Page 50 of Burn Bright
"Dead," Cas said. "Neva killedhim."
"So did the firebird," Evaron said grimly, "and then the bastard got to his feetagain."
"I don’t think he’s getting up this time," Cas said. He grimaced. "The ground swallowed himwhole."
Ash marked Evaron’s face as he glanced at me, and I could see him thinking. "You ruled the earth itself?" He held up a hand. "No. Let me guess… The OldWays?"
I keptsilent.
Evaron rubbed at his chest. "I can still feel it." He shuddered, and then turned toward the Well of Tears. "It looks like we no longer need the firebird’s heart. This could heal theking."
I shook my head. "No. I don't think so. There is a price to pay for drinking from the waters here. Only the pure of heartsurvive."
"Pure of heart?" Evaron snorted. "It healedme."
I shrugged. "I don’t make the judgment. Perhaps the Well sensed something within you no one elsehas."
"You’re starting to sound likeCas."
Cas crossed his arms over his chest. "Sensible?"
"Distinctly lacking in respect." Evaron slumped onto the ledge of the Well, trailing his fingers through the waters. "Well, my father's definitely not pure. Vashta's ti—" He caught my eye and stifled what he'd been about to say. "What am I going to tell him? What happened to Hussar? Why did he attack us? Or me, to beprecise?"
Shadows darkened his eyes, and I remembered what Galina had said about the king sending his eldest son to hunt thefirebird.
"What happened to the firebird?" he continued. "It all happened so quickly, and Hussar cut me down before I had a chance to get close to the flames, but I know there was nothing within them. None of her remains leftbehind."
I crossed my arms over my chest, unease filling me. What if the king sent more men? What if Evaron started questioning everything he'dseen?
"There was nothing left," Cas said, scrubbing at his mouth slowly. "The firebird's dead. I saw it happen with my owneyes."
"I don't understand." Evaron looked between us, as though seeking answers. "The firebird is meant to be immortal, isn't she? Every time she gets old and dies, the flames renewher."
"You thought she was a bird," Cas pointed out, when I didn't dare say anything at all. "All myths start somewhere, and grow in the telling. Who knows what the truthis?"
He very pointedly did not look atme.
My bones felt like lead. I couldn't move. Barely daredbreathe.
"What do we do now?" Evaronasked.
"I think it best if we bury the dead," Cas said, "and head home. The king will be displeased, but we have over a week to consider how to playthis."
Evaron laughed, a little slowly. "You know him. Do you think he'll truly be just 'displeased'? My father meant to rule forever." A dark look filled his eyes, as if some memory swam to the surface. "He meant for me todie."
"Then all we have to do is return the favor, and survive untilhedies," Cas saidcoldly.
