“We’ve been looking into Yazmin’s planstogether.” Kost’s voice rose and trembled before he cleared his throat. His hands formed neat fists by his sides. “We cannot deviate from our strategy now. We must stop her.”
Gaige said nothing.
“I agree,” I hedged. It’d been ages since I’d struck out on a journey without my brother by my side, but Kost was right. We needed answers. Leena, Ozias, Calem, and I would travel to the ruins, and Kost and Gaige would lead the assassins back to Hireath. Hopefully there he could decipher the remaining parts of Yazmin’s spell so we could stop it.
Gaige’s lips thinned. “I suppose I can’t stop you from coming. After all, it’s yourchoice.”
Kost bristled. “An obvious one to make.” Despite his sharp response, there was an uncharacteristic restlessness to his stance. His fingers tapped against his pant leg, and he peered at me for a fleeting moment. Finally, he looked downward and murmured, “Even if it isn’t easy.”
“Sure.” Gaige scoffed. “Tomorrow, then.” Without another word, he turned and left, ascending the stairs as silently as he’d appeared.
Kost looked after him, but didn’t move to follow. “I don’t like the idea of not coming with you, Noc, but…”
“It’s the smartest move.” I tucked my hands into my trouser pockets and gave a tight nod. “We won’t be gone long. Everything will work out.”
His smile was weak. “I thought you weren’t in the business of making false promises.”
“I’m not.”
But as he left to gather his things, leaving the rest of us to notify the members of Cruor of our plans and pack for our own journey, an undeniable weight settled in my gut. Gaige hadchanged. Already, things weren’t going according to plan.
Eight
Leena
The morning air was still, quiet, as we sat atop our Zeelahs and watched the assassins leave their home. For the most part, they were silent. Faces blank. As they reached the iron gate marking the edge of their land and the beginning of Kitska Forest, shadows swallowed them whole, carrying them a short distance away, where they’d continue to remain hidden in darkness, per Kost’s orders. Since our plans had changed and we were no longer using beasts to help transport them, the shadows provided better protection from Yazmin’s spies. And because Darrien’s attack had failed, Noc believed it would be some time before he recovered and would attack again. The best time to move was now, even though it was difficult to leave Cruor behind. I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like to walk away from the only place that offered haven after their own people cast them out. When I’d been exiled from Hireath for crimes I didn’t commit, I’d found a home in Midnight Jester. If Dez had forced me to leave, I would’ve been devastated.
I gripped the reins of my mare tight. The move was only temporary and for their own protection, but it chafed just the same. Beside me on his mount, Noc was a statue. Whatever emotions brewed inside him were unreadable in his expression. Oz and Calem weren’t quite as skilled at burying their feelings. Or maybe they didn’t care to. Calem’s jaw was set tight, the mercury line around his irises flaring wide. Thick brows knitting together, Oz looked after his family with worry.
“They’ll be fine, right?” I asked.
“Yazmin is after you and me. Not them,” Noc said. “If anything, they’re safer without us.”
“I don’t know about that.” Kost manifested before us in a swirl of shadows. They disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared, and he ran an errant hand down his vest. “Iov and Gaige are leading the charge. Emelia, Astrid, and I will bring up the rear.” He gestured to a pair of assassins lingering near the gate. It was weird to see Emelia without her twin brother, Iov, but Astrid was still newly raised. She was fearless, though, with her perpetual grin and fighting spirit. She bounced on her heels next to Emelia, who stood with quiet authority and directed the assassins into the forest.
“You’ll make it to Hireath before we get to Tyrus’s Ruins. Send word when you arrive so we know you’ve made it safely.”
Kost nodded curtly. “Understood.” He gave us all one last look before pausing when his gaze met mine. “I have something for you.” He dove one hand into the satchel he’d draped across his body and extracted a thick book with archaic, bold font.
I took it from his extended hand and trailed my fingers over the title. “A Brief History of Wilheim?” I cracked the binding and thumbed through the pages. Gaige had used this very tome, along with one other, to unearth Noc’s hidden identity as the Frozen Prince of Wilheim. “What am I going to do with this?”
“Study, of course.” He frowned. “You’re an outsider who’s about to become the queen of Wilheim. A little knowledge of the capital’s history wouldn’t hurt.”
Gently, I closed the book before tucking it into one of my saddle bags. “The first act I’m going to do as queen is appoint you to be my adviser.”
With a strained smile, Kost nodded. “I’d be honored.” He gestured toward his brothers. “Look after them, will you?”
“Of course,” I said.
“We can take care of ourselves, you know,” Calem grumbled.
“I know.” He looked away, back to the train of assassins, and then off into the forest where Gaige and Iov must have been. My stomach squirmed. It was unusual to see Kost so…frayed. His typical composure was gone, replaced by fidgety limbs and uneasy glances. No doubt he was questioning his decision, wondering if he should have stayed with Noc, with us. But if he’d done that and left Gaige behind just a day after being raised…
“Hey, Kost?” I shifted my mount closer to him. “Ask Gaige to show you the prophecy in the throne room when you get back. I know you’ve already talked about it at length, but…maybe revisiting it will help.” Kost’s mind was built for solving problems, and I got the feeling he needed to be reminded of that. I hoped giving him some kind of purpose, something to hold onto until we got back, would keep him grounded. Especially if Gaige wasn’t himself anymore.
Kost met my gaze, eyes and voice soft. “I will.” And with that, he stepped backward into shadows, disappearing from my view.
“I miss prick Kost.” Calem frowned, his gaze tracking something I couldn’t see. Probably Kost.
