Page 105 of In the Ravenous Dark
The general’s lips press into a grim line. Still, he waves at my guardian. “How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick? Some conjured magic to convince me to commit treason?”
“Because I promise you it’s not?” Japha suggests.
“You don’t know death magic. You can’t know for sure.”
Japha shakes their head, staring at their father. “Will I ever be enough for you?” they ask flatly. “Despite what youperceiveI’m lacking?”
The general doesn’t seem to know what to say. But he looks far more clueless than dismissive.
I sigh. “Do you think she’s coming?” I ask Japha.
“Who?” Tumarq asks.
Japha shrugs. “If anyone can get her out of there, it’s those creeps.”
It was the one bit of help Skyllea offered us: The blighted bloodmages were to run a special errand for us. They were supposed tobe here by now. Just as worry tightens like a fist in my belly, there’s a knock on the door—one that comes in a distinctive pattern.
“That’s—” the general starts.
Japha waves the door open with some sigils, and a dark shadow flows in. At first I can see nothing beyond that, but then Crisea steps out of the gloom, blinking in the flickering light of the storage building.
The circles under her eyes have grown darker, her brown skin chalkier, but her eyes are still sharp, and she still looks like she belongs in armor more than a death shroud. Lydea drags her the rest of the way inside.
Japha is about to close the door when Crisea squeaks, “Wait!” and hauls Bethea in after her.
We agreed that after the blighted mages brought Crisea out of the necropolis, they would remain hidden until needed so as not to frighten anyone. No one said anything about Bethea, but I’m glad she’s no longer in there. Although Iamsurprised she left.
I’m less surprised when I see how her eyes follow Crisea, as if the other girl is her lifeline. Or her ward to protect. Even so, Bethea looks half-dead already. Her iron collar has climbed a few rounds higher up her pale throat. It’s going to reach her face soon, at this rate. Her gaze snags on me, and she freezes, while Crisea only has eyes for Tumarq.
“Crisea,” the general breathes, and all his stony stoicism melts as she throws herself into his arms. She herself nearly caves in. She’s always put on a strong face, but not now.
“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I’ve failed in my duty. They told me if I didn’t come, that you and Mother might die—that the whole polis was at risk!”
The general glares at us over her head.
“It’s true,” I say. “Andshe’sgoing to die if she doesn’t get outof the necropolis. Look at her, General. The king did this to her. To yourdaughter.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Tumarq nearly spits. “But it is my duty—”
“To fight for the polis. For your king. But he’s not the man you thought he was. He’s a monster who will doom the polis and the entire world for his own gain. Crisea, look at me.”
She turns, sudden fire behind her shining eyes. But then they widen as she takes in me and Ivrilos. Bethea hasn’t stopped staring at me.
“Tell him who this is, and what I am.”
“He’s a shade,” Crisea says. “I’ve seen him before, in glimpses. That’s Ivrilos. And you, I thought you were dead, but—” She gasps.
“Sheisdead,” Bethea whispers. Her hand covers her pale, chapped lips. “And you have death magic. Oh, Rovan.”
I nearly flinch away from the pity in her voice. “The truth from someone you can trust,” I say to Tumarq.
Lydea sniffs. “He should have trusted Japha, if not me.”
“Forgive me, Princess, if I doubt your motives,” the general bites out.
“What you know about my motives wouldn’t fill a—”
“Shh, everyone.” I raise my hand, cutting Lydea off. There’s a muffled sound from outside. The blighted mages were too quiet to detect because of their magic, but this is the sound of someonetryingto be quiet. “Someone’s coming.”
