"Paragon Ishii never arrived."
Reese's hand tightened into a fist. He turned to me. "Find your mount if you can. We need to leave—now."
He touched my shoulder gently and jogged away. I spun in a circle, trying to decide where to go. What to do.
Minsawa had fallen? Another fort destroyed, like Galasvar?
I sprinted out of the village, back to the graveyard. Liam stood under a willow tree, watching a mother bury her small child.
The sight of the short bundle of cloth stopped me in my tracks. My mind went blank as she lowered the baby into the grave.
Liam turned, noticing me. "I thought I told you to rest?"
His voice cracked in a way I had not heard since he was small.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the woman. "Word just came that Minsawa fell. We're to leave for Tsuyan."
"Shit,” Liam breathed.
"But . . . But I don't think we should."
"What?" Liam pulled from my grip. "Why?"
"Because . . . " I trailed off.
He must have sensed the terror in my voice. Seizing my arms, he spun me to face him. "Because what?"
"This is the black tide, Liam. And I think it's going to follow me there."
Chapter 23
Diar
Iwoke to the same dream I always did.
Fire consumed the Tsuyan manor. A piece of the ceiling collapsed, blocking my door. Akemi broke through and reached for my hand. I took it.
The Emperor stood in our dining room, bathed in the mantle's light. A Brightspear guarded him, a Solheart man in white armor and golden threads.
Someone stepped from the shadows: a man cloaked in black. He lunged, sword clashing with Akemi's.
I watched their steps, light and graceful, a unique dance I wouldn't soon forget. Motes of light surrounded them, from which grew radiant blades.
The golden swords cut down Akemi and stopped short of my throat. While I stared at the hole in my brother's chest, at the blood flowing across his robes, the shadow disappeared.
Leaving me alive.
Sighing, I sat up and pulled my dress on. The dreams had once frightened me. Now they were mundane reminders of all that I had failed.
Without bothering to check my appearance in the mirror, I stepped outside into the hall.
My 'guard' was leaning against the wall, hands tucked into his black doublet's pockets. Quinn smiled almost politely at me when I closed the door behind me.
"I had a feeling you were an early riser," he said. "Come with me."
I stared at his backside as he turned, curling my hand into a fist.
Driving a sword into his back would brighten my mood.
