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This is the true division between Silvers and Reds: the color of our blood. This simple difference somehow makes them stronger, smarter, better than us.
Hmm segregation enforced through fear and blood split as a show of power.. Cruel
“My master—he fell. He died. I’m not an apprentice anymore.”
Shit.
“Leave everything to me.”
This is going to one hell of a ride..
It takes all my strength not to snap at these cowards who will never see the front lines or send their children to fight. Their Silver war is being paid for in Red blood.
Silvers are really ignorant if they can yap like that around the Reds.. Must not have one damn original thought in thier brains
“A terrorist group calling themselves the Scarlet Guard released this video moments ago.”
Yo isn't that the ones that promised to smuggle yall across the nation..?
The nymph raises a hand and the water rises up, splashing him again. Silvers surround the scene, jeering with glee, cheering him on. The Red sputters and gasps, trying to catch his breath.
Silvers here are nothing more than aggressive predators if they can treat humans like this for sport choosing just anyone to torture without fear of retribution.. They act invincible until they are forced to cower in fear and shame..
Her eyes are on mine as he brings the butt of his gun down, shattering the bones in her sewing hand.
.. Wtf would she do that. Why would she of all people do that? She criticises her sister for doing that yet her unskilled self does exactly what she comdemns. Now she's without work too.
“I’m truly sorry for you, Mare. Things shouldn’t be like this.”
Something tells me he's part of a pretty important house
he disappears before I get a chance to look back and thank the strange servant.
Truly don't think he's a servant .... Lol
Something sharp meets my fingertips, making my body jolt. An exposed wire or faulty switch, I tell myself. It feels like a pinprick, like a needle spiking in my nerves, but the pain never follows. Above us, the porch light hums to life.
Hmm? This seems suspect won't lie
Shade knew about the Scarlet Guard and tried to tell us. Why? Because he’s one of them.
Yeah.. He's in on it.
Tiberias Calore the Sixth, King of Norta, Flame of the North. A mouthful if there ever was one. I would spit on his name if I could.
Damn the disdain and scorn is intense asf
“And the crown prince of House Calore and Jacos, son of my late wife, the Queen Coriane, heir to the Kingdom of Norta and the Burning Crown, Tiberias the Seventh.”
Calore - Cal!???
The crown prince is Cal.
These plot twists be plotting !!
Her mouth falls open in shock. I’m sure I look the same as I stare at my hands, wondering what on earth just happened to me. High above, a hundred of the most powerful Silvers wonder the same thing. I look up to see them all peering at me.
Well sht.. Girlie you're cooked- well you cwere going to be but now you're just screwed bc of the circumstances..
All together you are poor, rude, immoral, unintelligent, impoverished, bitter, stubborn, and a blight upon your village and my kingdom.”
Goddamn
My eyes betray me, flying to Cal. A princess must marry a prince. “You will marry my son Maven, and you’ll do it without putting a toe out of line.”
Ah.. Can't have it too easy now..
“If the Reds see her, a Silver by blood but Red by nature, raised up with us, they can be placated. It’s like an old fairy tale, a commoner becoming the princess. She’s their champion. They can look to her instead of terrorists.” And then, softer, but more important than anything else: “She’s a distraction.”
This is heartbreaking tbh..
“I want my brothers brought home from the war.” For once, I feel like I’ve said something right. “And my friend, Kilorn Warren. Don’t let the legions take him either.”
<_< ok.. She's in it for the long haul now.
With my newly pale skin and darkened eyes and lips, I look cold, cruel, a living razor. I look Silver. I look beautiful. And I hate it.
That's really sad tbh.
“Mareena.” The name even tastes wrong. “That’s my name, remember?” “Then it’s a good thing Mare’s a suitable nickname.”
Honestly yeah great match with the fake name
Conscription. Survival. Green-eyed children with my quick feet and Kilorn’s last name. That future was almost impossible before; now it’s nonexistent.
Oh she really did imagine a life with Kilorn..
If there was ever a person begging for an elbow to the face, it is Evangeline Samos.
Yeah She won yet begs to be punched in the face.
“Is she here?” I murmur, trying to sound apologetic. “The girl you would have chosen?” He hesitates, then shakes his head. “No, I didn’t have anyone in mind. But it was nice to have the option of a choice, you know?” No, I don’t know. I don’t have the luxury of choice. Not now, not ever.
Maven honey stfu
“I can do it,” Cal and Maven say in unison. They glance at each other, startled. Elara raises one perfect eyebrow. “That would be inappropriate.” “I’ll escort Mareena, Mavey can take Evangeline,” Cal offers quickly,
Huh!? Wild well uh ok..
Evangeline scoffs at me, brushing off the insult. “Only children take Protocol.” To my surprise, the queen takes my side. “Lady Mareena has grown up under terrible circumstances. She knows nothing of our ways, of the expectations she must fulfill now. Surely you understand her needs, Evangeline?” The reprimand is calm, quiet, and threatening. Evangeline’s smile drops,
Eat that insult. She pisses me off.
I’m still wary of him. Luckily we’re never truly left alone. It’s a silly court tradition, to keep noble boys and girls from being tempted, as Lady Blonos put it, but I doubt it’ll ever apply to me.
Girl... Lmao that sounds like foreshadowing if I've ever seen it
“No, I thought your ability was the power to manipulate, not create,” he says, his voice dropping gravely. “No one can create, Mare.”
Yo she's actually different different.. Anomaly
what about telkies though??
“You don’t seem like the type of girl to weep at the drop of a hat. You’re homesick.” He holds up a hand before I can protest. “I can fix that.”
A homecoming?? I've severely underestimated Maven
“A king should know his people. That’s why I sneak out,” he murmurs. “I do it in the capital too, and at the war front. I like to see how things really are in the kingdom, instead of being told by advisers and diplomats. That’s what a good king would do.”
He's legitimately trying to be a good future king...
He’s going to find Farley. And he’s going to join her.
Honestly kilorn is pissing me off so let him go be a fool on a suicide mission.
“She wasn’t chosen by Queenstrial, you know. Not like Elara, or Evangeline, or even you. No, Tibe married my sister because he loved her—and she loved him.”
Wow ok..i wouldn't have guessed
“I told you, you’re not alone, Mare,” Maven says, but he doesn’t smile.
Oh shoot i wouldn't have known..
“Cal believes that change is not worth the cost,” he says. His voice shakes, quivering with nerves and conviction. “And he’s going to rule one day—do you want to let him be the future?” For once, my answer is easy. “No.”
I'm shocked at how this story is falling together.. I honestly thought Mare would be shipped to Cal by the end of this... But its looking like Maven is end goal
These Silvers are going to war, yes, but not to the real fighting. They’re the sons and daughters of important people, and to them, the war is just another place to visit. Another step in their training. To us, to me once, it is a dead end. It is doom.
There really are no human rights for the Reds.. They are oppressed and used as objects their whole lives..
“With Cal on the lines, this war will finally be over. With Cal, we can win,” Oliver says, grinning like a fool.
Not just grinning like one. The delusion is strong with that one. Cause be fr rn. One prince ending a war thousands of reds and silvers haven't turned the outcome to?
This world is Silver, but it is also gray. There is no black-and-white.
She's starting to accept some of the fallacies and assumptions she made as false
He laughs, leaning against the doorframe. But his feet never enter my room, like he can’t. Or he shouldn’t. You’re going to be his brother’s wife. And he’s going to war.
Seems like Cal caught feelings but at the very least we definitely know Mare has. She feels jealous when Cal even looks at Evangeline
“Late-night walk?” he says with a bitter smile.
Uh? I guess I can understand why he might feel like that if his betrothed was off who knows where in the middle of the night
Ellyn Macanthos.
The cool outspoken colonel?? Th one with the scar?
When he speaks, his voice sounds more like a growl. “I hate the king because he couldn’t save my sister, because he replaced her with that viper. I hate the queen because she ruined Sara Skonos, because she took the girl I loved and broke her apart. Because she cut Sara’s tongue out.” And then lower, a lament, “She had such a beautiful voice.”
.. Oh julian.. I honestly lowkey trust his judgment here. Maven is.. Odd sometimes.
“Skin healers can’t heal themselves. And no one would cross the queen’s punishment. So Sara has to live like that, shamed, forever.” His voice echoes with memories, each one worse than the last. “Silvers don’t mind pain, but we are proud. Pride, dignity, honor—those are things no ability can replace.”
I feel horrid for Sara.. She really doesn't deserve that cruel of a punishment..
“I’ll miss you, Mare.”
SIR IS THAT A CONFESSION !!??
I can’t help but remember that my lips, now smiling for Maven, were kissing his brother last night.
Crazy
Queen Elara wears a sparkling monstrosity of red, black, white, and blue, displaying the colors of her house and her husband’s.
Im picturing the clipart/cartoon version of the American Flag
If all goes to plan, he’ll never hug his sister again. Evangeline will have lost a brother, just like me. Even though I know that pain firsthand, I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for her. Especially not with the way she holds on to Cal. They look like complete opposites, he in his simple uniform while she glitters like a star in a dress of razor spikes. I want to kill her, I want to be her.
Uh tf.. Mare get a reality check. That shit is not a good thing to say at freaking all..
Her grip is strong as she shakes my hand; for once someone isn’t afraid I’ll break like glass. “Every happiness to you, Lady Mareena. I can see this one suits you.” She jerks her head toward Maven. “Not like fancy Samos,” she adds in a playful whisper. “She’ll make a sad queen, and you a happy princess, mark my words.” “Marked,” I breathe.
... I don't think Maven honestly suits her .. But with how she says she cant feel for Evangeline if her brother dies is crazy talk.
I try to speak, but I can only think about the father I’m about to steal from such young children.
I ong can't see these deaths as beneficial to the Red Gaurd.. They all seem genuine and more receptive to change in the upcoming rebellion .. Maven's taget choices seem suspect asf...
“Reynald is a father, too. The Colonel has children of her own. Ptolemus is now engaged to the Haven girl. They all have people; they all have someone who will mourn them.” He forces out the words; he’s just as torn as I. “We can’t pick and choose how to help the cause, Mare. We must do what we can, whatever the cost.” “I can’t do this to them.”
I think maven is setting the red guard up..
In my perfect world, Maven won’t have to hide his heart and I won’t have to hide who I truly am. Cal will have no crown to wear, no throne to protect. These people will have no more walls to hide behind.
.. This is going to be traumatic I can already feel it.
