He hesitated, watching how peaceful and happy they looked, playing as though they didn’t have a care in the world. In just a few minutes, he would shatter her entire world. Perhaps he could lie and say that Arianna had taken Lucy with her when she fled the country. There was nothing he could do to stop it, and Cadmus wouldn’t be able to hold it against him. A quick glance over his shoulder dashed his hopes. Four disciples in their gray robes waited just outside the inlet. There was no going back now.
Lucinda shot a beaming smile at him. “Look what we found!” She fished around the coral before pulling a starfish from the water. Its bumpy limbs waved around as she turned it over to expose the glowing blue underbelly.
Despite his mood, Silvano couldn’t help but smile at her childlike joy. “It’s beautiful.”
“Come sit.” She patted the rocky ledge next to her. “If you’re very still, you might see the purple-spotted octopus that likes to hide just there.” She dipped her chin to the shaded area of the inlet full of underwater crevasses.
“What, no lobster friends today?”
“They don’t like the shallow water very much. It would be too easy for a hungry human to come and snatch them up.”
Silvano reached over and pulled a strand of seaweed from her coiled hair. “Lucy, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” His voice cracked.
“What is it?” Her large green eyes peered up at him—completely innocent and trusting. He couldn’t bear to break her heart.
He had no choice.
He took a shaking breath. “You know how there were some people who weren’t happy that I was anointed Miestryri?” She nodded, and he continued, “Well, Head Magi Cadmus came to help me. He and his disciples have been working hard to unite our country.”
“So it would be safe for me, right?”
Silvano swallowed the bile that burned his throat. He was supposed to protect her and keep her safe. How could he turn her over to a man he despised? “Exactly. I wanted it to be safe for everyone. Our people deserve that.”
“What’s wrong?”
“There are many ways for someone to serve their country. Cultors grow our food. Armises protect us. The small council makes decisions to improve our lives. Sometimes, the way we want to do things isn’t the best way, and we need to make hard choices. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Her face scrunched up in confusion. “Sil, you’re scaring me.”
“Now that the job is done, it’s time for them to go back to Order Headquarters and you… You are going to go with them.” He could see the moment it dawned on her, and the devastated look on her face would forever be seared into his memory. Before he could change his mind, he motioned for the disciples to approach. Lucinda clung to his legs in a claw-like grip. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I love you.”
“Please don’t send me away! I promise I’ll be good. I won’t run away from my tutors anymore. I’ll do whatever you tell me. Please!”
He closed his eyes, as if not seeing her would somehow shield him from her grief. “I’m so sorry, Lucinda.”
“Sil, please!”
The disciples pried her arms from his legs and dragged her away. She screamed and thrashed like a seal caught in a fisherman’s net, but she couldn’t break free, no matter how she struggled. Glass screeched in alarm. The dolphin chased after the disciples, slamming into them and whipping them with his tail. He transformed from a gentle familiar into a savage in a desperate bid to save her. One of the disciples went under, and Glass swam on top of him, holding him down. The nearest disciple cried out and rushed to help. She drew her sword and, without hesitation, plunged it through Glass’s skull.
The water ran red.
Lucinda’s anguished cry was unlike anything he’d ever heard. His heart shattered. He collapsed in the water, not caring that the sharp coral lacerated his hands. The disciples dragged Lucinda out of sight. A sob wrenched free from his throat, and tears flowed freely down his cheeks.
He curled up in the water and wept.
***
Hours passed before Silvano made his way back to the castle, still covered in Glass’s blood. He shrugged off his guards’ concerns. He couldn’t be bothered to care. He was numb. For once, he was grateful to feel nothing.
Jax met him at the top of the steps and rested a hand on his shoulder. “You did the right thing.”
“Then why does it feel like I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life?” Silvano whispered. The full force of what he’d done slammed into him, and the words came rushing out. “They killed him, Jax. They killed her familiar. He was just trying to save her. Her screams…”
Jax looked like he was struggling for words. “We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
Silvano shook his head. “Family shouldn’t be one of them.”
Head Magi Cadmus walked up, flanked by twelve disciples. It was the only thing that kept Silvano from attacking him. “Miestryri, I had begun to wonder if you weren’t coming to say goodbye.”
“Where is Lucinda?”
“Asleep. She was having a fit, so our Healer decided to give her a tonic to sleep.”
“You drugged my sister?” His hands balled into fists. Disciples or not, Silvano was seconds away from pummeling the man. He wanted to tear Cadmus to pieces with his bare hands.
Cadmus appeared nonplussed. “It was for her own comfort and safety, I assure you.”
Silvano closed in on him and glared down at the man. “I would hope her safety is a priority for you.”
“As long as loyalty is a priority for you.” A smile played on his lips. That, more than anything, terrified Silvano. One step out of line and Cadmus would take out the punishment on her. He couldn’t risk it. As much as it killed him to submit, Silvano backed away and nodded. Cadmus continued, “I sent a team of disciples and a Veniet across the border to track your other sister, Arianna. She won’t get far before she’s captured.”
“Thank you, Head Magi.” The words were bitter on his lips, and he sank into a reluctant bow.
“Excellent. Well, it has been an absolute pleasure working with you.” Cadmus led his disciples down the steps and began to climb into a waiting carriage. “Oh, I almost forgot. I left a present for you in the throne room. Consider it a parting gift, from one friend to another.”
Silvano watched as the carriages rolled down the street, wondering which carried Lucinda. She was being taken from the only home she’d ever known to be raised by strangers. Would anyone at Order Headquarters give her comfort? Would she ever forgive him? He waited until the carriages had disappeared beyond the horizon before trudging into the castle, his heart torn from his chest.
Jax walked by his side as he entered the throne room to see what surprise Cadmus had left for him.
Lucan waited, gagged and bound hand and foot, lying on his side.
Jax opened his mouth to call for the guards, but Silvano held up a hand to silence him. Silvano crouched next to him on the floor. All the rage that had been building unleashed in a maelstrom of emotion. So much of his suffering had been caused by this man’s meddling. And now, he could have his revenge.
Silvano looped a finger through the gag and pulled it free. Whatever Lucan saw on his face caused his eyes to widen, and he made a pathetic attempt to scoot away. “Miestryri, please. Mercy!”
“So it’s ‘Miestryri’ now, is it?”
“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. Secrets, money, loyalty. It’s yours. Mercy!”
“How positively brazen to think you’ll get any mercy from me.” Silvano chuckled under his breath. He leaned down, removing the bonds at Lucan’s ankles, then pulled the advisor to his feet. With a vicious shove, he pushed him toward the door. “Let’s go for a walk. The cliffs are beautiful this time of day.”
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Miestryri Page 12