Page 109 of A Blightress of Wrath
Shepulled her black vest over her chest, fastening the gold buttons down the front. “Yes.Wearrive today at the ruins.Youwill stay back while theWieldwrynsand theRunnerspush the line to the castle.”
“Theruins of what?”Iasked, pulling on my tall black boots.
Shetwisted the emerald conduit ring at her finger and said, “Theruins ofHyrithia.Itis there that we will meet your uncle, the last of theFour.”
Myhead sapped to hers. “Myuncle?”
“Yes.Theycall him theHandlessKing.”
* * *
Followingmy mother up the winding stairs of theSpire,Istudied the hazy green shield that now covered the city.I’dknown that shield all my life, never getting much glimpse of a clear sky because of it.Butnow, seeing the subtle glow,Imissed the sky as it had been when we’d arrived.Ifelt the guilt slip in of leading theBlightressright to us with my attempt at a portal to saveThevinat theHatchery.
Weentered the arched doorway to the very top room of theSpire—the same we had entered from the portal inFelgren.Withmy bag slung over my shoulder,Isearched the room forThevin.Hewas easy to spot, biting a sausage at the end of his fork and speaking withLannaand his parents at the breakfast table.
“Areyou hungry?” my mother asked.
“Notreally,”Ireplied in truth.Mystomach was in knots for what was next.
“Doesn’tmatter,” she countered, “Thefirst rule for where we’re going is that you eat when there’s food.Icannot guarantee when our next meal will be.”
Clairanniadrifted toward us in a swish of white. “BaronKarus!Wordhas arrived fromFelgren.Pompeiiand the other channelers’ combined shields are currently intact.Therehave been no attacks on the forest.”
Mymother let out a sigh of relief. “Thatis good news then, thank you.”
Clairanniareached out a hand to squeeze her arm. “Figuerahwill be there.Whenwe arrive,Imean.”
“Iknow.”
“Youshould speak to her.There’snothing wrong with you both apologizing for what was said a long time ago.”
Mymother gave me a small smile. “Pleasego eat.We’llbe leaving within the half hour.”
Seeingit as the dismissal it was,Inodded, and headed towardThevin, glancing back to see the old friends continuing their conversation away from everyone.
IapproachedThevinfrom behind, tapping his shoulder, greeting him with a happy, “Goodmorning!”
Heswiftly turned, and at my presence,Lannawinked and walked away, quickly followed byThevin’sparents.
Heopened his mouth to speak and then shut it tight, doing his best not to let his eyes roam over my ensemble.
“Itfits nicely, doesn’t it?”Istepped back and gestured to my loose white shirt tucked into my tight black pants, complete with boots that rose to my knees.Ihad picked it out the day before to match whatI’dseenLannaand other women of theSpirewearing.
“Itdoes,” he admitted casually, setting his plate down on the table.
Inodded slowly, clasping my hands in front of me.Thestrange stiffness of his body had my stomach plummeting.Iwas sure he was thinking of last night, but based on this awkward first conversation after,Iworried he had regretted it.
“Well,”Istarted, gulping, “about last night?—”
“Youmean last night when you saved everyone in this room from a sure death, or last night when you kissed me after?”
“Youkissed me back.”
“Youkissed me first.”
Ihuffed a nervous laugh. “Idid, didn’tI?”Icould see him struggling not to smile andIcontinued. “Listen,Iknow our emotions were high and thatIdidn’t actually ask if that’s what you wanted, but?—”
“Ishouldn’t have let it get as far as it did, and for thatI’msorry.”
