43. Lora
Lora
Every step was a stab of aching despair as I trudged along the road, following Erion deeper into the Sun Kingdom. Images of the spear lodged in Corin’s throat flashed through my mind, mingling with my sister’s bright smile. She’d be utterly destroyed when she learned what had happened.
The logical part of me knew Erion had done the right thing by pulling me away. But I wished he hadn’t. I wished I’d driven a dozen ice daggers into that dreadful commander’s heart before I was dragged off.
My fists clenched as anguish twisted into rage.
“I’m going to kill that brine-hearted coward,” I snarled. “I’m going to kill every single one of them.”
Erion’s fingers brushed my arm. “Lora, listen… I know you’re angry. What we saw—” His voice cracked. “I have no words. But you can’t lower yourself to their level. You’re better than that.”
My blood boiled. I’d lower myself into the darkest depths to avenge Corin. To avenge my mother. But I swallowed the words, yanking my arm away. “Let’s just get to Sunrise City and find the sun stone.”
Worry creased his forehead, but he didn’t press the issue.
Exhaustion seeped into my bones as we arrived at a small town. The sun hung low above the treetops, casting long shadows across the weathered sign welcoming travelers to Gravendale Town.
Outside the inn, Erion found a traveling merchant willing to take passengers. The grizzled man had a cart pulled by a talanox with huge horns.
Erion haggled with the merchant while I stared at nothing. My mind kept replaying the spear piercing Corin’s throat, his blistering mouth opening as blood gurgled out.
Fury simmered in my chest as I climbed into one of the inn’s beds. My mind churned throughout the night, imagining every vicious punishment I’d make the commander endure once I had him at my mercy.
The rage still boiled inside as we headed out the next day, our backs pressed against the rough planks of the merchant’s cart.
Erion shifted beside me. “How do you reckon we’ll find this Forbidden Archives? It sounds so… forbidden.”
“Not very secret, though.” The words ground out between my teeth. “Everyone seems to have heard of it. We could probably just ask around.”
“And then what? Even if we find it, it’ll be guarded and locked.”
I side-eyed him.
A small part of me appreciated his obvious attempt at distracting me from my dark thoughts. But a much larger part of me still seethed, plotting retribution. The rage clawed through my veins, refusing to let go.
“We’ll figure it out when we get there,” I grumbled.
I turned away, fixing my gaze on the passing landscape without really seeing it. The cart swayed with the steady rhythm of the talanox’s six hooves on the packed dirt, carrying us toward Sunrise City.
I’d help Erion find the sun stone. I’d get him back into Blightlands in time for the eclipse. I’d make sure he sealed that rotten rift.
But then I would return to that guard camp and exact my revenge.