. Before I responded, I needed to decide what to admit and what to keep to myself. It all depended on what the listeners had understood and what remained a secret between the prisoner and me, but I wasn’t sure how much they’d heard.
Tagin Dolion exited a room beside ours, and every soldier near us jerked to attention, saluting him. “Dismissed,” he barked with none of his usual charm. The men and women marched off in a hurry. “Tell me what Victors said to you. Leave nothing out.”
I met his probing stare head on.Here goes.“Mr. Victors gave me the usual Soalian spiel. Soal is the answer to every problem, old gods rise, and a war heats. He mentioned reading a portion of his book and said he’d once found a pritis stone but hadn’t recognized its value until he washed it. He implied Shiloh Cruz broke without being infectedwith Madness, asked me if I knew whatEOSstands for, and stated someone named Astan is defeated.” No part of me wished to mention the marriage thing. “What doesEOSstand for?”
The king scowled and jumped his gaze to his son. “When you get back, make sure she receives a dose of aidem.”
“I’ll take care of it personally,” Cyrus replied with a firm nod.
Aidem. The same injection Dr. Korey wasn’t positive she’d given me on my first day at the academy. One of the shots mentioned in the Lemon Ade file. “I don’t need another.” I wasn’t even sure why I’d gotten the first or what aidem was.
