Behind Linus in lavish chairs on the stage, his parents were seated along with the head of the H?gdragen, and nearby was a large rectangle beneath a satin sheet. I had been asked to join him—and to wear onstage, I’d even been given a new crisp white suit with silver embellishments, including the platinum rabbit, our highest military honor. I’d elected to wear the suit, but declined the stage.
As one of his first acts as King, Linus had appointed me as his personal guard, and I’d accepted because I thought I could help steer the kingdom in the right direction and I could protect the King from corruption.
But I no longer craved the honor that went along with it. I didn’t need or deserve the accolades. I just wanted to serve my kingdom.
He wanted to pull me onstage today to exalt me as a hero, but that wasn’t something I could accept. I wasn’t a hero, and in so many ways I still felt like I’d failed. Like I should’ve done more to protect the people. Nobody should’ve had to die.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” King Linus said, speaking loudly so his voice would carry over the crowd. “We’ve all been through a great deal, and I know how hard it was for some of you to come out. So many of you have lost so much, and are in no mood to celebrate.”
Delilah began to sniffle at that, and her father put his arm around her, pulling her close to him, and throughout the crowd I could hear others sobbing faintly.
“That’s why today isn’t about honoring me as your King.” Linus stepped over to the side toward the sheet-covered rectangle. “It’s about honoring those you’ve lost, everyone who laid down their life defending this kingdom so that we can all be here celebrating our freedom today.”
He pulled back the sheet, revealing a white marble stone ten feet high and five feet wide, in large black letters listing all the names of the people who had been killed. At the top was Evert Strinne, since he had been one of Mina’s first victims, but there were many names below his.
Kasper Abbott, Ember Holmes, Simon Bohlin, and the names of so many others I had seen nearly every day in this town. So many lives that could never be replaced, voids that would never be filled.
Near the bottom, in letters just as bold and dark as everyone else’s, was Konstantin Black.
A lump formed painfully in my throat. I’d been so afraid that nobody would know that Konstantin had died to protect the kingdom, or be aware of all the things he’d done to aid in this battle. I had been terrified that I would be the only one who mourned him.
But now everybody would know. For generations, people would see his name, and know that he’d died a true Kanin hero.
Linus continued his speech, telling Doldastam how he planned to honor the dead by giving the kingdom new life, but I’d heard all I needed to. I got up quietly and snuck away from the crowd, walking out of the town square.
I hadn’t made it very far when I heard Ridley’s footsteps behind me. The cobblestone streets were empty, since everyone was at the celebration, and I turned to face him.
His chestnut hair was slightly disheveled, and he brushed it back from his forehead. He’d left the top buttons of his shirt undone, the way I liked it, but his rabbit amulet was still missing. As soon as the fighting ended, he’d stepped down from his position as ?verste and Rektor.
“What’s going on?” His dark eyes were filled with concern as he looked down at me.
“I’ve spent enough time thinking about the dead lately,” I said honestly. “I need a break from it. I think I just need some time to think about the future and try to feel optimistic again.”
“I get that,” Ridley agreed. “The last few weeks have been so dark, you need to start looking for something bright.”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
“Where you heading now, in search of your something bright?”
I shrugged. “Just back to my loft.”
“Let me walk you home.”
“You know you can always walk me home.” I smiled up at him.
“I know. But I like it when you tell me I can anyway.” He put his arm around me as we started walking across town toward my place.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do yet?” I asked, looking up at him. “Now that you’re not in charge of the trackers?”
“Not yet,” he admitted. “But I’ve got time to figure it out.”
“That’s true,” I agreed. “We’ve got the rest of our lives to figure it all out.”
He kissed my temple. “And I think we’ve proven that together, we can take on anything.”
GLOSSARY
Changeling—a child secretly exchanged for another.
Doldastam—the capital and largest city of the Kanin, located in northeastern Manitoba, Canada near the Hudson Bay.
Eldvatten—literally translates to “firewater.” Very strong alcohol made by the Omte.
F?rening—the capital and largest city of the Trylle. A compound in the bluffs along the Mississippi River in Minnesota, United States where the palace is located.
Fulatr?sk—the capital and largest city of the Omte. It’s located in the southern part of Louisiana in the wetlands, with many of the Omte residing in the trees.