‘King Hared carved “TRAITOR” into his forehead before he hanged him.’
Tomas swore, and we were silent for a while.
‘The Order ignited the dragon fire.They killed their own to keep the powder secret.We didn’t get any, and Finn sacrificed his life for nothing,’ Tomas said furiously.
The ability to make the powder would have given Atlas and Torgrin an even playing field in the future.Losing that knowledge was frustrating, but Finn’s sacrifice was heartbreaking.
‘This belief they have, that they will be reborn if they die in service of the Order, makes them very dangerous,’ I said, clenching my fists.
Tomas nodded in agreement.‘I got out before the next chamber went up – the fire was uncontrollable by then.I didn’t know about Finn until Torgrin had recovered enough to tell us what had happened in the dungeon.’
‘What do you mean?’I asked, concerned.
‘Torgrin was a mess while you slept.He wouldn’t eat or talk to anyone.’Tomas cared deeply about his captain’s wellbeing, and I admired him even more for it.
We were approaching the edge of the camp when General Toro stopped us.
‘We are leaving tomorrow, so be ready,’ he said to me.
It was a command, and it was clear he wasn’t giving me a choice.I had made the deal.He had done as I had asked, and Torgrin was free.Cillian not being here wasn’t his fault.It was mine.
‘I’ll be ready,’ I said.
The general opened his mouth and then closed it again.He nodded once and turned away.
Tomas and I watched as the general talked to his men, who were still on watch.
‘You are going with him?’Tomas asked with wide eyes.
I nodded.‘It was the only way to get him to help us.’
‘Do Torgrin and Atlas know?’He stopped walking and studied me.
‘Torgrin doesn’t.Atlas suspects,’ I admitted.
‘Torgrin won’t let you go to Ephemeros without him.’
‘Maybe he’ll come?’I shrugged a shoulder.
Tomas’s brow wrinkled.
‘I don’t have a choice.Please don’t say anything until I’ve had a chance to talk with them both.’
Tomas stared at me silently.I knew I asked a lot of him.Atlas and Torgrin were more than his captains – they were his family.
But he nodded, and I briefly touched his forearm.‘Thank you.’
‘The tournament seems like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?’He looked up at the darkening sky with a sigh.
‘We have been through a lot together since then.’I swallowed the lump in my throat.‘How do you do it?’If anyone was going to understand this knot of pain in my heart, it was Tomas.
‘Before he died, Rhett made me promise not to let his death stop me from living.’
‘How’s that going for you?’
He shrugged.‘I just put one foot in front of the other, hoping I don’t break my promise.’
†
