by B. T. Narro
“Let’s go, Terren,” Abith said. “I’ll tell you that and more. There’s a lot we need to speak about.”
They left amid continued cheers.
Neeko awoke and sat up. “What happened?” His cheeks already had regained some color.
“Lie down,” Alabell told him with a gentle smile. “Try to relax. I know it might not be easy with the potion we just gave you, but you must try.”
“You’ll be better soon,” Shara comforted.
“Shara!” he whispered with surprise. “Two hells, I’m at the Academy?”
“Yes.” Her dark eyes looked up at Alabell. “Does this mean the war is over?”
“I’m…not sure. Basen?”
She was surprised to find him staring as if he hadn’t heard her question. He stepped toward her, and she moved into his arms instinctually.
He leaned down and their lips came together. Heat spread over her body, a wonderful mixture of excitement and pleasure. It intensified as the moment drew on, blocking out all the other activity in the room.
As passion built, she felt as if they’d been reunited after years apart. This bliss was…right. Contentment warmed her like Basen’s embrace.
When their kiss finally ended, Basen appeared confused as he leaned back to look at her.
“Did you ask me something?”
She giggled and kissed him again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Rockbreak brought Sanya to Ulric, and the three of them set off for the castle together. Sanya limped the whole way, yet Ulric didn’t offer her an ounce of sympathy. Rockbreak seemed in worse condition as blood dripped from numerous wounds, yet he showed no signs of pain.
The streets were filled with curious lookers. Rockbreak drew their attention, probably cluing them in that the unmasked man at his side was Ulric.
They don’t know who I am. But Sanya could tell by their stares that they wanted to.
The man in charge of sending out the flare when the castle came under attack was one of the few who knew about Ulric’s plan for Tauwin to die today. The man met them a few streets from the castle and informed them of the good news. Tauwin was dead and the battle had been won. The Academy had retreated. Sanya figured Basen and that flying man had gotten to Tauwin before he’d reached the safety of his army.
She would’ve liked to have witnessed his last breath.
“How many were killed on either side?” Ulric asked the man.
“I don’t know yet, but it’s safe to enter the castle now. Everyone else is on the way back.”
“Good. Stanmar will keep them from disbanding long enough for me to assure our troops they’ll get everything promised to them. Hurry back to the castle and spread the news that I’m alive and unmasked. I want the crown and Takary robe ready when I enter.”
“Yes, sire.”
As the man ran off, Sanya asked, “What about Cheot? The councilman is loyal to Tauwin.”
“He’ll work for me because Tauwin’s dead. The only person who’ll mourn the deposed king is his mother.”
Ulric seemed even more confident than before, bordering on arrogant. He wore a smirk that didn’t sit well with Sanya. He looked as if he thought he was innocent of any wrongdoing, but Tauwin had been truthful when he’d sworn no involvement in the faked assassination. She would get to the bottom of this.
And then what? No longer needing her mask and robes, she finally should feel free. Only Cheot would want her dead for causing the disappearance of his daughter, Bliss, and Sanya could handle him easily. Still, this didn’t feel right.
When they returned to the castle, Ulric was greeted with applause and cheers from the castle staff. A crown was placed upon his head before a white cloak embroidered with blue wings was thrown over his shoulders. Everyone bowed to him, including Sanya. This was the third time these workers had seen a new king crowned, but they celebrated as if Ulric would be the best of all.
They know nothing about him. Sanya wasn’t sure she did, either. He’d been like a father to her not long ago, but now he looked like a stranger. She’d felt none of his usual warmth during their walk back.
She gladly took her leave to eat, receive treatment for her wounds, and change her clothing. She felt too exposed and needed to at least cover her arms and legs.
The men returning from the battle flooded into the castle’s great hall. Ulric stood on the second floor landing to address them as their new king. Many had served him already, but they’d thought him to be dead. Their relief was palpable when they heard his familiar voice.
“Tauwin died today as planned. He was a greedy liar who would’ve rather seen Kyrro destroyed than let it fall into someone else’s hands.”
Sanya watched from the floor above, making sure she was close enough to detect Ulric’s energy.
“You fought well, all of you!” he continued. “Today, you have proven that no one can stand against you! The war will soon be won!”
The men cheered.
“In the meantime, you will earn the same coin as usual, and your loyalty will be rewarded with a salary for the rest of your lives. Now celebrate as we prepare a feast!”
Men slammed their boots and the ends of their swords against the stone floor, cheering so loudly that half the city must’ve heard them.
There goes the last chance for the Academy to recruit anyone else. Sanya wondered if anyone she knew had died in the battle. She could stomach the thought of Effie being killed, though it brought her no joy. But when she imagined Cleve on the receiving end of a sword—the person who’d taught her how to beat the best swordsmen of the Academy—it brought on such a fury that she hurt her hands gripping the railing. She had to admit it now: She hated herself.
Sanya wanted to fight. Of course Ulric would let her join the final battle against the Academy, but what joy could she get out of killing more of her former schoolmates?
“We thought you died!” some men yelled up to Ulric. “What happened? Who died in your place?”
The enormous hall quieted as those assembled waited for an answer.
“I figured Tauwin would eventually send an assassin after me,” Ulric replied, “likely before what he figured would be the final battle.” He paused as he seemed to be searching for the right words.
He knows he can’t get away with lying.
“I took measures to protect myself, and it’s unfortunate Tauwin forced me to do that. Had he been a more honorable man, we could’ve ruled Kyrro together.” Ulric lifted his hands. “But don’t blame those loyal to Tauwin. This is not their fault. And if anyone locates Kithala Takary, please escort her to the castle without harm. I need to speak with her.”
So his mother is missing. It was highly unlikely that Basen or anyone from the Academy would’ve killed her. But there was nothing left for her in this castle. Sanya might never see her again.
“Food will be ready soon. Eat and enjoy!” Ulric concluded.
As the crowd cheered again, he left his spot and came up the stairs toward Sanya.
“We need to talk,” she told the new king.
“It’ll have to wait.”
“It can’t.”
He let out a sharp breath as he reached her floor. “Fine, in your apartment.”
Once they were inside, she closed the door after them.
He folded his arms. “I’m very busy right now, Sanya. What’s so important?”
“I know Tauwin wasn’t responsible for the death of that masked man who was supposed to be you.”
“Why do you think that?”
Ulric was a good actor, appearing genuinely shocked. But she felt his energy and knew he was beginning to worry.
“Be honest with me,” she implored. “If time is short, let’s not play games.”
He scowled. “Being smart can be dangerous, Sanya. Sometimes intelligent people think of things they shouldn’t.”
He didn’t scare her. “It was you. You killed an innocent man.”
“Careful.” His mouth tightened. �
�You wouldn’t want me to think your loyalty is faltering. Have you forgotten that you came to me to reclaim your life here in the castle? You’re about to have it! Do you really want to give that up?”
Sanya hung her head. “No, that would be foolish. I’m just curious what really happened.”
“I’ll tell you if you agree to leave it alone from now on!” he snapped, pointing a finger as if to lecture her.
“Fine,” she said, pretending to be defeated.
“One man had a son he loved very much. As the boy grew older, he made a terrible mistake that resulted in the death of a woman of some importance. The son was arrested and condemned to prison for life. However, his father made a deal to free him. He understood the sacrifice that would be expected of him in return, and he accepted it.”
God’s mercy, Ulric was more dangerous than Tauwin. The young king’s emotions and actions had been predictable, but Ulric was sneaky and just as incapable of empathy. He was no better than Sanya.
“You think you’re better than me?” Ulric asked as if reading her mind. “I know you had something to do with Yeso’s death. You find a way to get rid of anyone threatening you, just like I do, Sanya! I don’t blame you. On the contrary, I see something special in you. I need people like you I can trust. You must decide now if you’ll be one of them. Will you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He headed toward the door. “Most people would’ve apologized by now for failing to kill Tauwin as they promised they would.”
She’d already told him what happened, and he blamed her for that? How could she have predicted a flying man would swoop down and kick her in the back?
“I apologize,” she said without conviction.
He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Did anyone call you Laree?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you want to know where it came from?”
“I do.”
“You do, what? You will address me formally from now on.”
“I do, sire.”
“My wife, who is still in Greenedge, was pregnant years ago. We had a baby girl who took one breath in this world before passing on to the next. I loved her more than words can describe. We’d picked a name before she was born. Laree.”
He fled the room before giving Sanya a chance to respond. She waited a moment, then closed the door after him.
He was a liar.
He’d lied to his troops about Tauwin attempting to assassinate him, and he’d lied to Sanya about a child he never had. He was trying to manipulate everyone. The name was probably the first that came to his mind.
At the beginning, Sanya had expected to marry Tauwin and become queen of Kyrro. He’d thought he would win the war in a single day, and she would’ve disposed of him after earning the trust of everyone she needed on her side. But all she’d done was make enemies.
Everything seemed to turn in her favor when Ulric arrived. She’d seen in him a powerful ally and friend. And she might very well get the life in the castle she’d wanted if she stayed to support him. But for this to work, the Academy would have to be taken or destroyed.
Terren would have to die in addition to anyone loyal to Alex or Nick who might seek vengeance against her. If Sanya helped Ulric win the war, he would gladly dispatch her enemies, for they were his enemies as well. But that thought twisted her stomach with guilt. She’d never felt this way until recently and couldn’t imagine suffering from it for the rest of her life, which was a certainty if she took the easy path before her.
She could run from Kyrro. It wouldn’t be difficult to get a horse and travel to the far reaches of Ovira where she’d never be found. She could live like she had during that brief time in Raywhite Forest with her loyal bear, Muskie. Or she could convince Ulric to send her to Greenedge on ship.
Alternatively, she could steal the money to hire her own crew to take her there. Her many skills would give her a nearly endless variety of paths to choose from once she arrived. If she was going to abandon this life in the castle, Greenedge seemed the place she’d be most happy.
As that thought entered her mind, she realized it wasn’t true. The one place she’d felt she truly belonged, even though her time there had been short, was the Academy.
It’s the only place I really want to be. If I seek a life elsewhere, who knows the atrocities I might commit to stay alive. Do I really want to steal, manipulate, even kill again, only to suffer the consequences later?
The Academy was the one place she had a chance to become the woman she wanted to be. But she must face her punishment first.
It might very well be death, but she was willing to try her luck.
If the Academy somehow won the war without her help, and she turned herself in afterward, they might dismiss her motives as merely a willingness to be taken alive rather than killed during her inevitable capture. By going now, she could warn them the war was not over with Tauwin’s death. She could promise more information if they let her live.
No, she was done with lies. She would keep any promises she made from now on.
She gathered her few belongings and limped out of the castle without anyone seeming to care.
END OF BOOK FOUR
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