Page 182 of The Eye of the Fifth
Gedeon replied stiffly, ‘Undoubtedly.’
‘But why? Why does Azar want her so? What does Kyra have that no Earth Warden before her had?’ Naal said a little desperately.
‘All she ever revealed to me was that one line from the prophecy.’ He recited: ‘“For when the Earth cracks and the Sun hides behind the moon, then shall she-’”
‘Yes, I know that one damned line.’ Impatience lined every inch of Naal’s face. ‘And she never divulged the rest to you? You never once heard the prophecy in its entirety?’
Wishing he could answer differently, Gedeon said, ‘No. She wanted nothing but blind trust from me. Her greater plan, whatever it is, was never shared with me. She was adamant that she would only reveal everything when the time was right.’
‘But what does that mean?’ Naal persisted.
‘I’m afraid I don’t know.’
‘Kyra will not see the totality here,’ Naal said, shaking her head. ‘She will see only her love for Rosary, and do whatever it takes to make her safe again, even if it means forfeiting her own life.’
‘She is loyal to a fault,’ Gedeon murmured.
‘That loyalty makes her brash and reckless,’ Naal said darkly. ‘It will get herkilled.’
‘My mother will not kill Kyra. She plans to use her, though for what I cannot say.’
‘That is besides the point. I cannot let her go to Zarynth, Gedeon. The risk… it’s too great.’ She ran a hand through her short grey hair. ‘Perhaps ifyoutalked to her, if youmadeher understand…’
‘And why would she listen to me?’
A strange look befell the Air Warden’s features then as she looked at him, but it was gone as soon as it came. ‘You’re the son of the Empress. Perhaps you might convince her that Rosary’s life is in no immediate danger.’
‘She may not kill her but my mother will continue to send parts of Rosary to Kyra until she gives herself over,’ Gedeon said bluntly.
‘Kyracannotknow that.’
‘So you want me to lie to her?’
‘Yes,’Naal hissed fiercely. ‘If it means discouraging her from rushing to Zarynth the second I let her out of that room, then yes.’ She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, dropping her chin. When she opened them again, there were tears sparkling amidst the icy grey. ‘I do not want Kyra to lose Rosary. Truly, I do not. But I have to think about the longevity of this war. I have to think about the longevity of Kyra’s life, and the lives of every soul in this world. I have to think like the warrior right now. I have to be a strategist and dull the pain in my heart, dull the mother, dull the friend. I have to be a Warden. All four of us do.’
Gedeon was painfully reminded of the words he’d said to Kyra when they’d been side by side in the ice cell.
Collateral damage.
But would Kyra ever forgive this one?
‘Do you order it?’ Gedeon asked quietly.
‘No,’ Naal said. ‘It is not an order. But I implore you to see how important this is. I urge you to do the right thing; for the greater good.’
It was almost like staring at himself in a mirror. So many of his own philosophies were being reflected in the female before him. Despite it all, despite agreeing with every word the Air Warden had said, he hated himself for nodding his consent.
For he knew it would break Kyra when the lie inevitably crumbled.
???
Kyra.
From this view, slouched against the rough cold wall, Kyra could see the blood-soaked ear under the table, scattered amongst the fractured wood of the box. Just sitting there on the stone floor. She hadn’t moved a muscle from the moment Naal had left the Council Room, not even to block the ear from sight.
She’d attacked Naal.
The Empress of Zarynth had Rosary.
