“Damn fae princes,” Rose growls before taking off after him.
I swallow my frustration, then follow.
Ezryn’s footsteps ring through the hall as he bounds toward Prince Thalionor. “Father!” He grabs his shoulders, urging him to stand.
“Argh!” the old fae cries, lunging forward. His long fingernails catch on Ezryn’s ragged shirt and scrape down his chest.
Ez pulls back. “Father, it’s me. Your son. You must come with us. Do you understand?”
A croaking sound emits from Thalionor’s throat. He shudders, thudding back against his chair.
“I wouldn’t provoke him if I were you.”
The voice seems to originate from each corner of the throne room. Heavy steps thud in a rhythm. My whole body stiffens, and I turn around to the double-doors leading into the Hall of Vernalion.
Kairyn walks in, flanked by two knights in shining armor: one in sapphire, the other in bronze.
A growl forces out of me. It’s the Sapphire Knight with my sword. My sword.
Kairyn claps his hands together slowly. The hall booms with the sound. “Look at you, Ezryn. Ever the perfect son. You could have escaped with your life. But instead, you had to come back for our dear father.” He touches a wooden shape at his neck: Ezryn’s necklace. A glimmering light appears, shining right by his hand before materializing into a massive war hammer. It’s so huge, it looks like it would take two hands to wield, yet Kairyn holds it effortlessly. “Perhaps I don’t understand your dedication because Father never even looked at me while you were around.”
“I won’t let you get away with this, Kairyn,” Ezryn says, standing. “You have taken my throne, my Blessing, my dignity. But I will not forsake Father to your torment.”
Kairyn stops and stares at the ground. His voice grows louder, raged. “I have tried to save your life. Again and again and again, I’ve fought for you to live. And this is how you repay me? Constantly coming back, straight into the web? I can’t do it anymore.” Kairyn looks up. “This time, I have to kill you.”
I step in front of Ezryn, channeling bolts of magic into my hands. They glimmer with an icy sheen. “Try.”
Kairyn throws his head back and laughs. “Isn’t that so beautiful? Keldarion here to save you. Again. He was always the brother you really wanted, wasn’t he, Ez? I was such a disappointment to you. To Father. To Mother.”
In a sudden movement, Kairyn draws back the massive war hammer and slams it down on the floor. A fissure cracks up the hall, stopping right before us.
The dark space where Kairyn’s eyes would be flashes. “Are you proud of me now, brother?”
Tension roils in the room. I know where this is going. “Rose, your bow can end this fight quickly,” I whisper. “Ezryn, we must provide coverage and protection for her. When you have the shot, Rose, you take it—”
But I don’t get to finish.
Ezryn takes one step forward. Then another. Then drags his sword along the floor. The screech of metal tears through the throne room.
“Enough talking.” His voice is low, steps thundering. “I’m taking back what is mine.”
“The Blessing?” Kairyn snarls. “You wouldn’t—”
Ezryn releases a roar that seems to shake the very hall and charges.
102
Dayton
Never thought I’d see the day when goblins roamed the streets of Florendel. Cloaks up and eyes forward, Wrenley and I escape their notice by pretending to be hypnotized citizens.
The goblins all seem to have their wits, the pollen of those freaky red flowers only affecting the fae. Despite Kairyn’s efforts to plant them in every corner of the city, they still haven’t reached everyone.
Wrenley had to damn-near hold me back when a baker ran out of his shop, trying to hit a goblin over the head with a rolling pin. Spring guards loyal to Kairyn, followed by a host of snickering monsters, hauled him away to gods know where.
I wanted to help him, but I won’t be any good to Fare if I get myself captured.
We round another narrow street, and Wrenley curls into my side. I have to praise her bravery. She stayed to help me instead of fleeing.
If it hadn’t been for her, then … Rosie and Ezryn would have come for us. But I don’t even know if they’re okay.
My heart stutters as I look into a pair of golden, if slightly glazed, eyes. “Fare.” He’s wandering around like a specter.
“Keep moving,” Wrenley hisses under her breath. “We’ll draw attention otherwise.”
We’re in the market, but no one’s buying. No one’s selling. Vendors man their stalls, picking up and putting down wares in a rhythmic pattern.
“How is Kairyn going to rule a city of ghosts?” I growl.
“He must have a plan,” Wrenley says. “I don’t think the effects of the pollen will last forever. By the time it wears off—”
“He’ll have the soldiers and goblins in place. His new reign will be absolute.” I give a heavy sigh. “It’ll make it almost impossible for the people to fight back.”
“He’s smarter than you think.”
I whirl, pushing her against the wall. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were still loyal to him. That sounded an awful lot like a compliment.”
Her face scrunches up in a frown. “I know him well from the monastery. Which is why I’m telling you not to underestimate him.”
I release her before any of the goblins see my outburst. She saved my life. And now she’s helping me save Fare.
“Okay,” I say. “Time to get my boy.”
“We’ll have to break his daze. The stardrop works, or water, if there’s enough to clear the airways.”
“I could throw him in that fountain.” I point to one in the center of the square.
“There are goblins everywhere,” she says. “They’ll notice you doing that.”
“Don’t worry.” I give her a wink. “I always have a plan. And you’re going to help me with this one.”
Grabbing her hand, I drag her to the nearby fountain. We sit along the edge. A few other dazed Spring folks rest around us, so it’s easy enough to blend in. In the center of the fountain, water sprays out from a cluster of stone butterflies.
“What are you doing?” Wrenley hisses under her breath.
“I had the great idea of sending a wave of water over everyone.” I lean in close so as not to be heard, my mouth a breath away from her ear. “The only problem is all of my magic got drained saving my girl. Until I refresh at Castletree, I’m dry as a bone.”
“Your girl?” Wrenley says softly. “I thought she was Prince Farron’s mate.”
I swallow in a tight throat. She’s not wrong. “So, you’re going to cause the uproar with this water.”
Her eyes widen. “I-I don’t have any magic. I couldn’t.”