Page 87 of Artemysia

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“Courageous. You would lay down your life for him.” He pauses. The hard line of his lips tells me this means something to him. “Does Riev not have free will in your world to choose?”

“He has free will,” I say, not liking where this is going. Attempting to regain control, I say, “But he’s under orders from the King of the South—”

“Let him choose,” the Syf king interrupts. “You may all live, or you can all die together. Riev, will you come with me without a fight?”

I unlock my eyes from the king and glance at Riev.

Riev’s stony gaze never leaves mine. He doesn’t even look at the king when he replies.

“I will come freely if you ensure the safe return of the three of them back to Stargazer.”

“No! Riev, that’s not why we are here. We can’t go back until we complete our mission.” But I also see he has no choice. Even he knows we are outmatched. My pulse thunders so hard I think my heart might explode out of my chest.

King Foss nods. “We guarantee this.” He turns to his guards. “Return them to the cave. Seal them in. By the time they free themselves, we will be gone.”

My blood boils. But I see no alternative leading to a favorable outcome right now. Intuitively, I sense there is much the Syf do not want us to know, so in a last-ditch effort for information, I blurt out, “North Kingdom is a loyal ally. They will help us to claim Riev.”

The strategy I employ is one I call,the fastest way to get an answeris to suggest an incorrect one. Even when someone is reluctant to offer help or information, they can never resist pointing out when someone else is wrong. Almost without exception.

And King Foss is no exception, because he pauses, his lips pursed.

“North Kingdom does not have your best interests at heart. Return to South Kingdom immediately,” he replies.

There it is.

North Kingdom exists, and the Syf know about their society, enough to warn me off. On the other hand, it’s also possible that North Kingdom and the Syf have banded together as our enemies.

Riev still anchors his gaze on me as if he knows he won’t see me again and is stealing one last long look.

There must be a way out of this. There’s always something I can do.

Riev shakes his head imperceptibly beside me, because he probably guesses I want to argue and fight this new turn of events.

Don’t, he mouths. He bends his knees to lay down his sword flat on the mossy forest floor.

My gut wrenches.

If Riev is surrendering, then I’m at a loss. I can see no strategy out of this situation. We must all be on the same page for anything to work, and I know he is right.

We both know there is no other way.

Riev shifts toward me and brushes my cheek with his soft lips. “Stop saving everyone. Save yourself. I’m not worth it.” He presses his notebook of maps into my hand.

His elk is brought to him, and the rest of his weapons are stripped away by three guards.

“Goodbye, Delphine. Don’t come after me.” The light colors in his eyes swirl for a brief moment before his face hardens, and he turns away.

I want to scream.

I want to scream out into the darkness of this impenetrable and hopeless forest, but the never-ending trees will only devour my cries without anyone ever knowing the difference.

Violet, blue, green, gold, crimson.Their colorfully iridescent wings that ripple like silk banners disappear into the trees, marching to the deafening beat of my heart.

Throg, Ivy, and I are sealed in the cave with our elk. I gather my strength, for all of us. I have to get us out of here. Daylight streams in from around the edges of the rock, but I can’t see the Syf or which direction they’re taking Riev.

A Syf guard calls out from outside. “Do not attempt to remove the rock yet.” His voice is muted through the thick slab of rock between us.

“What will they do with Riev? Why are Syf attacking our villages?” I holler back, pounding a fist on the coarse stone.