“What am I supposed to believe, when allyourlands are barren rock?”
“They didn’tusedto be!” he shouts, gesturing around him at the tiny, lush garden we’re sitting in. “It’s taken us everything, just to save a few small places from your people’s absolutefuckinginability to know when enough is enough.”
He can’t lie, a part of my mind whispers.That enchantment’s still on him. Anything he says is the truth—or at least, he believes it is.
Maybe someoneelselied tohim.The Empire’s teachings can't be wrong. The deeper you travel into the Empire, the more things grow and the more food comes from soil instead of ocean. That seems like incontrovertible proof.
And how can he say witchcraft comes from willing, living things, with how bloody the War-Father says their bonding rituals are?
“What about the children you sacrifice to get the dragons to bond with you?Theyaren’t willing.”
Roiven’s lips are pale in anger. He sits abruptly upright, planting both feet on the ground and leaning forward across the small table to glare at me.
“Have you ever had an original thought, or do you just spit up everything they’ve taught you?”
Oh, thisfoulman. My body tenses, like I’m preparing for an attack.
“The War-Father says—”
“Savasaeirnchoseme. Whatever heinous stories they fed you are lies. ”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Then open your eyes for once and see for yourself,” Roiven says.
I need to get away from him if I'm going to clear my head. I can't think straight when he's looking at me.
“I want to look around.”
“I already said no.”
“Open your eyes, but don’t move, and stay in this carefully curated cage?” I growl. “How convenient. It’ll be easy to make up my own mind about your people.”
Roiven shakes his head.
“You’re right. But still no,” the witch says. “I can’t risk letting you loose here while you remain loyal to the Empire.”
“What, are you scared I’ll tell them you have flowers?”
“No,” Roiven growls. “I'm scared that by letting you live, I will become the reason my people are finally extinguished from this earth.”
Something about the way he says it makes every muscle in my body tense up again. Ready to fight.
Because heisscared. That I, somehow, will be his downfall. As if I still have any power left at all.
It's true I still want to make Roiven pay. But what Ireallywant is an end to the fighting that keeps killing the Enchanted and drafting more sailors for the Hellions.
“I need to get back inside the Empire. To Barivum. And I need you to take me.”
Roiven snorts and shakes his head.
“You’re the one who wanted to come here. Who offered to remove the enchantment.”
“I know. But…”
“Disapointed by the lack of sacrifices?” he drawls. “Or do knights just change their mind as often as the wind blows?”
I refuse to let him get to me. This is more important, and he has to see it will benefithim, too. Not that I want to help the witches survive.
