Page 55 of Of Songs and Silence

Since Kane isn’t here, I’m left with Noa—one of the rare decent souls amongst the latest Warrior class. She’s also extremely skilled, working her way up nearly as quickly as I did at her age.

More importantly, since I trained her, she’s loyal tome. Not the king. Not the rebels.

Just as I expected, she eagerly takes off to follow my orders. I wouldn’t leave at all, but it’s been too long since I’ve checked in with the others. After what happened with Jopali’s attack on the way here, I know I can’t wait any longer.

I’m just outside the palace gates when a familiar voice greets me.

“It’s about time,” Kane’s sardonic tone calls.

Relief crashes over me. He’s safe, and I’ll have him with me to face this meeting with the rebels.

“How did your visit with your parents go?” I ask casually, looking around to see if anyone is nearby.

“As well as could be expected,” he responds. “Didn’t realize they had a newfound interest in travel.”

Ah. So Kala’s family was on the seas, after all.

“Incidentally,” he adds in an undertone. “Did you know Kala is actually the nicest member of her family? And potentially the only sane one.”

From the glimpses I’ve gotten of her thoughts, I did, in fact, know that.

“I thought she was devious and underhanded,” I say sarcastically as we catch an undercurrent to the reef’s edge.

He rolls his eyes. “You can’t blame me for wondering if she might be a master at faking her thoughts. The king certainly is. But no one can pretend that well.”

I hear what he doesn’t say, also. Kala has a warmth, a humanity, that can’t be manufactured. Thinking about her just exacerbates the itchy, uncomfortable feeling I get with each mile I put between us.

Kane doesn’t comment on her anymore, and I try to distance my thoughts as much as I can as we wind our way to the hidden cavern. Lantern fish offer a subtle glow, guiding us all the way down to the seafloor.

The water here is colder and darker, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet in front of us. Still, we know exactly where we’re going—the low hum of angry voices guides us to one of the far rooms where Lani and her men are already waiting.

I brace myself, already preparing for the inevitable argument. Sure enough, the atmosphere is just as icy as the deep waters of the cave.

“Take a break from cozying up to Kala and murdering your own to grace us with your presence, Commander?” Lani, the de facto leader of the rebellion, spits the words out with unveiled venom.

Kane stiffens at my back, his posture defensive, but I gesture for calm. We could fight our way out of this room if we needed to, but at what cost? We need this rebellion, now more than ever. And they need us, if they stand half a chance at overthrowing the king.

“You’re the one who wanted him in a coveted position, Lani,” Kane’s tone is even, but it’s edged with pure steel. “Don’t think to punish him for doing what he had to in order to keep it.”

Her red eyes practically glow with anger, but she considers my cousin’s words.

“It’s true that he’s close enough to the girl to take care of the spawn,” someone suggests.

It takes everything in me not to snarl at the person who insulted Kala and suggested I murder her in one go.

Even if that had been the plan,before.

Before I found her.

Before I knew who she was to me.

Before I knew who she was. Period.

Kane puts a steadying hand on my shoulder while we both ride out the wave of suggestions and accusations.

“But we need him on the king,” another warrior counters. “He’s the only one strong enough to have a chance, even with a blunt force attack.”

“And we’re just going to trust him?” one of the villagers demands. “After what he did to Jopali’s crew?”

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