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I shook my head, telling her the abbreviated story about my forgotten past and how I ended up in Malengard with no clues as to who I was or where I came from.
She listened intently as I spoke. “I am very sorry. To be disconnected from one’s tribe is like being estranged from one’s own heart.”
“How do you know about the Zavien tribe?”
“You’re not the first Zavien I’ve met,” she said, the corner of her lip tipping upward.
My mouth fell open. “What?—”
“My queen,” one of the guards interrupted, “twilight is approaching. The feast is about to begin.”
The queen nodded at him then turned back to me. “I would like to continue our conversation, Raven, but tonight is our Festival of Shadows …” At this point, I wasn’t surprised she knew my name without asking it. “And it’s frowned upon if the queen is late for the feast.” Her eyes lit up like she’d told a joke. “Iwould be honored if you would attend as my guest. You can see for yourself that we are not the barbaric tribe that we’re rumored to be. And you can tell us news from the outside world. As you can imagine, we don’t get out much.”
“I need to get back to Jeddak,” I said. No matter how accommodating the queen was being—genuine or not—I wasn’t going to feel safe until I found Jeddak and Kah and we got out of this place.
“Then I will invite him as well,” she said, instructing one of the guards to retrieve him from the cells. She kept her other two guards close as she glided toward the doorway, indicating her trust in me was equal to mine in her—fragile. “Come.”
I stood to follow her. If what she’d told me was true, Jeddak and I might make it through dinner alive.
“Welcome to the Hall of Candles,”the queen said with a flourish when we reached a set of double doors high up in the bramble canopy.
As the doors opened, the sounds of laughter and celebration filled the air. Inside, it looked like a great hall of kings had floated up into the heavens. The walls were made of twisted bramble that climbed upward into the open starry night sky. Thousands of candles were laced into the spiny vines, washing the room in brilliant honey glow. A long wooden banquet table was positioned in the middle of the room. But there were no chairs. The table was barely the height of my knee, and the Bramblemen around it sat comfortably on the floor.
A mixture of curious and wary stares followed me as the queen gestured for me to take the seat to her left as she knelt on the floor at the head of the table. Heaping bowls of food coveredthe table. The smell of roasted vegetables and flatbreads made my stomach growl. But instead of reaching for the food, I kept my gaze fixed on the doors, waiting nervously for Jeddak.
When the doors finally opened again, the man who entered wasn’t Jeddak. He wasn’t one of the Bramblemen, either. He had the same lean, muscular build, but his skin was fair like mine, and his hair was icy blond, a sharp contrast to his black leather armor. He looked about my age. The bow and sheaf of arrows slung across his back told me he was a friend of the Bramblemen, simply because they hadn’t confiscated his weapons.
“Skyler,” the queen said, standing as he strode over to greet her, “you came.” They clearly knew each other, meaning the Bramblemen didn’t kill every outsider who trespassed here. That gave me a small sense of hope.
“I was honored to be invited,” he said.
The queen smiled at him. “You will not need your weapons tonight, young friend. Take respite here.”
A shadow crossed over his face. “I fear there will be no reprieve for me. The Rathalans are on your doorstep. They’ve been traveling along the mountain foothills for days, following the road from the Ruins of Javan.” His eyes flicked to me as he spoke. They were a striking crystal blue color, like the sky in early spring.
I shifted my weight, shivering under the intensity of his gaze. Skies, there was something about him that seemed so …familiar.
“Rumor says they’re tracking something … orsomeone,” he said pointedly.
I sucked in a breath when the realization hit me.
He’s the bowman.
“Don’t believe all the rumors you hear,” I said coolly, holding his gaze. Jeddak’s warning flashed in my head:He’s dangerous. We can’t trust him.
The queen’s head swiveled between us, her eyebrows raising like she’d just remembered something. She placed her hand on Skyler’s shoulder. “Well, for tonight, let us defer speaking of our enemies and celebrate our good fortune. Take a seat, Master Skyler.” She indicated toward the empty space beside me. “The two of you must have a lot to talk about.”
What did that mean?
Skyler removed his cloak and weapons while Queen B’kara turned to chat with several other Bramblemen.
“This seat is taken,” I said when he moved to sit down. I glanced anxiously at the door. Where was Jeddak?
The bowman knelt beside me, ignoring my snub. “I have to talk to you, Raven,” he said, keeping his voice low. “But not here.”
He knew my name. “Who are you?” I demanded, too exhausted at this point to be subtle. “Why were you in Javan?”
He paused, looking almost hurt. “You really don’t remember me, do you?” His ocean-blue eyes searched mine for the answer.
