But I can feel her hatred like I feel the pierce of the briars. She’ll never let me go. I will my heart to still, my mind to focus. Hers may be different than Caspian’s, but I can control the briars. I just need a little time to unravel it.
The Nightingale crosses her arms. “Sometimes I play this game where I try to figure out which of you is the most stupid. It’s truly a hard challenge. You all keep vying for the top prize. But I have to say, you are the winner today, Keldarion. And that says a lot, figuring your little Spring mutt willingly gave up his Blessing to the man who’s been conspiring to steal his throne.”
Ezryn has stopped twitching now. The blood around his head has formed a large pool. If he doesn’t receive medical care soon, he’ll die. Tears spring to my eyes, but I force my breath to steady. I have to figure this out.
“You sure have a lot to say, don’t you, sweetheart?” Dayton jeers. “Maybe you should keep a diary instead of boring us with your monologues.”
Her piercing gaze levels on him. “Perhaps you should work on not being a slovenly parasite. Maybe then you could finally find a mate.”
Dayton stumbles back.
“Too close to the heart?” Laughter sounds in her voice as she turns to her knights. “Bind them.”
“We gave you what you wanted!” Kel roars.
“You have no idea what I want.”
Dayton and Kel exchange looks as the Sapphire Knight unclips two steel manacles from his belt and strides towards them.
The Nightingale waves a slender hand through the air. “Resist and I’ll kill her, so on and so forth.”
The Sapphire Knight pushes Kel and Dayton to their knees, hands bound behind their back. His helm tilts toward Ezryn’s body, bloody and broken. “What of the Spring Prince?”
“Leave him for the wolves. I got in enough trouble with Kairyn last time.” She points to the Bronze and Sapphire Knight. “Deliver these two to Kairyn, with regards from his little bird. I’m going to the monastery.” With bouncing steps, she walks over to me. I shudder, surging my magic through the briars, trying to get something to catch, to spark. “I want to have some fun with my new pet.”
Then all I can hear are Dayton and Kel’s screams as I’m whipped away beneath the earth by briars beyond my control.
Part Five
Vengeance
91
Ezryn
The darkness is retreating.
No … No. I must hold on to the shadows.
Without it, the pain comes. The remembering.
There are voices drifting through the edges of my mind.
“Where’s that salve?”
“I’ve got it. Here’s the poultice, made just as you said.”
“Good, good. Now, pass me the waterskin, dear. Thank you.”
Light glimmers and ripples on the fringes of my vision. These voices are familiar.
“I think he’s waking up.”
“You’re all right, chap. Bit of a tug on your brow as I stitch it. Don’t move.”
“Heart rate is stronger, isn’t it?”
“His breathing, too.”
“Hang in there, Prince Ezryn!”
Who … Who could say my name without disgust? Who is left that can bear to look at me? Not my father or brother. Not my people. And after the shame I brought upon her, not my mate.
My mate.
Gone.
My eyes open.
Three blurry faces waver above me. I blink until they come into focus.
Eldy. Marigold. Astrid.
With my vision comes the rest: blaring pain in my skull, my ears, my shoulder, my leg, my ribs. Every piece of me aching and raw. The memories come next. Armored gloves and boots pounding at my bones. Divine weapons in the hands of thieves.
I should be dead.
I force myself to a sitting position. The three of them take to fussing: hands on my back, the clucking of tongues.
There’s no time for this.
“You should stay lying down,” Astrid says. “You were in rough shape when we found you.”
I put a hand to my brow, feeling the sutures. Eldy has always had a steady hand with a needle and thread. Then I touch my ears.
The skin is rough and hot. Cauterized. Another healing trick of the majordomo.
My honor—my helm—wasn’t enough for Kairyn. He had to mutilate me, too.
“How did you find me?” I ask, voice raw.
“We weren’t going to stay in that city without you.” Marigold crosses her arms. “Not with the boy-tyrant running the shop.”
“Where are we?” I put my hand on Eldy’s shoulder to hoist myself to my feet. Astrid gives a cry of alarm and immediately runs to my other side, helping to steady me.