Page 122 of A Blightress of Wrath
Ichuckled. “NowthatI’msureIdid not get from her.”
Herubbed his short black hair. “Wecan all be thankful for that,Saelyn.”
* * *
Weatea quiet dinner in the dining hall, surprisingly not as grand as the oneIknew in theFortress.Itswalls had once been a midnight blue with a pattern of purple thistle painted along the doorways.Now, the walls were a blackened mess of ash and dust.
Ourmeal was a simple spread of bread and cheese.Philiushad explained to me howHyrithiaused to be known for its fish, but since theBlightresshad spread across the entire east coast down to the boarder ofFelgren, they could no longer access the sea.
Iate in silence, listening to the details of theDimmingthey planned, needing only a few weeks to gather all their forces toHyrithiaand march into theBlightress’slands, whereIwould use my power to lure her there.
“Whichspell do you think most likely for theBlightressto sense?”MadameZoreyahasked, tossing a bit of cheese to the giant cat at her feet.
Mymother glanced to me, andIwaited to hear if she’d tell them about the portalI’dattempted.
“Thesun.We’llpracticeSimulairSolumthis week.It’sthe most likely to get her attention.”
“Whatabout the aftereffects?” my uncle questioned.
“Wedon’t know if that will happen toSaelynas well.Iwill explain tomorrow.”Myquestions were already on my tongue when she rose from her seat, finishing with, “Fornow,Iam exhausted.Saelyn, shall we head to our rooms?”
Sheheld her hand out for me, andIpretended a yawn. “I’dlike to say goodnight toThevinfirst if that’s alright.”
“Alright,” she agreed, moving toward the doors. “Butplease have him escort you back into the castle.Hewill be sleeping out in the tents with the otherRunnersuntil theDimming, so you will not get to see him as much as you’re used to.”
Iwanted to frown and disagree.Iwould see him.I’dfind a way to see him everyday, regardless of her warnings.
Instead,Inodded, plastering a contented smile on my face.Sheleft andIrose, curtsying slightly and excusing myself from the room where my uncle struggled to hold back a grin as he watched me go.
Ipassed his guardswoman,Renn, in the hall, but she didn’t meet my eye, ignoring me completely as she headed to the dining hall behind me.Ipicked up my pace, hurrying as fast asIcould in the high heeled shoesIlooked forward to getting rid of.
Ipassed people in the streets of the city ruins.Ilost count at fifty campsites, all of them raised for the soldiers in both armies, some of which would be joining us in the next few days from all over the isle.
Guardsstopped me at the warped metal gates that led to the eastern side of the castle walls.Twomen, clothed in the black garb of aRunnerlooked me up and down before one of them asked, “Youlost?”
“No,”Ireplied curtly. “I’mgoing to see someone.”
“You’vefound me,” said the other.Theyboth broke into laughter at the jest on my behalf, andIcaught the stale stench of bad ale on their breath.
Iblew air out of my lips, wishingIwas wearing my pants and shirt from theSpireinstead of formal clothing that certainly did not belong at theBlightLine. “Thevin,”Iinterrupted. “I’mlooking forThevin, second toCommanderLanna.Pleasepoint me in his direction if you would be so kind.”
“Wait, wait,” the first one said, gesturing to his partner to quiet. “You’reSaelyn, aren’t you?”Helaughed again. “Nym, did you hear that?Thisis theBaron’sdaughter.TheoneThevindoesn’t shut up about.”Theybroke into new laughter, making me rethink whatIhad told my uncle about my temper.
“Ifyou’re not going to help me,”Icalled, “then let me pass soIdon’t have to speak to you two idiots any longer.”Istepped to the side to leave them.
Thesecond blocked my path with his body. “We’rejust having a laugh, sweetheart.It’sbeen a bit dull around here until you showed up in this.”Hegestured to my gown with greedy eyes.Ihad the unsettling urge to hit him across the face—somethingI’dnever once done in my life.
Hereached for my arm, butIpulled away just as he said, “Maybeif we lead you toThevin, you’ll think about taking us back toFelgrenevery summer.”
Myrage boiled in my blood, and just asIturned to punch the first one in his big nose, he fell to the stone, keeled over and holding his side in pain.
Ilooked up in surprise asLannakicked the other in the back, knocking him into the wall.
“Flynn!” she called with her hands cupped over her mouth.Ayoung man rushed over from the tents that lined the outside gates.Whenhe arrived, the two guards were still down, clutching body parts thatIfelt hadn’t been damaged quite enough yet. “RelieveNymandTemmorfrom their duties.Iwant them digging latrine pits for the rest of the week.”
Theman she addressed asTemmorcursed loudly, and she bent to his face. “Youare so very lucky that conversation did not go any further.Youalmost sent yourself toDremstone.”Sherose and addressedFlynnonce more. “Informtheir commanders of their leave of duty from theRunners.Andtighten up the barrels of ale.”
Flynnnodded, calling out to moreRunnersto help lift them up off the ground.Theylimped away,Temmormore so as the heel of my shoe had somehow found its way slammed into the top of his boot.
