Page 136 of These Divided Shores
Tom took that as a sign. He nodded at a defensor belowhim, his movements slow and tired, as though some part of him had to detach from what was happening. The defensor had an unlit torch that he quickly set with flames.
In Deza, they covered the heads of condemned with canvas sacks to embody their shame. Vex wished for it now, for that one obscure Argridian tradition to make this fate easier. That had been the only solace he’d been able to find when he’d sat next to his father in the carriage outside the Grace Neus.At least I won’t have to see Ben watch me die.
As if that would make the flames less painful. As if that would make his terror less nauseating. But then defensors had shoved Paxben back into the carriage while Rodrigu burned, and dragged out some other poor prisoner to die in Paxben’s place.
Paxben hadn’t seen any of it, but he’d heard it. He’d smelled it. He’dfeltit, and canvas sack or no canvas sack, this death was incomprehensible.
“T-teo,” Vex stuttered out. The kid was still facing away from him, shoulders jerking in sobs. He had no idea what was going on. “Teo, this isn’t your fault—this isn’t—your—”
“Pax, you didn’t do anything wrong. You understand that, don’t you? Your uncle—his defensors—they’re wrong. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”
The defensor and his lit torch didn’t approach.
Tom wanted Vex’s death to draw Lu, Ben, everyone else away from Elazar.
That was what those noises were. That was why Elazar had abducted and manipulated so many raiders—to turn them on the island. Elazar was killing everyone.
Vex sent out a silent, quaking plea that Ben and Lu wouldn’t come for him. What did his life matter, if Elazar slaughtered everyone else on Grace Loray?
For six years, Vex had run from this fate. He’d hurled himself as far from it as he could get. He’d remade himself, done everything possible to be anything other than a charred corpse. And when it turned out he had Shaking Sickness, a part of him had been morbidly relieved. He’d prefer a death of bruises and broken bones rather than flames.
But he knew, standing there, his boots grappling for purchase on the shifting kindling, that this had always been his fate. This was the destiny he’d avoided six years ago, when Elazar had chosen not to burn him.
Paxben Gallego should have died that day. Rodrigu shouldn’t have had to burn alone.
Vex closed his eye, a tear trailing through the grime on his cheek. If he held his breath, let the noise of the battle drone, he could almost imagine his father next to him after all.
30
LU RACED FORthe docks, Ben behind her, the two of them dodging defensors and the delirious crowd. The dozens of soldiers rimming the wharf continued to fire, pistols lighting the sky alongside torches and starlight. The only source of relief, a brief pocket of air in the rising flood, was the Mecht raiders—who continued shouting their reclaimed war cry as they turned on the defensors.
“Barbaric.” Their voices carried, rising in speed and strength.“Barbaric—”
Lu broke through, boots thudding up the dock. Kari, Gunnar, and other raiders were off the boat already, welcoming them into a tight knot of return fire and swords.
Kari seized Lu in a hug, released her, and did the same for Ben. He went noticeably rigid in shock, but softened when Kari pulled back.
“All our people are moving,” Kari said. “They are attackingnow.”
“To the castle?” Ben asked, his eyes going to Lu.
Yes, she wanted to scream, but the other screams of the crowd carried over her, and she fell apart into a dozen sharp pieces.
“Elazar,” she gasped, and then, “Vex. Teo.”
If they killed Elazar now, would his slaughter of this island stop? Would the people of Grace Loray turn against him, finally? With Elazar dead, Ben could step in as Argrid’s commander and force his soldiers to stand down. Would the Argridians listen to him, though?
They had to try. They had to dosomething.
But if Elazar had Vex—or even Teo, god, no—killed while they fought...
He was forcing them to choose. ForcingLuto choose. And where was Tom? What role had Elazar given him in all this?
“We can’t leave Elazar unchallenged,” Lu said. “We can’t pull any of the raiders away from fighting him.”
Kari nodded grimly. Beyond their group, defensors shot at them. Raiders returned fire. Up on the tide wall, a fresh scream came—but it was a war cry, a string of Grozdan phrases. Rosalia and her raiders had arrived.
“A small group?” Kari pressed. “You can be spared. Or—”
