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The boy snorted with a bit of derision. “Not what everyone else said. My maj says you’re soft for Livie, and every time she says it, Daj says he’s gonna kill you. Maj keeps reminding him they were enemies too.”
I made another slight move for the window while the prince was distracted with a loose iron nail in the floorboards. “I don’t know this story,” I said. “Your parents did not like each other once?”
I came to a halt when the prince smiled, slow to start, but there. He lowered his voice like he might share a grand secret. “My maj and daj come from houses that used to be like theworstenemies. They shoulda really hated each other. But Maj saved Daj’s ass—I mean, his life—and they took vows. That was way back in Night Folk and mortal wars, though.”
A grin tugged at my lips. There was little question where Livia got her fiery spirit.
The boy let his voice trail away when it cracked. He pressed his fists against his eyes, clearly uneasy about showing tears. His shoulders trembled, and his lips tightened. “I don’t want anyone else to go, but I don’t wanna never see my sister, and . . . why’d you take her, Bloodsinger? What’d she ever do to you?”
Each word was a knife to the chest. “I took her because I thought it was the way to pleasemyfamily. I was wrong.”
The young prince used his tunic sleeve to wipe his nose. His eyes were like wet onyx when he lifted his head. “I keep thinking if I’d . . . if I’d been stronger, I could’ve protected her and—”
“Nothing that happened was your fault,” I said with sincerity. Three paces from the window now, and I did not know how I’d slip out without harming the boy again. Naturally, I was reluctant to do so, but I did not see another way. “The only reason I got the drop on you that night was simply because I am taller.”
He snorted. “Not theonlyreason.”
“I saw how you handled that axe. Your sister is fortunate to havea brother like you. Believe me when I say that, since I’m almost certain my brother is trying to kill me.”
The young prince folded his arms, one brow arched. “Why are you sneakin’ for the window like I can’t see you?”
My leg pinched when I stopped abruptly. There was no other choice. “Listen, Prince—”
“My name is Rorik. Gods, did Livie not tell you or something?”
“Rorik.” I took a step for the boy. “I do not wish to do this again, but I need to get to the sea, and I need to get to your sister. I hope you’ll forgive me, but—”
“Why the hells do you think I’m here?” The young prince took a step to the side, brow arched like I’d slipped into a sudden madness. “I’m part of thescheme.”
Scheme? Rorik waved his hands toward the window like his thoughts should be obvious. As if on cue, a strange coo fluttered through the window, like one of the doves of the earth realms.
“Bleeding hells,” Rorik grumbled, smacking the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I knew I’d start talking—Alek told me not to, but I had to know why you took her and all that.”
“Prince—”
“Ror-ik.Roooorik, Bloodsinger.”
“Rorik, what are you talking about?”
The prince rolled his eyes and groaned.
“Alek and the others know you can’t wait for the kings and queens to arrive. I mean, it’ll take until tomorrow’s sunrise—at the earliest—for Ari and Saga to get here. Kase and Mal will be even longer. I mean, I guess Calista and Silas are to be here within the next toll, but they’re only one pair.” The boy waved his hands to the window. “So, get gone. I’m puttin’ my neck out here, and probably won’t get honey cakes for a whole turn because of you. You owe me for so many things.”
The boy flopped onto the bed, ticking off every slight against him—the bump on the back of his head, stealing his sister, making himcry in front of his young companions once his sister was gone, now apparently his sweets were at risk.
I was utterly puzzled. A ruse? A test? No, Elise nor the earth bender would ever risk their son with me.
With a slow, steady bend backward, I peered out the open window. Heavy mist covered the cobbled paths below. There were no guards, no warriors?
“Go.” Rorik waved his hands. “Mira can only hold the illusion for so long.”
A hiss rose from the darkness below. Little by little the mists faded enough to make out three figures, clad in all black with hoods much like Rorik’s.
“Erik.” Aleksi tossed back his hood. “Get down here, you damn idiot. We’ve got a small window of time.”
Bleeding gods. The prince was breaking me out of his own fort. Eyes wide, I glanced back at Livia’s brother.
“Don’t trick us, Bloodsinger,” he whispered.
