Page 26 of House of the Raven
Orquidea Rios - Castellina Resident - 10 DV
Ipace in my room, my lungs pumping too fast, anxiety ripping me to shreds. I fear I’ll go insane. There’s a knock at my door. I freeze mid-step.
“Val, it’s me.”
I run to the door and fling it open. Jago stands there, his expression full of sorrow. I fling my arms around his neck and sink into him. He says nothing. He just holds me tight. Only two hours have passed since…
The news has clearly spread through the palace, but what news?
I grab his hand, pull him into the room, and shut the door. “What did she say?”
He furrows his brow. “She?”
“Amira.”
“What story did she tell everyone?”
“Story?”
“Don’t just repeat everything I’m saying, tell me what she said… what you heard.”
“I heard from a guard that Uncle Simón is dead. I’m so sorry, Val.”
“What else?”
He shakes his head.
“What else did you hear?”
“Nothing. I came straight here.”
I whirl away from him and start pacing the room again.
“I’m confused. What’s going on?” He comes close, tries to take my hands, but I don’t let him.
Instead, I grab his shoulder and look him in the eye. “I need you to go out there and find out what happened to my father.”
His mouth opens and closes.
“I want you to find out how he died.”
“You… don’t know?”
I shake my head. At this moment, lying is easier. I doubt I would be able to relate what really happened, and I don’t need to add to his confusion.
He pulls me into a hug. “That can wait, Val. You’re upset.”
The hug nearly undoes me, but I push my emotions down and allow my mind to keep control of the situation. Calmly, I take a step back.
“Yes, I’m upset, but this is important. I need you to find Emerito. He will know.”
Jago’s light brown eyes scan my face. He’s known me all my life, and he doesn’t fail to see what I want him to see. “All right, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Thank you.”
He slips out the door. I engage the lock and go back to pacing. Thirty minutes later, as I’m on the verge of losing my mind, he returns. I throw open the door before he even knocks. His hair is standing on end, and his entire demeanor is worse than before.
“It’s bad,” he says.
