Page 45 of Echoes of the Raven
“That is not for you to decide,” she says, fixing me with the same unyielding gaze as the other night, when I hesitated to relinquish The Eldrystone.
By all accounts, it seems Orys made her distrustful, even of me. But how can she feel threatened by her sister? I’ve never given her a reason.
She won’t think that when she discovers the amulet is missing, a rational voice chimes in within my head.
“I know it isn’t my decision,” I say. “I only fear for what you still have to lose.”
Her eyebrows knit together, and at her silent, questioning expression, I see my chance to go on.
“Orys took much from you and me. I regret not ending his life the first time, so that he never had the opportunity to harm you. What he did to you was awful. I see the toll it takes in the shadows beneath your eyes. You’re not sleeping well. I know you’re scared, and I understand why.”
Tears glint like silver in her eyes, and no matter how hard this is to put into words, I have to keep going, have to get through to her.
“You don’t want to disappoint Father. You don’t want to fail as a queen. You’re scared you may lose me and want to keep me safe. You’re also worried that anyone around you can turn out to be a traitor, an impostor, so you’re unwilling to trust.”
Her tears spill, cutting twin paths down her cheeks.
“But you can trust me. I’ll help you. We’ll get through this together.”
“Will we?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
She swats her wet cheeks with the back of her hands, drying the tears with the bandages around her injured palm. After several calming breaths, she comes around the desk and heads for the door.
“All right, come with me then,” she says, and without glancing back, she walks out, expecting me to follow her.
19
VALERIA
“What is wrong with me? I feel like I can’t even trust my own sister.”
Reina Amira Plumanegra (Casa Plumanegra) - Queen of Castella - 21 AV
At first, I have no idea where we’re going, but when she walks deep into the palace and heads straight north of the central building, the realization hits me.
We’re going to the dungeons.
“I don’t want to see him, Amira,” I say.
“You said we could get through this together. Have you changed your mind so quickly?”
I shake my head, and she hurries her step, her dress billowing behind her. It’s red and seems to leave a trail of despair behind her. She descends the steps of the dimly illuminated passage toward the dungeons with the determination of a member of the Guardia Real. I follow, feeling anything but determined.
Two guards stand at attention and click their heels when we appear.
“At ease,” Amira says, and the guards relax. With a commanding air that I feel would crack under the least amount of pressure, she takes a ring of keys from a metal hook on the wall, turns to one of the guards, and issues an order. “Give me your rapier.”
He blinks in surprise, as do I, but I don’t dare contradict her in front of these men. Hastily, he unsheathes his sword and hands it over, exchanging a wary glance with his partner.
“Remain alert,” she commands. “I will call you if the need arises. Otherwise, don’t bother us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” They hold their heads high and click their heels again as we pass under the arched doorway and find Rífíor’s cell all the way at the end.
