Page 40 of A Court of Truth and Thorns
The rose swings again, this time a slice across my abdomen that I narrowly avoid by leaping back. My feet land on the stone, springing right back into the fight while the rose’s own momentum makes him spin off balance. I watch his body. His hips. His eyes suddenly widening in bewildered recognition as he gets a good look at me and blanches.
“Kal is dead!” he screams.
“No, that would be you.” I lunge, my blade piercing flesh deep enough to make my words true.
Rune shoots me a smile. Of course, he dispatched three men to my one, but we can count that up later.
Or not. The energy of the fight still pumping through me fades as I follow Rune out the door and bar it from the outside. Fresh night wind kisses my face, ruffling my hair and clothes. Led by Luca, Wil, and the girls, the whisperers are moving away from the abbey and toward the North Wood already, many picking up sticks and rocks to use as weapons as they go.
“That went better than expected,” Rune says, letting out a long breath.
I don’t answer. Rune’s mission did go better than we could have hoped, but mine has yet to start.
Rune looks at me and frowns, his eyes growing increasingly wary. “It’s time to leave.”
“I know,” I say softly. “But I can’t go with you.” Turning my back to Rune, I sprint into the darkness.
27
VIOLET
Violet sat awake in her bed, listening to Leaf’s soft snores. Leaf, who was really Violet’s cousin. Leaf, whose absurd words and evening stories had kept Violet going, even when her own thoughts threatened to drown her. Who thought old texts and unanswerable questions and strange equations were going to change something.
Maybe if Violet had had Leaf for a sister, things would have been different. But that’s not how everything had turned out.
Reaching under her pillow, Violet withdrew the small berry-stained note the girl in the courtyard had pressed into Violet’s hand. Her heart quickened as she unfolded the parchment again and fingered the ribbon of cloth tucked inside, the moment coming back to her in vivid detail.
“From one prince’s sister to another,” the girl had whispered in a voice Violet knew well. Princess Raza.
“What is it?” Violet asked.
“Information. Because our brothers and fathers shouldn’t keep us in the dark.”
Confusion washed over Violet, but Raza was already bowing and moving away.
“I was given no choices of my own,” Raza said. “But now, you are.”
Raza was gone before Violet could ask more, but the note and cloth remained. Violet reread the words.
Your brother tries to kill Bahir tonight.The markers will lead you to his camp.
Stars. Wil. Violet didn’t let herself feel the impact of that thought. She was getting skilled at not feeling. Sitting up, Violet let her bare feet touch the cold stone floor. It was just a note. She could throw it into the fire and leave the fate of both Bishop Bahir and Prince William in the Goddess’s hands.
Or she could warn Bahir.
Violet’s hand dropped to her belly, which may or may not hold a child. Her next gift to her people. She knew she should be content with such a future, but she wasn’t. And perhaps, just perhaps, the Goddess knew that too. Perhaps today had been a codex meant just for Violet.
Violet’s heart pounded, her palms growing slick with sweat despite the cool room. After a lifetime of wishing she had a say in decisions, she now faced the single greatest choice of her life.
Violet rose quietly and pulled on a pious red skirt and tunic. Padding over to the small chest where Leaf stored salves and tinctures, Violet withdrew a vial and tucked it into her pocket. She jotted a quick note to leave in the vial’s place and headed to the door.
“Are you all right?” Leaf’s sleepy voice startled a gasp from Violet.
Violet panted, a hand to her breast. “I am,” she said once she’d found her voice. “Go back to sleep.”
Leaf murmured something before resuming her slumber, and to Violet’s infinite surprise, she realized that shewasall right. Relieved. Even happy. Because tonight the Goddess had given her a chance to save her kingdom and her soul.
Kali
