Page 24 of A Baron of Bonds
I nodded.
“When the Prince heard of your death, that wall of the castle collapsed, killing five servants and one guard. We’d never seen anything like that from him. No one knew he was a channeler.”
I thought of the Black Fever that had torn its way through this city years ago. From what I knew now, it had been controlled by Baron Heimlen through channelers. That was how he was able to spread it from person to person, by feeling for their magic. The Prince had been the last one infected by the disease, and therefore, must be a channeler, even though I’d never seen him use his power.
“Has he used his magic since?”
“As far as I know, no.”
I swallowed hard. All of these questions and problems could wait.
“Ready for this?” Geyrand asked, his eyes hardened, his body stiff.
“Yes. Yes, I’m ready.”
“Karus of Felgren!”The guard who addressed us as we neared the city gates was one I did not recognize. She looked to be only a few years older than me with tawny skin and dark eyes. Thesides of her head were shaved, resulting in one long, intricate braid that cascaded down her armor. There was no warmth or welcome in her call, and her instructions came with authority.
“You will be escorted to the Queen’s throne room. There, you will receive further instructions and give your statement to her majesties regarding the trial of the Baron of—” She stumbled for a moment on her words, coughing and clearing her throat, the slightest hue of green left there. “Of the Baron of Felgren.”
Geyrand’s eyes shot in my direction, but I ignored him. I knew this woman had nothing to do with Revich’s imprisonment or trial, but she was lucky she merely choked on her words.
“We will follow you then, Captain Yarah.” Geyrand replied.
“You will dismount your beasts and walk to the castle from here.”
Parvus growled and I stroked between his eyes replying, “The lumens come with us.”
The captain inhaled deeply, her eyes narrowing at the sight of them. “My orders are to keep the beasts outside of the city gates. The Queen cannot risk her people’s safety.”
I looked to Geyrand for strength. The strength to hold back my simmering rage.
I closed my eyes and focused. If I was to get to Revich, I needed to control the urges I felt—the urge to tear through the guards, the castle, and anyone who stood in my way to get to him.
I had hurt him.Me. And I just needed to keep my magic, my anger, and my immense guilt under control until I could get him out of this situation—the one I had played a part in.
I nodded in agreement of the captain’s orders and slid off Parvus’s back. “You both must stay out here.” He whined and I rubbed the top of his snout. “I will be safe. You can find a place to hunt and rest. I will call for you before the morning. I promise.”
Geyrand dismounted Rauca and both lumens watched as we followed the captain over the stone bridge and up the dusty path that led to the gates of Hyrithia.
As I strode forward, the iron portcullis rose, the clicks of each gear pushing me forward to reuniting with Rev.
I wished this had gone differently. I wished I could have met my former family again with Rev at my side, holding my hand as he always did as if it were just an extension of himself.
But we were past that opportunity, so I kept moving forward. I could not change the past, but I could try to protect our future.
I noticed little of the place I had known. Everything around me was a blur of noise and movement, hurried people and commerce, evidence of a thriving city.
I kept my eyes on the captain’s back, barely noticing how more guards surrounded us as we neared the castle doors.
I wondered if the Queen feared me now and what I could do.
I didn’t care. I didn’t care or process what was happening in real time like I should have. Rev would have played this out nicely. He would have seen the different outcomes and planned ahead in the back of his mind.
It seemed I was incapable of that.
The only thing I saw was red.
“The Queen will bring the Baron of Felgren forth and you will state your defense of his actions and lies against the crown. You will then be escorted to your own private chambers and the Queen will see you privately if she wishes it.”
