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I studied each corner of the barn, smithy, and butcher, but found no more answers. The others gathered the remains, finding pieces from one more skull and splinters from larger bones. We would hang them in the Bone Grove and hopefully, it would be enough for their Spirits to make the journey to Tal.
Leaving the blood-soaked barn felt like returning to the land of the living. The wind sang of life hidden in the grass—predators waiting for us to leave. Humans no longer belonged here.
Without real hope, I ordered the scouts to fly further in search of the farmers who had lived here while the rest of us sped back to Tal. From their grim expressions, I knew that no matter the orders and politics which had pulled us into this search, we were now all committed.
The image of the blood-painted skeleton, of all the places I had seen it in Tal, replayed in my mind. Vanya had said it called for our blood. After what we had just seen, I did not doubt her. Tal was already bleeding; it just did not know it.
And those children... Dread twisted my stomach, stealing the joy of flying. I heard Eki’s scream as they ordered our baby’s death. What would make mothers and fathers leave their lives and livelihood? Where were they?
Back in the city, I washed myself and wrote a report for my father. The sun was already setting and despite my rumbling stomach I was not about to let my princess slip away.If she even showed, part of mewhispered. What would I do if she was not there? If she hid, it was likely I would not see her again. Had I pushed her too far last night?
Rushing out of the palace, I avoided even Yahontov. When my bodyguard discovered I was not in the dining hall, he would scour the palace while cursing me. Fortunately, he was no mage, and the words would remain just that. If Tempest talked, it would be for my ears alone.
It was a risk I needed to take, for oath or not, there were things I could not let anyone hear. I had thought myself separate from what was happening in Tal, but as someone had supplanted my very bride, I had been wrong.
During the fire, I had been willing to die for my city. Now I needed to see if I was willing to live for it, for I had always known Tal would take it all. After what I saw today, my hurt feelings did not matter, nor did Tempest’s reasons. She knew people I did not, people who had not told us who she was searching for, not even for gold. If she helped me find the missing food—and children—I could forgive the rest. Repeating it over and over, I almost believed I was doing more than inventing a reason to be close to her again.
Arriving at the Drunken Dead before the Spirits rose, I paused to look through the grimy windows.
My gaze jumped from table to table, empty stomach knotting. Of course, she had not come. I would have run if I was her.
The ice inside expanded as I withdrew. She was a liar and a thief. A weakness I could not afford to want.
I had been a fool to trust her offer of help.
Determined to find my own way through the city, I turned away and thereshe was.
I wanted to shout at her. Demand answers. Send her away. Throw her lies in her face. Tie her up in my chambers to keep her safe. Kiss her and chase away all thoughts of death.
Instead, I placed my hand over my heart in a formal greeting, unable to suppress the spike of impossible happiness as she crossed the street.
Chapter six
Vanya
He looked every bit the prince despite having replaced his black uniform with gray trousers and deep-blue coat, creased and carelessly open. The tilted hat hid half of his face, but he had forgone the eyepatch. The chance of someone seeing the mismatched eyes and guessing the crown prince walked Tal perhaps remote enough to accept the risk, or his peripheral vision too important to impede.
A thrill shot through me as I approached. In the lantern light and roguish clothes, he looked like someone I should walk away from but could not.
His sharp, clean-shaven jaw clenched.
Even those who normally cracked their knuckles to intimidate you as they passed, kept a wide berth. They, like me, sensed his power. He was solid in a changing world, and I wanted nothing more than to cling to him.
I had followed von Lemerch’s coach for half a bell before losing it on the hectic Palace Road, and besides knowing she received no guests this afternoon, I had learned nothing. Had nothing to show. What would Dimitri do if I shared the letter and the terrible truths it contained now? Last night, he told me I had lied and lied. I neededto regain some of his trust before revealing I had stolen more and possibly poisoned his father, or he might dismiss it all as another kind of ploy.
When I was close enough, Dimitri offered me his arm, the movement smooth despite the carefully blank face.
“Tell me what happened last night,” he said as he steered me toward an empty alley where no one would overhear rather than inside the drinking hall.
“Corpses walked—they attacked people. I’ve never seen anything like it…” I swallowed, longing to spill the words twisting inside me.
“But you know more than that.”
How had I been able to keep so much from him while living in the palace? Could I explain Morovara was my great-grandmother when I could barely wrap my own mind around it?
“I asked around today.” I licked my lips, carefully picking my words, and noticed his eyes tracking my tongue. The fire was still there, banked but not extinguished, but so was anger and betrayal.
“And?”
