Chapter 2
I killed someone today.
And I don’t regret it.
What is regret for one death, when I’m standing atop a massacre?
—Letter from Kiyan to his family, unsent
Kiyan
It’s got to be here.
I’d torn up the entire room, opened all the books, emptied out every drawer, and still the map eluded me. Why did they have to hide it so well that even their own family couldn’t unearth it? I raked my hand through my hair, leaning back in the armchair of the tiny forgotten library of the palace. If the map to Queen Azari’s vault wasn’t here, I didn’t know where it would be.
And if the Viceroy got to the ancient queen’s crown before I did, our entire Court would be decimated.
I cast my gaze out of the window, toward the towering Mountain in the distance.
Tirich Mir. The Mountain that loomed over the River Court, reminding us of what we had lost.
“Aren’t you supposed to be tracking down rebels, boy? You’re not being a very good hunting dog right now, despite your reputation.”
I jolted upright, tearing my eyes away from Tirich Mir, as General Faisal slinked into the room, picking up a piece of paper and attempting to read it before furrowing his brow and tossing it aside.
My gaze flickered to the page scrawled with the ancient language of the River Court. He likely didn’t even know how to read.
I snorted to myself, then masked my amusement. “What do you want, Faisal?”
“So touchy. You should be overjoyed I’m back.” He walked around the chair toward me and then stopped, leaning against the wooden desk, his face expectant, daring me to ask why he was here instead of fighting for Salt in the war against the other peri Courts.
I narrowed my eyes, giving in to his goading. “And why is that?”
“Because you now have help executing all those rebels you once called friends.”
My fingers pressed so hard into the wood I was surprised it didn’t crack in half.
But I didn’t react, keeping my face a smooth mask. Everything depended on me not reacting.
Instead, I stood, slowly, a calculated smile curving my lips. I planted my hands on the desk and leaned forward as though I hadn’t a care in the world.
My voice was low and quiet. “There’s whispers the rebels are trying to bring back the royal family.”
All the color leached from the general’s face, and I almost laughed. Behind his monstrous exterior, he hadn’t the strength nor power to go up against the might of the River Court at full capacity, and he knew it.
I tilted my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m trying to find their source and if there’s any truth to the rumors. The last thing you need is for the royal family to be released from Tirich Mir and wreak havoc on the carefully preservedpeaceyou’ve crafted.” My words fell light and mocking—on the edge of what I could reasonably get away with.
“That’s... not possible.” He took half a step back, panic lacing his tone. “They’re enclosed in a cursed tomb by dead Queen Azari’s magic. If there was any way to unlock the door to the Mountain, the Viceroy would have found it and killed them.”
I nodded, keeping my face blank. “And that’s exactly what we’re looking for. If the rebels have the ability to bring the royal family back, we want to know.” My voice was solemn and quiet, even though my heart was hammering so loud in my chest it felt as if it were going to burst free.
So that I can get to them first.
A familiar longing settled in my stomach at the thought of them being finally released from Tirich Mir, the Mountain Palace. At the thought of us taking it all back.
At no longer having to hunt and execute members of my own Court.
“It’s impossible,” the general said again, shaking his head, the color still not returning to his face. “The curse on Tirich Mir is as impenetrable as the River wall to the human lands.”
