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She very nearly goes over the other side, but Sul catches and steadies her. “There, see? Told you: Good with my hands.”
“Don’t be afraid,” I say softly. “Knar is a fright to look upon, but he’s really gentle as a lamb, I swear. In time, I’ll teach you to ride a morleth of your own. Would that please you?”
The lie falls so easily from my lips. And as it falls, I feel something slip away from me. Something I can never reclaim. Some virtue, some goodness. Some worth.
“Fine,” Yok growls. He draws his sword and turns to the door. “You can come with me. Stay close.” “Not too close!” Lyria takes my hand and tucks it under her arm as she falls into step behind the boy. “I don’t want to get hit by that blade of yours if you start swinging.”
LOL SHES SO FUNNY
He calls out only once, a tremulous, “Grakul-dura?” There’s a questioning lilt in his voice. Lyria sniffs. “What’s the point in that mouse-ish whispering?” She cups her hands around her mouth and shouts, “Is anyone there?” Her voice echoes down the corridor, hollow and lost. “Juk!” Yok growls, and I’m sure it’s an expletive.
Lyria laughs outright. “That, my friend Yok, was a most polite lie.” She waves a hand. “Go on! Don’t let King Vor return to find his bride fainted on the floor. If he does, I’ll tell him exactly where to place the blame.”
“Morar tor Grakana!” The battle cry rings in my ears. I look higher to see a figure sliding down the side of the wall. He aims straight for the woggha and thrusts his sword into that exposed place at the back of its head.
Lol hes so extra
ship btw
Then we fall. Wind rushes past my ears, and I just have time to think, Well, that was a mistake.
“I thought you were dead!” the lady says. “I thought it must have killed you first before rushing in to ruin our little sit-down.” “And I thought you were dead,” Yok replies, his voice shaking, though he’s trying to hide it.
“Come, Sul,” I say, squeezing my brother’s shoulder. “I need to get married. Fast.” “Yes, of course.” My brother chuckles dully. “And let’s hope the power of true love is enough to save us all.”
To be safe, I lean a little closer and speak into her ear so she can hear me above the water, “I will do my best to pull you along after me. Kick your feet and keep your head under until you touch the far edge of the pool. It’s a bit far, but I’ll get you there. I promise.”
Not them having to do swimming lessons to tie the knot lolllll
How terrifying this must be for her. But she’s not protested. Not even once. My bride is very brave.
Any woman who would go through all of this without so much as a murmur of protest must be a worthy queen.
Who we were before this moment no longer matters. We have died to those selves. When we emerge, we will be reborn as one. Yun, as we say in troldish. United.
If I didn’t know any better, I would say she sounds like— But no. I’ve made my vows. Never again will I think of another woman. Only her. This woman before me. My wife. My Ilsevel.
I am a man, after all. I cannot help the urges of my body. But I can absolutely help what I do with those urges. I will not let them control me.
“Ilsevel, you are to be queen of my people. But you are also my queen. You and you alone shall guide and dictate your desires to me. It will be my honor to act accordingly.”
Who would have thought in a moment like this, my needs, my comfort, would be uppermost in his mind?
“Let me teach you,” he says, his voice husky and low. “Let me learn you.”
This is the very dream I’ve been fighting these last many weeks. The dream of finding Faraine in her sister’s place. Of opening my eyes and seeing her earnest, lovely face gazing up at me
Sul, with me! We have much to discuss.”
there is much gossip to be had
Sul is out of his chair and on the table in a trice. Ignoring the shouts of the ministers staring up at him, he strides its length to plant himself squarely before Lord Rath.
King tbh
Before he can get another word out, Sul plants his foot on the minster’s head, driving his face into the table. “Do you want to keep spitting that poisonous bile of yours?” he hisses, bending to plant his elbow on his knee. “Because I’m really starting to enjoy it!”
Maybe he’s right. Maybe this moment is the moment I lose everything. It doesn’t matter. I won’t harm Faraine.
“I am king,” I rasp. Slowly I turn, face the room. Sul and Hael are both staring at me, their faces uncertain. I smile. “That demon bitch should die for what she’s done.”
Someone just got possessed
“Fine!” Lyria waves her right arm in an arc, her star-shield flaring bright. “Execute me too if you like! But I’ll take out a good dozen or more of you first, starting with you!” Such brave words. Gods on high, I never realized what strength of spirit my half-sister possesses!
She’s going to die. And she knows it. She won’t submit to the block, so she’ll be torn to pieces by these troldes. Still fighting. Still screaming. A terrible death.
But I had enough to save Lyria. If that is to be my final act of will in this life, so be it.
She must die. She must die. I love her, and she must die.
“See she is cared for. She is not to be harmed. Do you understand me? Touch one hair of her head, and your life is forfeit. The same goes for everyone.”
“Take this.” It’s my crystal. “Where did you find it?” I ask, surprised. “It was sent to my chamber.”
“You did something to me,” she says. “Didn’t you? On the scaffold, I mean. One moment I was ready to go out in a blaze of glory, and the next . . .”
In another few moments, she’s gone. Vanished back down the corridor and out through the far door. Off on adventures I cannot join.
standing on the brink of the chasm, I know only one thing for certain. Faraine will be my life. Or my doom.
