Page 47 of Echoes of the Raven
No. I can’t let that happen.
“Kill him!” Amira orders me again.
I shake my head. “I’m not a cold-blooded murderer, Amira, and neither are you.”
“I will show you otherwise.”
Lurching forward, she goes for the sword, one hand gripping my wrist and the other attempting to pry my fingers away from the hilt.
I take several steps back, tightening my hold and turning sideways, away from her.
As we struggle, she drives me against the wall, slamming my shoulder hard. I have enough presence of mind to glance in Rífíor’s direction, fearing he might take advantage of the scuffle to attack us. He could easily use one of us as a hostage in order to procure passage out of Nido. But my quick glance reveals he has no interest in us. He’s still sitting motionless, head lowered, eyes closed—either oblivious to his fate or resigned to it, I can’t tell which.
As I free my sword arm from Amira’s grip and hide the rapier behind my back, using my body to keep her at bay, I entreat her, “Please sister, you’re better than this, better than him and Orys. Remember Mother’s love and gentleness toward everyone. Remember all thethings Father taught you. He was a good king, and you will be as good for Castella as he was. Don’t let evil change you.”
Relinquishing her struggle, her body goes limp against mine, and she begins to cry, her shoulders shaking as she sobs. I wrap an arm around her and hold her tight. I dare to think I’ve gotten through to her, but then she pushes away from me with a frustrated growl and glares at me.
“No!” she hisses. “I will not be weak.”
“It’s not weakness to aim for peace.”
She bares her teeth and points at me. I wait for her to argue further, but instead, she whirls and marches down the corridor, disappearing around the bend.
For a long moment, I remain slumped against the wall, the backs of my eyes burning as I wonder if I have lost her forever.
“In the frailty of the soul, hatred finds its breeding ground,” Rífíor’s deep voice echoes from within the cell.
I startle, head whipping in his direction. I had forgotten he was there and can’t help but shudder at the truth behind his words. Chest heaving, heart beating out of control, I cautiously approach the cell, push it closed, and turn the key.
He doesn’t look at me and still appears indifferent, but clearly, he’s not as oblivious as he would have us believe.
I take several steps away from the cell until I can’t see him anymore. The rapier trembles in my grip as an idea enters my mind. I shy away from it, try not to let it take shape, but it takes root without my permission, driven by the force of fear for my sister.
Shaking my head, I try to hide from the notion. It would mean going against Amira, and I don’t know if I have the courage, if I’m willing to prove to her that she’s right to distrust me. She is the queen whether I like it or not. The gods didn’t choose me to lead Castella and make the difficult choices required of a leader. My sister was given that task. I haveto let it go. I have to stand down. It’s the right thing to do for someone in my position.
But if that is true, why can’t I push away the certainty that if I don’t intervene to alter Amira’s chosen path, the entire realm will suffer the consequences? Why do I feel that inaction will condemn me to a life consumed by regret?
RÍFÍOR
Echoes of their voices linger, crashing between me and the damp walls.
“Kill him!”the queen ordered Valeria.
I wish she would have.
Nothing makes sense anymore. The Eldrystone refused its power to me, and without it, my entire purpose for being is gone. It makes no difference if I am here in this cell or elsewhere. I am stranded in this godsforsaken realm regardless. It makes no difference if I live or die.
My kin and I will forever be trapped in Castella. It is worse than a death sentence.
This realm and its people are of no importance to me.
Valeria was a misstep. Nothing more.
She might have been useful if she slit my throat. Maybe their senseless laws will do the job. A walk up the gallows cannot come swiftly enough.
20
VALERIA
