Chapter Thirty-Four
Analleia
I feared a summons from Valeris every waking minute. I remained in the suite where my wound continued to heal, albeit slowly, but I had to keep up my strength, had to keep up my ability to do the tasks I needed to get done.
“You’re not going to be able to scale a wall,” Desmond said as he watched me stretch.
“I have to be able to,” I said. “Therefore I will.”
And I would. As long as I didn’t reinjure myself before it could properly heal.
The sixth ball approached, unofficially titled the puzzle ball or better known as the mystery or games ball.
The guests who wished to participate were provided with clues and sent on a scavenger hunt to find objects or other clues that would lead them to the ultimate prize.
No one knew the prize ahead of time. King Zaricor awarded it to the winner at the end of the ball.
Five years ago the prize had been a ruby so large it could’ve bought an entire kingdom.
To get the ring for the Enchantress before the finale, I would have to take down Athello at the sixth ball.
A breath shuddered out of me.
I would have to kill Athello at the sixth ball.
My hands shook, my throat closing up at the thought.
––––––––
“YOU NEED OUR HELP, Analleia,” Desmond pleaded with me.
I shook my head, my mind made up. “If I fail, Valeris and Athello can’t know you’re involved.
They already suspected Nadiyah of the stabbing, so she can’t be seen in the palace.
I made the bargain. I need to see this through.
If they catch me, both of you flee the city immediately and never return. ”
Fear crept up my spine, the same fear that had overcome me when our kingdom had been besieged. Destroyed. Burned to the ground. I closed my eyes, trying to hold myself back from the abyss of memory because I knew if I fell in, I would never find my way out again.
“You couldn’t defeat him last time. What makes you think you can defeat him this time, and with an injury no less? Why are we even concerned about killing him? Shouldn’t we be trying to sneak into King Zaricor’s chambers to kill him? We could disappear after, not even have to bother with the ring.”
I lowered my voice. “She didn’t just threaten me, Desmond. She threatened you and Nadiyah too.”
His eyes narrowed, jaw clenching in uncertainty of where I was going.
“When I woke up in a puddle of my own blood, she was in the room. She healed me, enough to keep me from dying and to know the extent of her power. She said the terms had changed since I hadn’t yet completed my end of the bargain.
” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I have to kill him, Desmond, and give her the ring. She left in a cloud of mist and smoke like she had never even been here. She’s powerful.
Powerful enough to know if I defy her and powerful enough to find us if I do not complete her bidding. ”
I left out the other consequence of failing her bargain.
He stared at me, a foreign emotion I didn’t recognize passing across his face. A sense of loss seemed to overcome him. I knew he wanted to help and get us out of this but didn’t know how.
He cleared his throat. “Athello knew where he was striking you. He didn’t pierce a single organ or anything vital.
He wasn’t trying to kill you. He was trying to slow you down.
Let me help you, Analleia, we both know you can’t do this yourself.
We’ll concoct a plan to take him out at the sixth ball.
Nadiyah will stay here, watch for any sign of trouble.
You and me, we’ll go in. Take him down. We can do this.
” His eyes filled with sincerity. “Together.”
A small cry escaped my lips, and he enveloped me in a hug.
I was scared.
And he hadn’t seen me scared in a long time.
He knew I would never be able to kill Athello myself.
He would come with me. He would help me take him down, and he would slit Athello’s throat so I wouldn’t have to.
Because that was what we did. We took care of each other.
Everyone else in our family was gone. It was only us—and we wouldn’t abandon each other.
“I never wanted unnecessary bloodshed,” I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks as I embraced him. “I never wanted to kill anyone but him.”
He hugged me tighter, the comfort reminiscent of our father’s touch. “I know.”