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I don’t know why he’s still yelling at her, but his voice doesn’t drop.
“And I know I’m more than my books. I am also loyal to my friends. I like to learn how things work. I will fight even when I know I can’t possibly win. I’m kind, generous, and, on occasion, even funny. Material wealth doesn’t matter to me. People matter to me. I have a confidence in what I do. The only thing I’m not confident about is you!”
More silence, then, “You upend me,” Petrik says so quietly I almost can’t hear him. “I can’t think straight around you. I worry over everything I say, convinced that will be the thing that drives you away. Instead, it ended up being my actions. I’m sorry for keeping Ziva’s true whereabouts from you. I’m sorry for lying. I did what I thought was best in the current situation. But I didn’t put your thoughts and feelings first, as I should have. As I will do from now on, should you ever agree to be my friend again.”
“I thought you said we were never friends,” Temra says just as whisper soft.
“You are my friend, even though I never wanted friendship from you.”
“No, you only wanted access to Ziva and her magic.”
“You misunderstand me. I never wantedfriendshipfrom you, Temra. I always wanted something more.”
And then I can’t hear any more talking. There are different noises. Noises that I can’t quite make out. And then I realize—
They’re kissing.
I leap away from the door as though I’ve been burned.
I have a million questions. Who started it? And how did it come to that? Weren’t they just arguing? Kellyn and I don’t finish arguments with kissing.
Maybe we should.
Maybe everything should be followed by kissing.
Bells ring from high up on the palace towers. The sound seems to become trapped within the stone walls, echoing down the hallways.
It takes me far too long to realize why they’re going off.
Ravis and his army are finally here.
I bolt for the outer doors, Temra and Petrik somewhere behind me. I don’t know if they’ve realized that I was right outside the door, but now is not the time to worry about it.
We’ve got bigger problems.
I find Kellyn and Prince Skiro already on the wall above the gate, overlooking whatever is beyond. I have to fight through the crowds of people calling for loved ones, trying to usher children out of the way. I leap over a sheep before finally reaching the stairs and taking them two at a time.
From up top, I can’t see anything at first. And then, a dust cloud in the distance. The tiniest pinpricks of what might be marching soldiers.
Regardless of how small and far away they seem, fear grips my heart, pumps terror into my veins with every beat. I can do nothing but stare for a moment.
Skiro says, “Saydan, send riders to set up a time and location for the meeting. We’re resolving this quickly. We don’t want the people afraid longer than they need to be.”
I turn in time to see Skiro stride past a disheveled Petrik, whohas eyes for nothing but my sister. My face warms at the reminder of what I overheard. It’s really not something I should know about unless Temra wants me to know about it, but it’s too late to take back my eavesdropping now.
The thick wooden gate creaks open beneath where we stand, and five riders gallop toward the approaching army. They carry nothing with them, only wear the golden sun sigil of Prince Skiro.
“There’s nothing to do except wait until the riders return with news of the meetup,” Petrik says.
“I don’t like it,” I say. “What if Ravis means to trick Skiro? Kill him during the negotiations?”
“He won’t,” Petrik says. “He’s not my favorite person, but he’s not a heathen. If he agrees to a meeting, he will honor the stipulations surrounding it.”
“Would you bet Skiro’s life on that?” Temra asks.
Petrik bites his lip. “No.”
We stand atop the wall, watching. Waiting. Skiro returns shortly, followed by the head of his personal guard, Tazar, who sticks to the prince like butter on bread.
