“Show mercy, m’lord!”
And then one voice cries out above all the rest, and a body flings between me and Kairyn. Arms spread wide, hair blowing in the breeze, is my mate. “High Prince Ezryn removed his helm to save my life. I am his mate. It is written in both the stars and the creed that we are to witness all of one another,” Rosalina breathes. “I was then set upon by those guards and he tried to protect me. It was an unfortunate accident, but High Prince Ezryn did not willingly forsake his creed. Your father, the rightful steward of Spring, has passed the judgment of forgiveness. Let his decision stand.” Her body trembles, but I feel her resolution as strong as steel. “Please, Kairyn.”
Kairyn looks around. He must feel it, as I do. He’s lost the people. They’re rallying behind me.
Could Spring possibly offer forgiveness to a creedbreaker? Could there be salvation?
Kairyn stands still before suddenly throwing back his head. “Well! The people would like to offer mercy to one who makes a mockery of our way. I see how it is.” He shoves Rosalina to the side and snarls to her, “I am the rightful steward. Your mate named me so before you wandered into a river.”
Rosalina glares at him but stands off to the side, arms crossed.
I notice now Kel, Dayton, and Farron have made their way close to the dais. What must they think of me, to see me in such shame?
“Very well then,” Kairyn says, holding his arms out. “Who am I to speak against the wills of the realm? They beg for mercy. I shall grant it. Just tell the people one thing.” Kairyn lowers down so we’re helm to helm. The dark void where his eyes should be blazes with shadow. He says the words slowly, as if carving away at me with a serrated knife: “Who killed our mother?”
I take in a breath.
Kairyn rises to his feet, voice booming. “Answer it for your faithful citizens. Who murdered High Princess Isidora?”
My voice breaks. “I did.”
“Louder!” Kairyn roars. “Let the realm hear the truth. Who murdered Isidora?”
“I did!” I cry, sinking inward.
“Ez, no!” Kel yells from the side of the dais.
My voice barely carries. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to—”
“But if it wasn’t for you, our mother would still be here,” Kairyn hisses.
The crowd is in an uproar now. Words of forgiveness have been replaced with that of murderer.
Ezryn, don’t listen to him. It’s Rosalina’s voice crying out in my head. I want to hold on to it … But another voice screams louder.
Murderer, Kairyn’s voice growls in my mind. You murdered our mother.
“He admits it!” Kairyn yells aloud. “And so, a sentence must be given.”
Rosalina rushes forward, throwing her body in front of mine again. “It’s not fair! He doesn’t deserve this, and you know it, Kairyn. Leave him alone!”
But I do. I’ve deserved this for decades. The Enchantress thought she cursed me with my beast. Instead, she only gave me another way to kill, to wreak my malice upon the world.
This is my true penance.
I look to Keldarion. Perhaps it is the bonds woven through our love for Rosalina, or perhaps it is the centuries of brotherhood, but he understands. He steps upon the dais and grabs Rose around the waist. “Come on.”
“No! No!” Rosalina screams, scraping at his arms like a wildcat.
“For Ezryn,” Kel breathes.
She looks to me, and there’s betrayal in her eyes. Not for the same reason my people are betrayed. Because I’m not fighting.
But this is how it has to be. I never took responsibility for our mother’s death. I must now, and fate has deemed it be on this public stage. The world will know me as I have always known myself.
Kai leans down, knocking his helm against my own. “They all expect that I’ll kill you, brother. The people. Our father. Your family.” He looks down. “I suspect even you think that is my plan.”
“Then do it.”
“Isn’t that the tragedy of it all?” There’s a sadness in his voice. “It would be a mercy to kill you. It would rid me of so many insufferable problems. And yet, I find even now, I cannot do it. I cannot bring myself to end your life.”
“I never wished to bring you sorrow, Kairyn.”
“Yet that’s all you’ve done. Mother and Father’s favorite. The perfect son. The flawless leader. Then to take her away from me…” His voice cracks, and for a moment, I can picture the child’s face behind the mask. “You should have killed me during the Rite. At least then my soul would have redemption.”
“Is it too late for us?” I whisper. “Perhaps we can seek redemption together—”
Kairyn laughs, a joyless sound. “There is no place that will shelter me for the things I have done. I suppose we are one and the same, aren’t we? Except you’re on your knees, and I am on a throne.”
“Kai—”
My brother stands and looks to the crowd. “For the murder of High Princess Isidora and the breaking of his creed, I depose Ezryn, son of Thalionor, of his title of High Prince. I order Spring’s Blessing to be passed to the next in line.” His breath sounds like rolling thunder. “Me.”
“Are you crazy?” Farron cries from the side of the dais. “You haven’t been prepared to take the Blessing! It could kill him! It could kill you!”
I force myself to my feet. “Brother, don’t do this. Our magic is not used to being merged. It will be too much—”
“I’m not you,” Kairyn says. “I will not bow to the magic as you did.”
“Then kill me,” I urge. “It will pass naturally. It is safer—”
Kairyn turns. “I already told you. I cannot do that. So, you will pass the Blessing to me. Now. Either I will get this power, or it will claim us both.”
All hope drains from my body. I turn to Kel. “Take her away.”
Kel’s eyes blaze with ice. Rosalina is still clutched in his arms. “Ez, don’t do this!”
“You can’t trust him!” Dayton cries, slamming his fist on the wooden dais.
But there’s nothing left.
I have received my sentence.
I have lost my honor.
I am not fit to be High Prince. By all rights, it must go to Kairyn.
A guard releases my bonds and I lay my hands on Kairyn’s chest. “Protect our realm.”
Kairyn only nods.
I have never been taught how to pass the incredible power of Spring on to another person, but there is an ancient knowledge that lurks within the magic. The Blessing itself seems to protest, clawing at the inside of my chest. But I force it outward. It doesn’t belong to me anymore, shouldn’t belong to me.
It needs to go to someone who can protect Spring.