by Cara Witter
Kenton found Jaeme in the armory, admiring a set of leather armor painted with intricate flame designs nearly as complex as the fires of Nerendal himself. The armor was beautiful, but clearly fitted for a woman. Probably Saara, Kenton realized. Or rather Aiyen, who until recently had been queen.
“I doubt you’ll find anything in here that will fit you,” Kenton said. The guards of the palace—along with the rest of the fighting class of Tirostaar—were female.
Jaeme smiled. “I don’t suppose Saara can bring this armor with her,” he said. “Too ostentatious? We are supposed to be traveling in secret.”
Kenton frowned. Might as well get it out now. “Saara isn’t coming. She wants to stay to rule Tirostaar.” Kenton took a deep breath, and without giving Jaeme time to react to that news, he continued. “And we need to leave Daniella here with her.”
Jaeme’s face turned hard. “Did you bother to ask Daniella if that’s what she wants?”
Kenton shook his head. It didn’t matter what Daniella wanted, didn’t change what needed to be done. “You saw what she did in the throne room. The way she killed all those people—”
Jaeme’s hands tightened into fists. “You killed a few yourself, if I’m not mistaken.”
Kenton had cut down more than his share, but Daniella had clearly not been in control when her pulse of blood magic liquefied the guards around her, leaving Jaeme and Kenton on the fringes with nosebleeds and internal bruising. It was only by luck that Perchaya had survived—protected from blood magic by her Drimmish ring.
“If she feels her life is threatened, it could happen again,” Kenton said. “This time it could be you who gets killed. Or Sayvil. Or Nikaenor. And then what would we do?” They’d be left searching for the new bearer, giving Diamis more time to track down Kenton and Perchaya and complete the ritual to release Maldorath.
But much as Kenton wanted to be mercenary about it, he had to admit he was concerned about their lives, in addition to the logistics.
“Well,” Jaeme said, “being around you hasn’t exactly kept us out of danger, has it? Maybe we’d fare better if we left you with Saara. Gods know we’d have fewer headaches.”
Kenton ignored the dig. There were more important things at stake. “Diamis is our enemy. I know Daniella doesn’t mean us harm, but traveling around with his weapon, we’re just asking for—”
Jaeme’s eyes narrowed and he spoke through his teeth. “That is the last time you get to call her that.”
“The weapon?” Kenton kept his voice even, but the anger building in him matched Jaeme’s own. “That’s what she is. I know it’s not her fault, but—”
“That’s right,” Jaeme said. “It’s not her fault. And she’s not staying behind unless she chooses to. And if she does”—Jaeme’s mouth curved into a tight smile, as if he enjoyed this part—“I’m staying with her.”
Kenton managed to stifle a groan—barely. May the gods save them all from belligerent chosen. “Jaeme,” Kenton said. “Diamis wants us all dead. There are incredibly powerful blood mages out there, not to mention whole armies whose sole purpose is now going to be to stop us. To put our heads on pikes in Peldenar Square. If they succeed with even one of the bearers, killing even one of you, then we’ll all be delayed in our course. Delay too much and Diamis wins, and all the takeovers, all the wars and death he’s brought to the Five Lands will be like a pleasant memory compared to what Maldorath’s going to do. To your family, to your friends. And like it or not, Daniella is somehow a part of it. By her own admission, she’s a weapon, and we can’t afford to pretend that it’s not so.” Kenton shook his head, exasperated. “All hells, Jaeme. You saw what she can do.”
“I saw her in pain,” Jaeme said. “I saw her almost killed.”
“I know you have feelings for her,” Kenton said. “But you’re a bearer, just like they are. It’s time you remembered that and started worrying more about your part in saving the world than about your infatuation with the weapon that could end it.”
Jaeme drew himself up to his full height, facing Kenton. “Don’t you forget who the bearers are,” he said. “You need me. I don’t need you. I swear, if you don’t start treating Daniella like a human being, then I will leave. And you’ll never, ever lay claim to the Earthstone.” With that, Jaeme stalked out of the room, leaving Kenton alone in silence.
“Wonderful,” he said to the painted armor.
Unlike the Chosen, at least the armor had the good sense not to reply.
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