Page 115 of Thorns and Echoes

Anais said, “Jerome is fine. His wrist is almost fully healed.”

Castien rubbed his temple. His hand shook. Flashes of images and snippets of conversations crossed his mind. It was chaos. He couldn't make sense of them. “No, not his… his wrist has nothing… gods, I can't think.”

Rising to his feet, Octavius said, “Don't push. Let it come naturally.”

His head snapped up. “I can't. When it comes to the Queen's life, you said, we cannot fail. Yes? I can't… I have to…”

The healer muttered, “The failure wasn't yours. Rest, Castien. You need time. We'll speak again tomorrow.”

Love will make you do anything.

Who had said that?

The pain was blinding. White spots dotted his vision.

Blind spots.

The guards opened the door.

“No! Wait. Zara. She… she was there. At the castle.”

Green. Zara’s eyes had been green.

Anais stopped, her head turning sharply over her shoulder.

“Who is Zara?” rumbled Octavius.

“She's not a servant. She's not… no…” Castien groaned, his head splitting from the pain. “She was there… in the dungeons. I thought I… killed her. How…?”

He hadn’t killed Zara. He hadn’t killed any of the green-eyed women.

But Yelena had been so angry that Anais was still alive. He didn’t understand any of it.

Chapter 38

Anais

She’s not a servant.

She was in the dungeons.

Zara had lied.

“Who is Zara?” Octavius picked up his sword from outside the tower door and followed her.

“A Nadraken woman.” Who had no claws. Nadraken custom was mostly the same. If she wasn’t a servant, then she was likely a fighter – a soldier, mercenary, or militia. It didn’t matter. Who did she serve? Yelena, Isabel, someone else? “Servant of Duchess Isabel. She came back with us. Pelios took a liking to her. She brought a younger brother.” If the boy wasn’t also a lie.

A minute’s stroll to her study was all she needed to strap on a dagger and a sword. The majority of her dresses had a long slit from the floor to her thigh – not so the nobles could stare, but for mobility. Heeled shoes weren’t ideal, but she’d simply kick them off. If she tripped on the hem of her dress, her mother would rightly scold her for the rest of their eternal afterlives.

“Not a servant.” Octavius was a moment behind her line of thought. “What do you think she wants?”

Anais shook her head. If the boy were truly her brother, there could be some truth to her story. She had seemed to care for the child. But if not, then Zara was a complete unknown. Pelios trusted the girl. Anais trusted Pelios.

They left the wing with two additional guards at her captain’s instruction. Her whip snapped around her wrist. Swift strides swept nobles and servants aside. The rumors would wonder what had upset the Queen. She walked faster and hoped it was nothing. Castien’s memory was unreliable. Perhaps he was mistaken.

Clashing metal rang through the hall as they approached the military wing. Five minutes passed as the soldiers relayed her command to find Pelios. He had requested a week to situate Zara and her brother. The Nadrakens wouldn't last long at the palace. She hadn't asked where the girl ended up – a servant and a boy were harmless.

The rebel captain appeared from one of the training areas. With him was Jerrl.