Page 63 of Rook of Ruin
Finn helps me out of the cart. He smooths out my cream-and-ruby gown and pushes a wisp of hair loose from my braid back behind my ear. Tears come down my face for myself and for our people.
“O, tell me what I can do.”
I shrug as he gently wipes my tears and leads me into the makeshift infirmary. I want to have back what was taken. I want Alec. He will know what to do.
Pushing back my emotions, locking them down, I heal thirty-eight people in less than an hour, giving comfort where needed, condolences when appropriate, wiping foreheads, and holding hands. This is what the future king of Acros should be doing; instead, he’s in Bethal on a fucking hunt. Where are our warriors to protect our villages? Why doesn’t the queen demand a new treaty with the king of Tynan to allow Rooks to use their braces outside of the castle walls? It wouldn’t only be for the good of Acros, it would be for the good of all. My fingers form tight fists.
It’s the same routine, the same sadness and destruction from the demons plaguing the rest of Acros. I had no idea what was happening outside of the castle walls, and now I’m infuriated. Why are our people left to such devastation without proper healers or defense?
When I ask Finn quietly, he looks down, almost ashamed to tell me, to relieve me of my naivety. “Love, not everything is what it seems. Attacks like these were occurring long before now, before we were children. But they were few and far between. It’s only gotten worse in the past few weeks.” He pauses, lowering his voice. “Something wicked is lying in wait, worse than thosedemon wolves. For what? I’m not sure, but I feel it in my bones.” He shakes his head, not wanting to continue, as if the evil will pop out of the ground just from his words. “Don’t you ever grow tired after healing?”
“Not really,” I almost whisper, still feeling a deep sadness in my chest.
The families of the people I heal kneel, giving respect, and we leave for the last village.
After hours of travel, we finally stop at a very large inn. Finn obtains accommodations for us, and Nora leads me up into a nice room with a soft bed. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” she asks.
I ignore her and look out my window. Soft light spills from the lights below. Glancing down, I notice people rushing from the inn and into the woods.
Finn bursts in through the door. “Nora, he’s here.”
Her voice drops. “Good. I knew he was close.”
Finn nods and runs back out.
Alec.Who else would it be? I doubt they would react this way to Simon. She moves behind me, a dagger barely touching the front of my neck; she doesn’t want to hurt me.
“Nora, you are making a mistake. Let me talk to him. No one has to get hurt. There might be more people with him—they don’t deserve to get hurt either.”
She laughs bitterly. “Your Rook won’t listen now. He’s coming for blood. You thought he would bring anyone? No. This is fucking personal for him. But what he doesn’t know is we were watching, waiting for him.”
“Alec will listen to me,” I beg. “Please. You said you were loyal to me. What does that mean if not to help me when I ask for it?”
She sighs and drops her guard, thinking. “I will do anything for you, except this. He doesn’t deserve you. I actually like theRook, I really do, but he is too dangerous. He’s not what you think.”
“And Vetter isn’t?” I laugh.
“There is a difference. Vetter is loyal to you. He will always protect you.”
I risk it and throw my head back, slamming into her face. The dagger drops. I grab it and heal her broken nose along with my thumping head. “I’m sorry, Nora. I have to stop him. I don’t want you or anyone else to get hurt.”
The look on her face is murderous. “You can’t save everyone, O.”
“No, but I can try to save him.” I slowly back up towards the door.
She smirks. “Sometimes I fucking admire you, and other times you drive me crazy.”
“I think this is one of those times you admire me.”
Her laugh, low and harsh, follows me as I run out of the room and down the old wooden stairs and out into the cool air. Silence greets me. A tremor begins in my chest as I force my body to hurry.
Screams pierce the air, and I take off, sprinting towards them. Gown hiked up, stumbling over roots and branches, I notice a soft glow from a brace. “Alec!” I scream.
“Fuck!” someone spits.
In a tight clearing stands Alec, a thrum of power pouring off him, reaching me. His shield is being struck with numerous arrows, and he turns to the man smashing his fist against the shield. Alec ignores him, pushing his power out and dropping the man to the ground, taking over his mind. Someone tries to grab my arm, and I swing out, pushing them back, tripping over another tree root. I scramble back up and heal my twisted ankle.
“Alec!” I yell out again, my voice barely audible above the screams all around me. A woman to my far left drops to her knees in utter terror, and her nose begins to bleed.
