Page 86 of A Kiss of Hammer and Flame

Commander Tyne exhaled. ‘Exactly. Therein lies the problem.’ He eyed King Royce. ‘If they interrogate him, he won’t have the answers they’re looking for.’

‘Not about the prophecy.’ The King’s words, like his eyes, were hollow.

If they interrogate him.They mean if they torture him. The bottom fell from Cahra’s stomach. And she was falling with it.

Raiden stared at his Commander, asking quietly, ‘Will he endure it?’

Thierre could die.The thought spun endlessly in her mind. King Royce had been right.This is all my fault.

Thelaema’s glare – the Oracle’s thought – hit Cahra like a fired arrow.Hardly.Thelaema turned her scrutiny back on the royals.

Commander Tyne’s face was grim. ‘Thierre was trained.’

Something in King Royce shrunk at the word, deflating him. Trained – as in, to withstand torture? Cahra bit the inside of her cheek.Surely they didn’t mean…

Tyne stood defiant. ‘He will endure.’

The dark place inside Cahra surged again and she knew it wouldn’t be long until her eyes glowed like a meagre imitation of Hael’s.

Would Thierre really be able to withstand torture? Kolyath’s Steward had a spymaster, that she knew, but the ruler’s twin Commanders were just as accomplished at violent coercion. The idea of a Kolyath soldier – or Ozumbre, given their reputation for butchery – breaking his fingers or pulling his teeth to get Thierre to talk quickly turned her mouth to ash.

‘They won’t kill him,’ Tyne said into the silence. ‘Thinking he’s the omen-bringer makes him valuable. They’ll wait for the Key.’

Cahra reached into her pocket. ‘Which will never be bestowed,’ she said softly, producing the black velvet pouch.

‘You have it?’ King Royce leapt to his feet. ‘The last omen approaches! Go, girl, to Hael’stromia! Summon the weapon and save my son!’

Cahra glared at Thelaema.Like I said.

Wyldaern cut in, frowning. ‘And if Cahra is attacked by Kolyath and Ozumbre’s allied forces on her way to Hael’stromia?’

Queen Avenais turned in desperation to the Seers. ‘Is there nothing that you can do? We have herbs, all the divination herbs that—’

Thelaema laughed mirthlessly. ‘We thank you, however, herbs will not aid that which I cannot see, when such things are veiled from even my aged eyes.’

The room descended once more into a heavy silence.

‘Unless…’ It was Wyldaern. Cahra’s body tensed, her heart pounding as she listened. ‘You cannot see the Prince, but perhaps I can? Or at least, gain us information, some clue as to where they may have taken him. By focusing my sight outside the gate…’

Cahra said slowly to Thelaema, ‘You said your visions aren’t blocked with Wyldaern. Maybe she’s not hampered by whoever is blocking yours?’

Considering, the Oracle nodded to her apprentice. ‘Do so,’ she said.

Wyldaern sat back quickly, cross-legged, in her armchair, and shut her eyes. The royals leaned forward as the Oracle sipped her tea. Then Wyldaern frowned.

King Royce, voice hoarse, said, ‘What is it?’

Wyldaern gave a slight shake of her head, her words floating to them as if from far away. ‘That is just it. Nothing,’ she said, then jerked. Sylvie started, stepping closer.

Raiden did the same. ‘Look for any signs of a disturbance, anything out of place, if you can. You may see something we couldn’t.’

‘The air, theblood—’ Wyldaern’s eyes were open now, but it was like she couldn’t see the people gathered around her.

‘Blood?’ Queen Avenais’s gaze was fraught with alarm as she gripped her husband.

‘We found blood on the ground a ways from the gatehouse,’ Raiden said quietly. ‘Not much, but enough.’

They all watched as Wyldaern spasmed, violently this time, then returned to the room, her peridot eyes lucid.