Chapter 73
Chapter
Seventy-Three
ZANDYR
“ T his is bad,” Valuta muttered behind her silk fan as she and Banu rushed into the square.
I kept my gaze focused on the sarcophagus Kylian and Myron were unloading off the hearse.
Kaya’s carriage stopped right next to it, blocking the view. The liquid in the barrel strapped to its back sloshed grimly as my warriors and the guards crowded the square in front of the temple.
In the distance, screams erupted.
They were faint, still not reaching the terrified crescendo we needed, but it had begun.
“At least the bitch is dead,” Banu whispered back.
They stood a good distance away and had no clue my senses had been honed alongside my muscles, but even so, the gall of discussing Evie’s death out in the open was astounding.
They truly thought they were untouchable.
“She didn’t die the right way,” Valuta said. I heard the hint of panic coating her words. “They won’t be happy. She was supposed to be strangled.”
They.
I would enjoy Banu and Valuta squealing their secrets in whatever deep crypt I would throw them in. Perhaps I’d use the room they tortured Kaya in. Adara hadn’t had a chance to interrogate Nylen back in Frostfall Reach; she’d love finally having the advisors at the end of her blades.
“We told them not to send the assassins. It’s their fault,” Banu said petulantly. “They can’t hold us accountable.”
“We’ll deal with that later. Fix your beard, we have to pay our respects.”
The chaos in the Capital grew.
I ground my teeth as the advisors approached, reciting more cloying platitudes to my parents, who ate each lie up.
“Your Highness, such a loss,” Valuta began. “And so young.”
“It truly is a tragedy,” my mother said and gods, she sounded so sincere. My parents truly weren’t vicious people–just as they weren’t fit to rule.
“We need to find the killers,” my father declared. “This stain on our Clan’s reputation and my son’s heart cannot stand.”
My jaw hurt from tightening it so hard.
“At least his heart is in the right place,” Evie said soothingly, sensing the maelstrom roiling inside me.
“His crown isn’t.”
“It will be.” She reached out with a caress through our bond.
In the distance, smoke billowed against the crimson shades of the setting sun.
“The Dragon’s heart will recover. Thank the gods he still has Kaya,” Valuta said. “And, hopefully, a little young one soon, to ease the pain even more.”
“Valuta, talking about future children at my wife’s funeral doesn’t do you any favors,” I rumbled, unable to keep my disgust in check.
These people had conspired to kill Evie.
They had murdered countless innocent people with their bottomless greed.
Their days were dwindling.
“I was merely trying to shed a new light on–” Valuta’s head whipped toward the gates as the frightened hum grew. “What is that?” she barked at the guards.
“The civilians are rushing toward Phoenix Peak.” Myrcel bowed his miserable head. I remembered him from Evie’s memories. His fate was also sealed. “A fire has broken out near the docks.”
“Absolutely tragic.” Evie sighed dramatically.
“Did you set fire to the Port Master’s house?” I asked, looking toward the Sages standing in a line. The Port Master had no clue, glassy eyes fixed on the temple tourettes. His wife had gotten word she was about to receive a rather generous inheritance, from a relative she hadn’t even heard of, and old Loryn had partied and drank himself into a stupor until the early morning hours.
He was so predictable
Right now, he could barely stand, let alone command a fleet.
“Come on, have some faith in me. Loryn will have a small child soon, who did nothing to deserve me burning his house down,” Evie said, followed by a beat of silence. “But Loryn’s wine cellar was fair game. And we didn’t have to use any weird potions to keep the fire going, the alcohol did the job just fine.”
I still sensed the need for vengeance in her, but her golden heart would never waver.
“It’s a good thing you’re not the conquering type or Malhaven would be in trouble.”
I felt her shrug through the connection as the shouts grew louder.
“Help us!” one of the civilians screamed. “The marks of death have appeared on our homes.”
“What is the meaning of this?” my voice whipped through the square.
“Your Highness, it’s just a grieving civilian’s delirium,” Banu said. “Emotions are high–”
“Help! Help us!” the crowd roared once more.
I sneered at the advisors for good measure and stepped forward, drawing their attention toward me–and far away from the sarcophagus.
“Open the gates!” I magicked my throat so the sound came out louder. Stronger. So that everyone in the Capital knew The Dragon had given the command.
Valuta blanched. “Your Highness, that is against rules and tradition. The Capital was infiltrated mere days ago, there could be assassins hidden in the crowd–”
“Who here, other than Evie and I, have been the targets of assassination attempts?” I asked.
Silence.
“Evie’s dead and I want to see who’s foolish enough to take their chances with me today. The gates. Now!” I growled at the dozens of guards stationed near the wall. My warriors moved toward them.
“Zandyr, Valuta is right,” my father began, but the words sounded rushed and hollow, not his own. “Phoenix Peak is sacred ground for a reason.”
“Do you want our civilians’ blood on your hands?” I bit out.
He blinked rapidly. “No.”
“Remember that,” I said with deadly calm, my right hand reaching for my sword as I stared at the guards.
Two of the youngest ones hurried toward the hidden mechanism.
The growing tension between the guards and my warriors cracked, filled with bared teeth and muttered curse words. More than one weapon would spill blood today.
My parents shared a look of concern, but mercifully remained silent.
I stepped forward, my parents, Banu and Valuta at my heels, their attention solely on the gates.
Perfect.
As the gates swept open, the crowd almost spilled in. The civilians in the first line stumbled forward, pushed by the rows behind them. They stared at the engraved cobblestones of Phoenix Peak with trepidation, hesitant to step forward even as fear shined in their eyes.
They were more scared of setting foot in the citadel than fleeing from a blazing death.
“Come forward. All of you.” I nodded at them.
A current passed through the crowd, but nobody moved. In the distance, the cloud of smoke grew.
“As long as I stand, Phoenix Peak will offer sanctuary to any Blood Brotherhood member,” I said.
Finally, a worn-down cane thumped forward. An old man, spine bent and white beard halfway to his knees, stepped in front. He tilted his head in a bow and kept on walking in the deadly silence, all eyes on him.
“Knew you were a good one since you were born, boy,” he lisped through his remaining teeth as he wobbled with the courage granted only by old age and a life lived to the fullest. His rheumy eyes glistened at the golden buildings. “Bigger than I imagined.”
Behind me, Valuta scoffed.
I took the opportunity to nod at some of the warriors closest to the wall, who’d accompanied us to Frostfall Reach. “There is smoke in the sky. Find the source, extinguish it.”
One by one, the civilians followed the old man, movements reluctant, gazes wide. I recognized Leesa and Goose’s grey hoods as they hurried among the group. Goose had already wiped the red paint from his fingers.
The civilians settled at the edge of the square, huddling together as if worried they might be stricken down for their audacity.
This was what my parents’ reign, distorted by Banu and Valuta, had inflicted.
Behind the carriage, a metallic clang reverberated low enough that only my ears picked it up, as everyone settled in this historic moment.
“Done,” Evie said. “Your turn.”
It was finally time to suck the venom from the heart of my Clan.