Page 176 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘Kano!’
Drowning another. Taking out an entire fleet at the king’s command. His mother serving him tea. Kawai trying to talk to him. Another killing. His father barely able to look at him-
‘Kano, come back!’
Someone violently shook him, and then his eyes opened to his present.
His bottom lip quivered as he stared down at his body, slick with sweat, his face gleaming with tears. Kawai was over him, stricken yet relieved.
The brother he’d been forced to forget.
‘I remember,’ Kano gasped. ‘I remember it all.’
The things he’d been forced to do… he’d killed people. Time and time again, he’d killed people, all because King Therion had told him to. He’d killed people, he’d hurt them, he’d tortured them, he…
He was a murderer.
Kano started sobbing then. Uncontrollably.
Kawai heaved him onto his lap, and Kano grasped at his brother’s arms as he held him without a word. Kyra climbed onto the bed by his side, her hand linking through his, gripping tight.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed before the tears dried up, before he sat up with his arms wrapped around his knees. He looked at Kawai. ‘You saved me.’
Kawai shook his head. ‘I should have done it sooner. Way sooner. I’m sorry.’ His features darkened with ferocity. ‘I willneverlet him use you again, Kano. Never.’
‘His hold…’ Kano muttered, peering at Kyra. ‘It’s gone. I remember what it felt like under his control. I don’t… I don’t feel that anymore.’
The Earth Warden’s smile was soft, yet it fell almost instantly. ‘The female in your memory, the one with the Lorish king. Who was she?’
Kano closed his eyes in an attempt to bring that memory forth. That golden-haired queen whose mere presence of power had dwarfed even King Therion’s. He would never forget her face. ‘The Empress of Zarynth,’ he whispered.
Kyra’s face paled. ‘When was that? Do you remember the conversation?’
‘Give him some space,’ Kawai said indignantly.
‘This is important,’ she snapped back. ‘Kano?’
‘It’s clouded,’ Kano said apologetically. He felt cold all of a sudden. ‘I don’t remember what was said. It was years ago. I was barely older than ten. But she was there to… to…’
‘To what?’
Kano gulped, and as he stared at Kyra, he was sure she already knew the answer. ‘To form an alliance.’
Chapter Forty Seven
The Gift
???
Phaenon City, Nythanor.
Kyra.
She probably should have stayed with the Air Warden. Probably should have offered some sort of comfort or consolement after dropping Kano’s bomb of a revelation on her.
King Therion had lied.
He’d already picked a side, years ago. And it hadn’t been theirs.
