Page 137 of Esperance

The bravery she’d shown by coming to him . . . he was in awe of her. And so incredibly grateful, because it would have been so much harder if she hadn’t. If he’d had to be the one to accuse her.

“I should let you get some sleep.”

Her soft words brought him back to the present, and he straightened his spine. “You, too.”

She didn’t move.

Neither did he.

She studied him in the darkness. “Why did you want to save me?”

Clearly, her thoughts were far from his own.

He pulled back a little, ordering his body to cool. “I don’t think I understand your question.”

Amryn’s cheeks pinkened in the silvery moonlight. “Why didn’t you just arrest me? Why did you insist that Argent pardon me?”

“Because you told me the truth.”

“That doesn’t erase everything, though. I still despise the empire, and that’s not going to change. I’m still . . .”

“You’re still what?” he asked gently.

She glanced away. “I’m still your enemy.”

“Areyou?”

Her eyes darted back to his, and the uncertainty and confusion in those pale green eyes made his heart squeeze. “I don’t want to be,” she whispered. “But I can’t change who I am.”

“And who are you?”

She said nothing.

Carver leaned forward, his forearms resting on his spread knees. “I’ll tell you what I know about you, Amryn. You’re good. You’re kind. You have strong morals, and you won’t compromise them—no matter who asks you to do it. You are brave. You came to me, regardless of the consequences, because you didn’t want people to die. You chose to give up everything in order to save people you once considered enemies, because you valued their lives more than you valued a cause. Because you clearly believe that true peace isn’t gained in death, but in understanding and trust. In friendship. Amryn, you are the most incredible person I’ve ever known. I don’t see you as my enemy. Saints, Ineverwant to be your enemy. We might disagree on things, but I want us to be allies.”

“You’ve lost so much to protect the empire,” she whispered. “But I’ve lost virtually everythingbecauseof the empire. How are we supposed to compromise on that?”

“I don’t know. But I’m willing to find a way.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “I know the empire isn’t without fault. But Idoknow what life is like outside the empire. I’ve seen the wars waged by neighboring countries. The senseless death. I’ve buried the bodies of children, and I will never understand how men can kill such innocence, just because that child speaks a different language or believes something different. And I will give every drop of my blood to make sure that horror never touches this empire. My family. You.Thatis what I’m fighting to preserve.” He met her gaze. “What do you see in the empire?”

“Death.” Her voice was hollow. “A loss of independence. The loss of religions, and cultures, and languages. When the empire took Ferradin, they slaughtered Torin’s family in front of him. He was only fifteen.”

“I’m sorry.” He could try to defend that action—try to explain that there must have been a reason. Saints, his own father had probably been the one to give that order. But that wasn’t the point of his asking for her view of the empire. He didn’t want to make her see things his way. He wanted to understandher.

She slowly shook her head. “Everything that makes our kingdoms unique and strong, the empire steals it or makes it a criminal offense. I grew up knowing that the emperor could order any death he wanted. Justify any action, no matter how heinous. Hunt anyone he wants to hunt . . . And no one can stop him.” She pulled her legs more tightly to her chest. “Do you know how afraid of him I’ve been my whole life? He was more monster than man. And meeting him, seeing him in reality . . . it just makes everything he did more awful. He’s just a man. An old man who laughs and eats and loves his grandson. And yet he has the blood of thousands on his hands.” Her eyes bored into Carver’s. “There are no longer wars between our kingdoms, that’s true. But how many people died to create that peace? A peace that is fragile, by the emperor’s own admission—that’s why he ordered us to come here.” She exhaled slowly. “Carver, you see the empire and you see peace. I only see death. I don’t see any compromise there.”

He was silent for a long time. “You think Argent can make things better?”

“I hope he can.”

“Then that’s where we start. That’s our compromise. Because I believe in Argent, too. Can you meet me there? Can you trust me that much?”

Amryn eyed him, and his pulse pounded as he waited for her answer, because he knew it would change everything.

“Yes,” she finally whispered. “I trust you.”

Chapter 35

Amryn