Page 6 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Ryker looks at me, asking if I’m ready.

No, I think, but I answer, “Yes.”

The ladies sing the song of death, the rite for safe travels to the lands of the aether.

From soil you came, to soil return,

The aether calls, the heavens yearn.

So rest now, soul, your journey’s done,

You join the moon, the stars, the sun.

We all join the final stanza. Through my tears, the song comes out breathless, but Ryker holds my trembling body, and Mera wipes her eyes. A moment later, the white cloth is draped over Kuron's face, then drawn down over his body and tied at his feet.

“I didn’t know all of their names,” I whisper through the lump in my throat. “They served my family, and yet⁠—”

“It’s okay, love,” Ryker says. “When all of this is over, I will go with you, and we can tell their families together, okay?”

I look up into his eyes and see the clarity in them. I nod, turning back to the ten. Ezra and Rune begin to lift Kuron. Ryker kisses my forehead and leaves me to join them.

We follow the procession up the hill in silence, the wind carrying away our quiet sniffles.

At the graves, I kiss Kuron’s head once more. “I pray you find rest,” I whisper, “and thank you for serving me so faithfully. I love you, even if I never said it.” I run my hand over the knot above his hands and then nod toward Ezra.

Ryker jumps into the open grave and lowers Kuron down. In a very unprincess-like move, I run for the forest, dropping to my knees behind a tree as I finally let go of the tears I’ve been holding back.

Sobs rack my body while the pressure in my chest finally breaks.

Chapter 3

Raea

That night, I sleep fitfully. Tossing and turning and crying until Ryker settles me again. By the time morning comes, I look like I've been hollowed out. I want to burrow back into the sheets and sleep more, but we can’t stay here forever. We need a plan.

I dress in my school uniform, feeling more relaxed with the pants that hug my legs and the top that allows for easy movement. My neck is looking much better, only a small bandage is needed—easy enough to hide under clothing.

Ryker and I are handed breakfast as we arrive at the conference room, where our media teams, guards, and pilots are gathered.

I sit, taking a long sip of my tea, letting the heat settle into my bones. At least this room was untouched, unlike the rest of the transport. Today a team will make repairs where it’s needed and with what little supplies we have. The housing staff were up late cleaning. Everything looks and smells clean—except for the dark, black blood that still clings to the floors and walls throughout the transport. That blood is like a permanent stain that no amount of scrubbing can remove.

“What’s the plan?” Captain Oktavious asks sternly. He looks around the room, refusing to meet my eyes.

Before I can claim his attention, Ryker answers. “You work for the crown. Last I checked, Princess Raea is that crown.”

I bite back the urge to snap at him.

Finally, all the gazes in the room fall onto me.

“First, everyone aboard needs to sign a confidentiality agreement. Nobody speaks of this. Second, I think we should go back to Kyrr,” I say, swallowing my doubt. Ryker’s hand on my bouncing knee that keeps me going. “We can’t hide forever. Plus, we need to warn the crowns.”

Ryker nods. “The kingdoms need to know so they can be prepared, but we do it covertly. We should head back to school and act as if nothing happened. The shadow forces haven’t exposed themselves yet, so neither will we. It gives us some time.”

I catch Ezra’s glare from across the room. He hates this idea. Rune and Aksel mutter something unintelligible before agreeing that they’ll both return to campus with us. Ezra relents, agreeing as well.

“May we turn the system back on now, Princess?” Captain Oktavious asks, his tone dripping with condescension.

The chair beside me crashes to the floor. In the blink of an eye, Ryker has the captain pinned against the wall, his forearm crushing into Oktavious’s throat, cutting off his air supply.