“Kate would never—”
Edwin cut him off with a raised hand. “She is still dangerous. All wilders are. Their magic has been outlawed these last two hundred years. We can’t make exceptions now.”
Two hundred years is a long time, Corwin thought. He saw Kate as she’d looked when she told him the truth about her magic at last, her wariness, her hope. It’s simply a part of me, she had said. She’d been born with this ability. Condemned at birth. All because of the law.
“Kate is not dangerous, wilder or no,” Corwin said, resolute. “She doesn’t deserve to be condemned for something she’s never done.”
Scorn twisted Edwin’s features. “And will you make the same exception for all the wilders?”
Corwin didn’t answer. He didn’t know. It was like the Sevan soldier he’d let go free. If Dal was right, the boy had simply fled, embracing his freedom. Corwin couldn’t be certain of what he hadn’t witnessed. But he also couldn’t deny that the version he believed was equally possible. It was the same with the other wilders. They did pose a danger; they might cause harm. He shook his head, incapable of knowing the right answer to such a complicated problem. In the end all he knew for certain was that he loved Kate, no matter what she was.
And Storr must be stopped. The League held too much power, just as Kate had claimed that night in Jade Forest.
“The wilders we condemn,” Corwin said, “they are born citizens of Rime, same as you and me.”
Edwin swore. “I hope you lose the uror, Corwin. You don’t deserve to win. Not if you believe that.” Hatred black as coal and hot as fire sizzled in his words, and Corwin took an involuntary step backward, stunned by the depth of it.
“How can you hate so . . . so expansively?” Corwin said on a gasp.
“How can you not?”
All the ways Corwin could respond, all the arguments he could make, came and went through his mind. There was no arguing with this sort of belief. It was a battle that could only be fought from within. He’d learned it firsthand, in the months after his mother died as his own hate raged inside him until he finally realized he had to let it go or it would consume him forever. Pity rose up in Corwin at what it must be like for his brother to have lived with such hate for so long, to let it burn him up from the inside out.
He sighed in defeat. “Why are you here, Edwin?”
Scowling, Edwin swore again, then said through clenched teeth, “You have been granted a reprieve. It seems that despite your actions, you are bound by the goddess to complete the uror.” He paused, a cold smile passing quickly over his face now. “I suppose it’s for the best. When you fail, then the whole kingdom will know for certain which of us deserves to be king.”
Corwin didn’t reply, refusing to take the bait.
“You are allowed to resume your normal duties,” Edwin continued, assuming a civil tone, the kind he reserved for speaking to the public or the high council. “But you’ve been assigned a gold-robe guard. He’s waiting outside. He’s to stay with you wherever you go to make sure you don’t conspire further with any more wilders.”
Corwin balled his hands into fists, despising the idea of a guard, as if he were a child in need of a nanny. “I didn’t conspire to do anything.”
“It’s too late for your lies, Corwin. Besides, I should probably thank you for the damage you’ve done. The courtiers are already cursing your name.”
“What? Why?”
That cold smile flashed again. “Because with the discovery of the high prince aiding a wilder, the gold robes have been conducting an extensive search for more guilty parties here in the castle.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Edwin rolled his eyes. “Hardly. Maestra Vikas has exposed Bonner as a wilder as well. He’s been wearing the same diamond magestone we found on Kate to disguise the fact that he’s an earthist.”
Corwin gaped, disbelief pounding in his temple. No, it couldn’t be.
A smug look rose in Edwin’s gaze. “Apparently, his power allows him to manipulate metals. That’s how he’s been making the revolvers.”
The truth struck Corwin like a fist to the gut. It made too much sense, explained why only the revolvers he’d forged personally had worked in the beginning. “I didn’t know Bonner was a wilder.”
“I suppose you didn’t know that Kate is a part of the Rising either?” Edwin bared his teeth in a sneer. “Yes, that’s right. They’ve been headquartered right here in Norgard all this time, in the basement of a brothel, of all places. The golds arrested more than twenty yesterday and killed several more during the raid.”
Corwin’s mind spun at this news, his insides stinging at the betrayal of it. He couldn’t believe it. No wonder Kate had been bound to secrecy over what she’d discovered there. He didn’t have to ask the name of the brothel to know it was the Sacred Sword. And yet Raith must have been the one to cast that spell, which meant he was a part of the Rising, too.
“Although, ironically, we have you to thank for the discovery,” Edwin said. “If you hadn’t asked the guard-tower captain to record Kate’s comings and goings, the golds might never have found them.”
What have I done? Corwin’s stomach clenched.
“Did you plan it?” Edwin said, his narrowed gaze sharp as a knife. “Did you and your wilder friends create the daydrake threat just to give you the opportunity to solve it with your conjured revolvers? Was it all a ruse to win the uror?”
Corwin would’ve laughed at his brother’s insecurity even now, but there was nothing funny about the accusation. Despite the absurdity that he would ever do such a thing, the notion of an heir trying to win the uror by earning the adoration of the people wasn’t farfetched. There were several texts that made the claim that it was this very force—the will of the people—that mattered most in determining the winner. But there was nothing he could say to convince Edwin of his innocence. Not now, not yet. Corwin needed answers, and although the sting of learning Kate was part of the Rising still lanced through him, he refused to give in to it until he learned her reasons. He trusted Kate. Loved her. There had to be an explanation for all of this.
Clearing his throat, Corwin said, “You’ve delivered your message. We have nothing more to discuss.” He motioned to the door, holding his arm out until Edwin left.
Once alone, Corwin took a moment to decide what to do next. He needed to find Master Raith. The man was a magist, which meant he might be loyal to Storr, but he also was connected to the Rising. Either way, he would have some of the answers Corwin needed.
33
Corwin
TO CORWIN’S RELIEF, THE GOLD-ROBE guard assigned to him was just a journeyman. He might stand a chance of overpowering him, if it came to it. But first, he needed to find out about Kate. To do that, he would need help from someone he could trust, perhaps the only person he could trust right now.
Doubtful of his chances of finding Dal in his quarters at this time of day, Corwin nevertheless decided to check there first. To his surprise, though, Dal was inside—with Master Raith. The magist wore his blue robe but not his mask.
“Corwin,” Dal said, opening the door. “Thank the gods they finally let you free.”
“Not exactly.” Corwin stepped into the room and the gold made to follow.
“No you don’t.” Dal held up his hand to the man. “These are my quarters, and you’re not welcome.”
The gold glared at him through the mask that covered only half his face. “I’m under orders to stay with his highness at all times.”
“I don’t care if you’re the incarnation of the goddess herself, you’re not coming in here.”
“Lord Dallin,” Raith said, approaching the door, “it’s all right. Let him in.”
Dal’s teeth clacked together in disapproval, but he stepped aside and permitted the gold entry. Corwin crossed the room to the window, putting as much distance between himself and the gold as the space allowed.