Magnus sent a withering look at the rebel. “Did you just call me by only my given name?”
Jonas rolled his eyes. “Amara Cortas cannot be allowed more power than she already has. And if her brother’s taken her the Kindred, it’s the worst outcome possible. She could release three elemental gods just like Kyan.”
“I know,” Nic replied. “I get it.”
“Do you?”
“So it’s my fault? Are you going to let his majesty break my neck? For what? Being unable to stop Ashur from doing what he wanted to do? He has a mind of his own.”
“I promise his majesty is not going to break your neck.”
“Now, let’s not be hasty,” Magnus said, enjoying the momentary flash of fear that entered the boy’s eyes.
He’d never kill Nic.
Cleo would never forgive him.
“Here’s what you’re going to do,” Magnus said. “You will go after Ashur and stop him from doing something unforgivably idiotic out of some bizarre and misplaced sense of Kraeshian familial loyalty. And you will retrieve the crystals he stole by any means necessary.”
Nic regarded him with incredulity. “I won’t leave Cleo again.”
“Oh, you certainly will. And you’re leaving immediately. You will return with the Kindred, or my patience with you is at an end.” Magnus wracked his blurry mind to come up with a way to get Nic to do as he commanded. “You may hate me, but you’ve seen for yourself that I’ve kept your precious princess breathing all these months when others have wished her dead. I swear to the goddess I’ll stop protecting her if you don’t do exactly as I say.”
Nic flinched, but his glare remained. “Cleo would be fine even without your so-called help.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps not. In a time of war—and make no mistake, that is exactly what this ‘peaceful’ Kraeshian occupation really is—no one is safe.”
Nic had no reply to this; all he did was glower.
“Threats or no threats,” Jonas said with impatience, “the prince is right. Nic, you need to go after Ashur. We both do. I should have accompanied Felix and Taran when they left. There’s no reason for me to be here.”
“No reason, rebel?” Magnus shot him a look. “That’s strange. Here I thought you were enjoying pawing at the princess’s skirts, looking for table scraps.”
Jonas glared at Magnus. “I would receive far more than you ever would.”
Magnus smirked at him. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
Jonas’s expression only darkened further at that. “We’re done here. Nic, grab what you need for the journey to Basilius’s compound. Hopefully we can catch up to Ashur before he arrives. And Magnus?”
“Yes, rebel?”
Jonas’s eyes narrowed. “Harm one hair on the princess’s head, and I swear to whatever goddess you give a damn about, I will make you beg for death.”
CHAPTER 19
AMARA
PAELSIA
A single golden hawk circled above the Paelsian citizens gathering to hear Amara’s speech. She stood at the open window in her chambers and looked out at the crowd of eager faces. Many were bewildered to be inside their former chief’s private compound; its gates had been locked to the public during his command over this dusty kingdom. Today they had their first glimpse of the labyrinthine city, which reminded Amara greatly of the City of Gold, only instead of precious metals and jewels, it was made from clay, brick, stone, and dirt.
“Your grace, I wish you would reconsider this speech,” Kurtis said from behind her. “You are much safer inside, especially with the news of rebels nearby.”
She glanced from the window at the ever-present kingsliege. “That’s why I have guards surrounding me at all times, Lord Kurtis. Rebels are always nearby. Unfortunately, I can’t make everyone see my point of view. There are those who opposed my husband’s reign, my father’s reign. And there are those who will oppose mine as well. No, I will speak to my citizens today, those who would embrace me without question and the handful who doubt my intentions here. I must give them hope for the future—hope they’ve never had before.”
“Which is a lovely sentiment, your grace, but . . . Paelsians are known savages, quick to violence.”
She found his choice of words offensive. “There are those who say the same of Kraeshians,” she replied with growing annoyance. “Perhaps you didn’t hear me before. I will speak today.”
“Your grace—”
She held up her hand, choosing to drop the smile from her lips. “I will speak today,” she said firmly. “And no one will tell me I can’t. Especially with the news of rebels, and with dissent even among my own soldiers, I need the support of these people for the future of my reign. And I will not have anyone tell me what I can and cannot do. Do you understand me?”
He immediately bowed deeply, his cheeks flushing. “Of course, your grace. I meant no disrespect.”