Chapter 11 #2
I attempted to look occupied, but Ember didn’t seem fooled. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Then her gaze landed on me as she responded. “I have more to do here, and he is required to accomplish my goals.”
The tent was crowded with the four of us. As Ember spoke, I moved to her side, next to the mess of blankets that had to be Alysa and Reid’s bed. Alysa sat on the trunk on the opposite wall, crossing her arms over her chest. “What are your goals?”
“I made a commitment to this kingdom,” Ember said. “I intend to see it through.”
She spoke with the most confidence I’d seen from her since we left. I knew Charon had been right about her return. She’d ignored too much, buried too much, when we were in Linia. The state of Kavios had yet to be revealed, and already she seemed to understand that things had gone from bad to worse.
“And what commitment was that? From where I’m sitting, things have only gone downhill since you were unmasked,” Alysa said.
I gritted my teeth as I waited to see how Ember would reply. Whatever my father had done in our absence, it wasn’t fair to blame her. Unfortunately, she only ducked her chin as if to accept the criticism.
Every part of me itched to put myself between Alysa’s words and Ember. “She isn’t responsible for my father’s actions. Tell us what’s happening in Kavios so we can make it right.”
Reid’s brow pinched at my tone, but he didn’t say anything. He’d never tried to get between my and Alysa’s disagreements.
I was unsurprised that Alysa rounded on me then. “Ah, yes, let’s talk about your father, Hart.” Her hands were on her hips now. “Seems you left out some information over the years, too.”
“I don’t think that’s our biggest concern right now.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You’re right, of course, but I want you to know that I didn’t trust you then, and I certainly don’t trust you now.” She glanced at Ember. “What use he has to you is beyond me.”
Ember sighed, but I swear there was a brightness in her brown eyes that wasn’t there before. “He’s right, Alysa. We need information before we enter the city. Anything you can tell us will help.”
Alysa laughed loudly. On her shoulder, her bird flapped its wings in discomfort at the sound. “You two can’t enter the city. You’ll be found immediately.”
At least now we were getting somewhere. “How bad is it?”
She shook her head. “There’s a reward for both of you. At least you’re wanted alive.”
It was as I’d expected, if unfortunate to hear. I knew they’d never make it past me to get to Ember, but the salty taste of her nerves hit my tongue.
“What are you two doing here? What are you planning? There has only been more taking, more draining since the attempted Blessing Ceremony. We used to only pull maybe two or three humans a year from the city. We’ve pulled that many in the, what, ten days?
you’ve been gone. The Blessed have increased their magic intake. ”
Ember sucked in a breath. I unfortunately also found this news unsurprising.
“Hart and I…” Ember started, then stopped. I didn’t help her because I honestly didn’t know what she wanted to tell Alysa. “Things are complicated.”
Harrow shook his wings in agitation, causing Reid to open the tent flap and let him fly away. She glared at me, like all of this was my fault. I guessed it was.
“Why not just take the throne for yourself and give your goddess what she wants?” she asked.
Ember massaged her temples as if she’d had this conversation with herself already a thousand times.
“He’s had hundreds of years to do that, Alysa.
He hasn’t. Think what you want of him—truly, I don’t care—but he’s resisted Themis’s summons this long, I think we can safely assume that pattern will continue. ”
Something warmed in my chest at her defense. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time anyone had stood up for me, let alone Ember.
“Why not make him, though?” Alysa pressed. “Surely, he’s proven that he wouldn’t let the Blessed take unchecked.”
Ember worried her lip and glanced at me. She knew what I would say, based on our conversation with Charon in Linia. I saw no use in hiding it from Reid and Alysa. They deserved to know, especially if this conversation was headed where I thought it was.
“That’s not what would happen,” I said. “The throne speaks to me in whispers and demands when I’m near. I can barely withstand them now. If I ruled Kavios, Themis would impose her order through me. As with my summons, I’d have no control. I’d cease to be the man you know.”
“Fine,” Alysa said, though I didn’t miss the glance she shared with Reid. “What’s your plan, then?”
I glanced at Ember. Her last attempt at an explanation left a lot to be desired.
“We have a path that provides us with options,” she said.
With Ember’s second failure at an explanation, a bird’s caw echoed in the woods. Alysa’s lip curved into a smile. “Boys, why don’t you go check on that, will you?”
Ember moved to follow Reid and me as we exited the tent, but Alysa blocked her path. “We’ll be with you in a minute,” she said over her shoulder.
Even I knew there was little use in arguing with Alysa within the Storm’s camp. Reid shrugged and kept walking. Every instinct I had demanded I stay with Ember, but I fought past it. If anyone could shake Ember free of the mask she tried so hard to wear, it would be Alysa.