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She stood, and Torvo kept staring at the spot where her head had been. I stood too, stepping between them.

“Please stop,” I said. “Do you think he wanted any of this? Do you think any of us did?”

Laughing darkly, she spat in my face, shocking me.

I didn’t see or feel Torvo rise. He was simply there between us, shoving his sister into the nearest tree trunk so hard that dried leaves rained over our heads.

“None of this is her fault.” His voice was low and menacing, as he towered over her, and the shock on her face showed she finally realized she’d gone too far. “I wanted to tear him apart that very night, but thankfully my friends here talked reason into my head. Maybe I should have. Maybe I should have just died trying to fix this. But I like to think toppling him for good is preferable to letting him continue indefinitely.”

Devira broke into sobs, deflating against the tree as Torvo grabbed her, bracing her to the trunk as she cried. They stood there for a long while, until he finally softened enough to release her. Angry marks marred her perfect skin where he’d held her too tightly. She sank to the ground, burying her face in her arms.

Torvo took my hand and began to guide us away when she called out. “I’m sorry.”

We turned.

“I wanted someone to blame.” She shrugged. “You were the one who always came to my rescue. You were my best friend. I needed you, and you went to comfort her instead.” Suddenly she looked barely sixteen, and I realized how very young she really was.

Expression softening, he turned back to her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you,” Torvo said, squatting down before her. “But I know how capable you are. I knew you could handle yourself, Dev. And I promise I will inflict pain on him for everything he’s done.”

“The king will suffer,” I promised, squatting as well. “You are strong like your brother, Devira. I know you don’t like me, but that won’t stop me from being in awe of your bravery. Because it takes a lot to fight. To leave.”

Her face slackened in surprise as she really looked at me, possibly for the first time since I’d met her. Her tears had slowed, and she wiped at her face with her hands. “You’ve suffered like my sisters, haven’t you?” she asked, realization dawning.

My heart sped as I nodded. “Maybe not the same, but close enough. And I’ve had my fill of his abuse. Help us, and I promise we will take him down.” Hands trembling again, I fisted them, trying to stop what felt like my own personal earthquake. Now was not the time to show fear. I had to be strong for Devira.

“I’ll help,” she agreed.

Fully not expecting her to take it, I offered my hand. To my surprise, she accepted it and let me help her rise. Torvo rose along with us. He gave me such a beautiful smile that I thought my heart might leap from my chest.

After a tight squeeze of my hand, Devira let go. “All I want is to be part of that.”

“Good. Then it seems we have some planning to do.” I turned back toward the revelers, Torvo in my wake. I slowed down until he walked alongside me. “Are you okay?” I whispered, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way I shook.

“It was…not easy to hear what happened to my sisters when I left them behind,” he admitted. “Less easy for her to witness. I understand her anger.”

“Me too,” I agreed. “But don’t doubt yourself. You’re doing the right thing.” I grabbed his hand.

Torvo nodded. “I will know it’s right when I squeeze the life from his eyes.”

24

Rivven

She gave no warning, no goodbye. One moment she was there, beside me. The next she was gone, and Leuruna was there. I had to tamp down the urge to force the truth from her, but I worried that whatever happened was not Nyah’s choice.

Leuruna seemed to slip right into place, which made me wonder if she’d been watching the entire time. Nyah would surely scold me for thinking it, but my experience in this world was far wider, and sadly involved many more people out for themselves. The sooner we could convince the princess to give Nyah back her own body, the better. I didn’t buy for a moment that she didn’t know how.

If it was as simple as causing trauma, then we could arrange that.

Something else about her irked me as well. It was the ease with which she handled the diplomatic interaction with Hymer. According to Nye, she’d been all but prisoner in her rooms, so how had she accomplished it? She certainly had Torvo in a trance. Had she done it because he seemed the most formidable with his ability to maneuver around the castle? Did she count on him to protect her from me?

All of this pondering hurt my head. I hadn’t even had that much of the mead that had been passed around. Someone should stay on alert, so I figured it might as well be me.

I’d seen rebellions rise and fall before and was surprised this one was still standing. There were two possible explanations for that. Either there was a mole reporting back to the king on anything that might actually threaten him, or it was so insignificant to him that there was no need to bother with it. I suspected the latter.

The fire crackled as it sputtered, close to extinguishing. Some of the Astridonians nearby huddled further into their woolen blankets, and I waved a hand, stoking the flames for them. These were not people used to roughing it. I admired them anyway because at least they had the guts to do the right thing and oppose Balram’s rule.

I lay down with the intention of sleeping, knowing when the next day came, we’d be traveling down to Tromodia again. But when I found that space between wakefulness and dreams, pictures of Nyah—the Nyah I fell in love with—moving beneath me on the forest floor, plagued my mind and body.