Page 179 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘Boo.’
‘Kyra,stop.’ His tone was firm enough it made her look at him. Made her shut up. He let go of her wrist and stood. ‘You’re needed in the temple. Now.’
She eyed him, swaying. ‘Something’s happened.’
He gave a slow, grave nod.
What could have possibly fucking happened now? She’d only been gone a few hours. ‘What?’ she demanded.
Peering over his shoulder, as if to ensure no one was within earshot, he braced his hands on the table. ‘Blythtrie has been taken by the Crown Prince of Zarynth.’
???
Nothing could have sobered Kyra up more than what lay cold and waiting in the Council Room.
Akraia.
The nymph twin Kano had fallen in love with, dead on the stone table, her torso painted with dark blood.
Well, Mankar had failed to mentionthat.
Kano was standing at the nymph’s side, his wet eyes glued to her still face, as if he were waiting for her to wake up.
Kyra instinctively made to move to him, but Kawai glared her down, standing loyally at his brother’s shoulder as if to saydon’t you fucking dare.
She stayed put.
Desperately trying not to sway, or blink too much, Kyra said quietly, ‘What happened?’
Naal looked up from a small black box she’d been turning over in her hands, and her voice was low and dull as she said, ‘After we left them in Wehyna, Akraia and her sister were caught by Lorosi authorities. They were brought before the king, and both given the choice to swear fealty to him, forgoing their loyalty to Merking Cyraneous, or be put to the sword. They both chose the former.’ Naal paused, her lips a thin line. ‘But when a fleet arrived flying Zarynth’s colours, Prince Sekun heading the flagship, Akraia abandoned Blythtrie and fled to Phaenon, to warn us of the invasion.’
Kyra stared at the young nymph, barely older than Kano, and a lump swelled in her throat at the sheer bravery she’d shown. ‘How did she die?’
‘He killed her.’
Every head turned to look at Kano. All of the inner-circle were there, and Gedeon and Sunsi too, sitting on chairs pulled away from the table, or leaning against the walls. Only Kano was right by Akraia’s body. Pity shone on Naal’s face as she said, ‘She killed herself, Kano.’
‘Because he made her,’ he replied blankly, gaze unmoving from the dead girl’s face. ‘I’ve seen this before. I know what he does to people who betray him. Makes it seem like suicide. He keeps his own hands clean that way.’ He looked up at Naal. ‘As soon as she told you of the invasion, she went silent, didn’t she? Then she took her dagger out and plunged it into her heart without a word, or explanation.Didn’t she?’
The pain in his voice pierced Kyra’s soul. It was difficult to look at him, at the heartbreak that was plastered over every inch of his young face.
Naal gave a slow, sedate nod. ‘If we were unsure if King Therion was imperi… now we know for certain. A secret well kept. It is no wonder Azar fought to ally with him.’ Bitterness laced her tone. ‘Ruven, transfer Akraia to the crypts. It would be an insult to speak of war over her resting body.’ She peered at the Water Warden. ‘In due course, you should be the one to decide how we honour her life, Kano.’
Kano had sat down. He didn’t respond, but more tears streamed down his cheeks. He seemed unable to keep his eyes from Akraia’s face. Kawai’s hand was tight on his shoulder.
Quietly, Ruven covered the nymph with a sheet, then scooped her up like an infant, her long blue legs limp over his thick arms, and disappeared from the room. Kano’s gaze stayed on the door long after she had gone.
‘I will not stand before you and pretend that this news is not a devastating blow,’ Naal said, rising from her seat. ‘King Therion’ssupposed neutrality was a problem in itself, but his allegiance with Empress Azar is, for obvious reasons, much worse. With this knowledge, I do not believe Prince Sekun’s invasion of Blythtrie to be an invasion at all, but rather the joining of two nations.’
Without moving from her leaned position on the wall, her arms crossed tight over her chest, Nysari asked Kawai, ‘Will the people rebel against Zarynth’s presence?’
He said darkly, ‘The fae definitely won’t. It’s just a shift from one tyrant to another. They won’t give a shit as long as they stay on top.’
‘And the humans?’
‘The raiders might have rebelled if their numbers were large enough… but that’s not likely. I doubt the humans in the city would risk it either. Our parents certainly wouldn’t.’
‘Butwecannot ignore it,’ Zuriel said passionately, standing as she did. ‘Akraia’s sacrifice has given us the upper hand. King Therion will not see an attack coming if he thinks we are in the dark about his alliance with the Fire Queen.’
