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“Perhaps you’d like to expand on that,” Caldon said, seated next to Kiva and giving her hand a quick, reassuring squeeze under the table. “I suggest you start at the beginning.”

Galdric turned his soulful eyes to Torell. “Your mother never wanted to hurt anyone. You know that.”

Tor clenched his jaw and said nothing.

“Everything you think she did, that was never her,” Galdric said, his voice begging them all to believe him. “The first time she channeled Torvin’s dark magic, she instantly knew it was a mistake, and she swore never to do it again. But then Zuleeka learned that she could use it too, and shelikedhow that power made her feel. She enjoyed hurting people,killingpeople. Tilda saw it happening, and she didn’t know what to do, so she covered for Zuleeka and took the blame, making everyone think it was her. But every horror story you’ve heard about the Rebel Queen — it was always Zuleeka.”

“You expect us to believe that?” Ashlyn asked, resting her elbows on the table.

“It’s the truth,” Galdric said. “It’s the reason Tilda was so desperate to free Kiva from Zalindov. She risked everything by going to Navok for help.” He turned to Kiva and said, “She never meant for you to marry him — she was going to renege on the deal as soon as you were out. I swear, that was the plan.”

Like Torell, Kiva said nothing, but her heart was pounding with uncertainty.

“You’re the only one who can save your sister,” Galdric declared.

“Saveher?” Ashlyn repeated, her silvery gaze narrowed.

Galdric nodded. “From herself,” he said. “Kiva’s magic can heal the darkness out of her, destroying her power entirely.”

Navok had implied something similar, but still... Kiva remained unconvinced.

“Tilda couldn’t do it herself,” Galdric went on, “since once a Corentine uses death magic, their healing ability becomes significantly less powerful. Kiva was —is— the only chance Zuleeka has. The only chance weallhave, should Zuleeka decide to test the limits of her magic. If you knew what she could do...” He shuddered visibly.

“I think we have a pretty good idea by now,” Jaren said, his expression dark.

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but I doubt that,” Galdric argued. “Zuleeka is still coming into her power. Whatever you’ve seen is nothing compared to what she’ll be able to do with more time and practice. If left unchecked, she’ll be able to bring the world to its knees — and I mean that literally.”

Kiva recalled the feeling of being trapped by Zuleeka’s power, her own body refusing to listen to her. If Galdric was telling the truth and Zuleeka’s magicwasstill growing...

Everworld help them.

“So, according to you, Tilda went to Navok for help getting Kiva out of Zalindov, all to stop — sorry,save— Zuleeka,” Ashlyn summarized, tapping her fingernails on the table. “Why go to so much trouble? This one” — she jabbed her thumb toward Torell — “got that one” — another thumb jab toward Cresta — “out without breaking a sweat. And while that only happened because there are so many new guards after the riot that no one noticed anything awry, it still proves that there are other jailbreak options thatdon’trequire making deals with foreign kings.”

Galdric’s face fell as he said, “Tilda wasn’t thinking clearly. Thedeath magic wanted to be released, and she kept repressing it. But it was like holding back the tide, and when she refused to let the power leave her, it filled her up on the inside, making her sick, slowly killing her.”

Kiva’s eyes met Torell’s. The blood illness — the one that had caused their mother’s ailing health and blindness. Nanna Delora had said it was the death magic that had caused it, but Kiva had assumed that meant Tilda had beenpracticingthe magic, not resisting it. She wanted to believe Galdric, to not despise the mother she’d once loved, but there was still so much that didn’t add up.

“You’re saying she went to Mirraven because she wasn’t thinking straight?” Jaren asked, his skepticism clear. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you stop her?”

“I tried,” Galdric said, laying his hands out before him. “I followed her, told her we had other options. But she was so far out of her mind with worry, consumed by the single thought of getting to Navok, that she attacked me. She nearly killed me.”

The bloodied cloak the rebels had found — thathadbeen caused by Tilda, Kiva realized.

“She didn’t mean to,” Galdric said quieter. “She felt awful afterward, and she healed me as best as she could, but her healing magic wasn’t what it once was. Even so, I refused to leave her, and she refused to give up her plan, so we continued to Zadria, with me trying to talk sense into her the whole way. By the time we arrived, my wounds had become infected, and I —” He shut his eyes and admitted, “There was nothing I could do to stop her. I was unconscious when she made her deal with Navok — I only learned the extent of it when she was already on her way to Zalindov. And then I was locked in Navok’s dungeon as collateral to ensure she would return with her promised daughter.” He looked at Kiva again and shared, “Navok couldn’t go and get you himself — not then. He couldn’t risk drawing attention to what he was planning. But after everything with the Trial by Ordeal and you ending up at theRiver Palace and then Zuleeka’s takeover, well...” Galdric shrugged. “When you returned to Zalindov, he didn’t care so much about hiding his intentions.”

Silence fell as they processed his words, but then Caldon said, his tone just as skeptical as Jaren’s had been, “You sure know a lot for a man who’s been locked in a dungeon for six months.”

“Navok liked to visit me,” Galdric answered, staring at his hands. “He wanted to hear about the rebels, about Zuleeka’s magic, about a lot of things. But mostly, he wanted to talk. Togloat. It was clear he never planned on releasing me, so he felt safe telling me things I’m guessing he’s now regretting.”

Ashlyn leaned forward. “What kinds of things?”

Before Galdric could answer, a loud snort caused all eyes to turn to Cresta.

“Don’t tell me we’re believing this guy?” she asked, sounding amused. She pointed a finger at Galdric and said, “I think you’re a clever man who has had plenty of time to come up with a version of events that makes you feel better. And from what you’ve said, you now expect us to throw Kiva at her psychotic sister, all so she can, what? Save the world?” Cresta snorted again. “She can barely keep herself alive, let alone the rest of us.” She waved a dismissive hand. “And besides, her magic isn’t working. So if you want to stop Zuleeka —saveher, whatever — then you’re going to need another plan.”

Galdric’s gaze fastened on Kiva, his concern palpable. “What’s wrong with your magic?”

Kiva shifted in her seat and didn’t answer.