Page 161 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
He shook his head.
"I didn’t think so," Myra whispered.
Rian peeled his hands away from his face. His sad, green eyes bore into her, and when she looked into them, feelings of hurt and betrayal seeped from them.
"Why did you do it?" he asked, the question barely above a whisper.
"I’m sorry?" Myra’s brows twisted together.
"Telling my people that Kalisandre manipulated me is one thing. It’s not something I would have said so easily, but to tell the judge thatIwas the one performing tests on animals and humans? To give my people the impression that I am to blame for the drakonises? For Laurince? Why did you do it? Why did you lie?"
Myra’s mouth went dry. With everything else that had happened, she had nearly forgotten about the judge’s questioning. She wiped her hands on her knees. "The judge…I-I think he had some ability. I could only say yes or no to his questions and only the truth."
"But it’s not true! I had no part in it. Sebastian may have shown me Nyrri, but I didn’t condone it. I didn’t—" Rian shook his head, stumbling over his words. "I thought you knew me better than that. I thought…"
Myra gasped, panicking. "No, listen to me. The judge found a loophole in his questioning. He asked me if thekingwas performing tests on animals and humans. He didn’t specifywhichking. You might not have, but Domitius did. I was forced to tell the truth. I tried to say no, but it was as if the intention of his question was sewn into his words."
"Are you…are you sure?" Rian asked, the mistrust written clearly across his countenance.
"Yes," Myra promised. "I would never betray you."
She knew how those words sounded. By now, she knew her word held little weight. While Myra believed, deep down, that she was a loyal person, her actions for the past century suggested and proved otherwise. But when she spoke those words aloud now, she meant them with every fiber of her being. She was done aiding the other side.
"Whatever you need me to do to prove to you I meant it, tell me. I’ll do anything," Myra said, standing.
Rian held up a hand. "I want to believe you," he whispered. "My own insecurities are making it hard to do that, though."
"Rian—" Myra began, but stopped when he shook his head.
"What’s done is done. Now I have to figure out how to undo the damage."
He rubbed his hands over his knees, his brows scrunched, creasing the center of his forehead. "Phaia believes there are still some people who remain suspicious of Sebastian’s claims, despite everything that happened during the trial. Whether it is because they believe in me or they just hate my brother remains to be known. Although I’m not sure if it matters at this point. Maybe…maybe if we gain enough allies, we will still have achance to save them from Sebastian. I refuse to abandon my people. I refuse…" Rian choked on his words, a wave of emotion consuming him.
"Rian," Myra breathed. An apology was on the tip of her tongue, but she knew an apology would do little to nothing to help him.
He peered up at her, and the bags beneath his eyes were a dark purple shade, weighing heavily on his face. "There is one thing you can do."
Myra stood and took a step forward. "Whatever you need."
"Go be with Lo.Helphim," he said, tipping his head toward the hallway.
Myra chewed on her lip, but nodded and forced her feet to move. When she reached the entrance to the hallway, she glanced back at Rian. His head was once again in his palms. And though his shoulders didn’t tremble, there was still too much weight bearing down on them.
Chapter 63
KALLIE
"Didyou really expect Rian to stand by while you went off to save Vaneria?" Ellie asked, her tone sharp.
After Kallie had told Graeson what Terin had said, they had woken the others and informed them of the news as well. While most weren’t surprised about the prophesied battle because of Barinthian’s warning, most were surprised that Rian and the others ran off. When they were in Tetria, everyone had advised Rian and the captain not to return to Frenzia until things were settled and it was safe to return.
Ellie, however, was not surprised in the slightest.
"He has a kingdom to look after," she said, continuing, "and he has been away for months now. It was only a matter of time before he tried to take action, too."
Kalisandre massaged her temples.
"Maybe they’re not there yet," Moris suggested, hopeful.
