Page 29 of A Traitor Sister (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom #2)

29

RENEL

T arlia is turned to the other side when I look back at her.

“Where to?” Azur asks, his voice drier than the air in the Shadow Lands desert.

“Are you sure you can transcend?”

He rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t be offering if I couldn’t.”

I ignore his unbearable mood and say, “The castle will be near Clare Beach. We can try to approach the royal fort, then get a flying carriage.”

There’s a flash of anger in his eyes, fury even, but I understand that he’s upset that he has to leave his soulmate.

Everything around us turns dark, and when there’s light again, it’s filtered through tree leaves above us. We’re in the woods by the ocean, and I can hear waves crashing and smell the salt in the air.

Azur walks ahead of me, and we soon step on a beach with rough sand and wild, angry waves. Clare Beach. The fort here is older than the Crystal Court, made of marble blocks, shining in the sun.

I look back for the castle beyond the trees, beyond the fort—and find nothing. I pause, staring carefully at the landscape, trying to make sure I’m looking at it right. It makes no sense; the castle should be visible from here.

“What?” Azur turns to me.

My throat feels dry, my chest cold, my head warm. Am I worried? Relieved? “The castle’s not here.” My voice comes out weak and cracking.

He follows my line of sight. “Oh. Indeed. Dit it not move?”

“Of course it did.” My heart is frantic in my chest. “We felt it.”

He pauses, thinking, then says slowly, “Perhaps you were mistaken.”

Was I? Were my predictions wrong? Can it be that the Crystal Castle will not end up in the Fiery Gorge? Can it be that there’s hope for me? That I’ll survive? There’s a wave of relief about to crash over me, but I hold it back. The truth can’t be that simple.

“I was never mistaken before.”

“There’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?”

I bite my lip, thinking. “Yes, but there are other possibilities. One; the castle did not move. That’s good, and will give us more time, even if I’ll have to figure out what happened. Two; the castle went somewhere else, and my predictions are wrong. That might be good too.” A dreadful bitter taste takes over my mouth. “And then there’s number three.”

“What?” He chuckles. “It disappeared?”

“That would be number four. I suppose we could add some random possibilities, such as it going to another court or even continent, but I doubt it.”

“What’s your dreadful theory number three then?”

My heart’s positively banging on my chest, perhaps wanting to escape this doomed body. “I hope I’m wrong. Can you transcend again? If yes, let’s go to the Southern Hills, near the New Mountain Village.”

He narrows his eyes. “You think…”

“I don’t know. Let’s eliminate this possibility.”

Azur nods, then walks back to the woods, so as to stay away from prying eyes.

As soon as the trees protect us from view, he transcends us, and then we’re in the south, near the fields I visited with my parents as a child, the fields with the sleepberries.

And near the Crystal Castle, rising above the trees.

I think I want to vomit.

Azur stares at it, his face pale. “Maybe the castle came straight here, and your prediction is wrong.”

When it comes to the Crystal Castle, it’s as if he’s unable to understand the gravity of the situation, as if he can’t trust my findings—and I don’t blame him. Denial is comforting—but won’t solve anything.

“What are the odds? This was the place it was supposed to go after Clare Beach. It moved twice.” Even voicing the words makes my entire body go cold. “Twice.”

“We’ll check.”

“It means two more moves, Azur. Two more.”

He swallows, then stares at me, eyes wide. “Is it one more move, and then the Fiery Gorge, or two, then the Fiery Gorge?”

“The Fiery Gorge is the second move, and if it moved twice in one night…”

“We’ll see. You said you feared that the castle would move faster if you spent too long away from it. Maybe that’s why it moved twice—if it’s true that it did.”

I shake my head. I want to scream, yell, punch something. I want to turn back time and undo so many of my choices, and yet I keep my voice calm. “Perhaps it moved twice because I wasn’t there, sure. It still means it will face its end in one year at most. But it could be a matter of hours.”

Azur smirks. “Look at the bright side; your anguish will be shorter.”

“I’m worried about the Jewel City, Azur. It’s right on the path of the fissure.”

“You could be mistaken.” Why is he so stubborn?

“Yes, there’s a chance I’m wrong about everything. And then there’s a chance I’m right. I’ll have to be smart and strategic.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Evacuate the city, of course.”

“I mean now. Do you want to find an outpost?”

“We’re walking in. There’s no time.”

“Hmmm. You do realize Zorwal might be there, right?”

I huff. “While I believe your insane theory has some merit, I have good reasons to believe you’re wrong. If he’s there…” I’m wondering if he would do anything against me other than the regular torture. Does he still need me? Would he dare kill me? Then I stop myself from wondering about something so absurd. “Pointless thoughts, Azur. He was decapitated .” I say it slowly, hoping the obvious fact will finally settle in his mind.

“I smashed his head against a wall,” Azur says in the same tone, slowly. “And yet he was still in the castle a few hours later. But maybe you’re right. Maybe decapitating him was enough.”

I don’t think I’m going to convince him that Zorwal is dead, and to be fair, his certainty makes me second-guess my own opinion. And I have an idea. “I’ll wear the Shadow Ring. If we meet him again, it will block his magic.”

Azur exhales. “Let’s hope it works. When we get near the castle, I can lift us both so we arrive by the Royal Terrace.”

Being suspended in the air brings me some dreadful memories. “I don’t trust other people’s air magic.”

“My bond would never let me hurt you.”

“Intentionally. I won’t risk falling to my death, at least not before I do what I have to do. We can walk up the stairs.” And something else intrigues me. “How come your magic’s working fine like that?”

“I don’t know, but I feel fine.”

“It doesn’t mean your magic is completely fine.”

“Transcending like I do is the highest and rarest form of fae magic. Instead of fearing some air floating, you should have been afraid of transcending, as we could have ended up split in two, or maybe gone somewhere unintended.”

“Like yesterday.”

“Yes. Zorwal did something, that’s why.” His anger is palpable, and his discomfort too. He’s obviously unused to making mistakes or seeing his magic failing, and this must have been a great blow to his pride.

“You still got us out of there in time. I’m thankful for what you did, Azur.”

He snorts. “Thankful for a night in the Shadow Lands? For almost dying?”

“Keyword being almost . And my night was great. Now, this morning is getting awful. And I’m sorry for our bond, sorry that you… might die when I do—which will probably be soon.”

“Is your sorrow supposed to make me feel better?” He sounds playful, and yet his question makes me think.

“No. I guess it’s for me to feel better. I can’t say I’m sorry, right? Since it won’t help. What I can say is that I didn’t think it would come to this. I always thought I’d find a solution. I thought I had more time.”

Azur stares at me, every second of his silence hitting me like a condemnation. Finally, he says, “Maybe there’s something you’re missing.”

“Oh, yes. Pointless hope is hard to get rid of.”

“At this point, what’s left to do?”

I glare at him. “Is that even a question? Evacuate the Jewel City!”

I’m not sure if the look he gives me is pity or disbelief. “In how long? A week, two? Perhaps a couple of days?”

“People tend to value their lives, Azur. It’s just a matter of convincing them.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You’re the acting king, after all. Your word should be worth something.”

I don’t know if he’s trying to incense or encourage me, and frankly, does it even matter?

“Let’s get to the castle. For now, that’s all I care.”

And yet Tarlia comes to mind. The echo of her laughter is my only comfort, and yet the feeling overcoming my senses is worry. And perhaps it’s pointless worry. She was with Lidiane, who knows the fae territories well. Even then, my chest feels tight. I glance at Azur but all I see is his regular cranky expression. He would notice if Lidiane was in danger, and she’s with Tarlia.

I’m overthinking this—right when I need to focus and save countless lives. And yet I wish she were here with me, I wish I could be sure she was all right. More than anything, I wish I could survive and see her again. I can’t even count on the certainty that I’ll see her after this life, when we have no bond connecting us. Our time together was too little. Too little even for us to fall in love, and yet I wish I had that time.

But none of this matters now. My past, my future, my death, none of this compares to the thousands of lives in danger, lives I have the duty to protect.

The castle looms larger and larger as we approach it. Two guards open the front door for us, then we climb the interminable stairs to the living area. Azur’s steps are heavy, his hands fisted. I think he’s still worried about Zorwal, even if his survival is impossible, even if I’ll have the Shadow Ring to counter him.

I’m glad to be rid of the council leader, but I’m not so sure how I’ll convince the members of the council to support me. Then again, Zorwal would probably scoff at my idea of evacuating the city, so his absence is an advantage—if he’s absent, of course.

I don’t want to think what might happen if by any chance he survived a decapitation—or what it means. What does Azur think Zorwal is?

When we reach the common level, I approach one of the main guards. “Any news?”

The guard’s eyes widen when he sees us. “What do you mean by news?”

“Anything out of the ordinary.”

He swallows. “No, unless I’m missing?—”

“It’s fine,” I say. I think he would mention a dead council leader. Shit. He’d mention it.

Azur gives me a worried look. We go to my room, then I open the onyx cabinet. I’m relieved to see that the Shadow Ring is still there. I take it and put it on my finger, and still find it odd there, as if it’s mocking me, letting me know it doesn’t belong there. No matter.

I turn to Azur. “Let’s go to the council chamber.”

A guard unlocks the chamber door for us, we enter it, and find the place empty. No body, no sword, no blood. But someone would have cleaned it by now, I suppose.

“You might have to ask,” Azur says as he looks around the room.

“I just did, didn’t I? Or do you want me to ask if anyone carried any body from this room? Let’s check his private chambers.”

He takes a deep breath but follows me to Zorwal’s office. I knock at first, and when nobody answers, get a guard to open the door for me. No signs of Zorwal. Some papers lie on a desk, and in his private chambers, the bed is made. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I walk then to the royal guard station by the Royal Terrace and ask the guards there if they’ve seen the council leader. They haven’t.

When Azur and I are back in my room, where I’m sure we’re alone and can’t be overheard, I finally say, “He’s not around.”

Azur sits in my armchair and raises an eyebrow. “Nor is he dead, in case you didn’t notice.”

I try to think. “Somebody might have gotten rid of the body. Perhaps they’ll blackmail us or something.”

“Or else Zorwal is hiding somewhere and recovering.”

“How do you think he’d do it?” I chuckle, the idea so absurd. “Do you think he left the council room holding his head in his hands? You think nobody would notice it?”

“No. He would put his head over his neck. Would anyone stop him to ask why he was walking like that?”

“And where did he go?”

Azur shrugs. “Some hideout. I don’t know.”

“It’s much more likely that somebody came in, saw his body, and decided to hide it. Either way, now I need to assemble the council and convince them to evacuate the Jewel City.”

Azur gets up. “Call me when you need me.”

“You’ll have to come with me.” He blinks, confused, and I continue, “I’ll be alone, with no magic, facing a hostile council. I’ll need you by my side.”

“You’ve always told me my presence in those meetings would convey weakness.”

“Zorwal had my back. Now he’s gone.”

“And you miss him dearly.”

“Not really. But I still can’t face the council on my own.” It is humiliating to always depend on someone else, but caution matters more than pride. “Come. I’ll summon Silvan first, then the rest.”

Azur frowns. “Silvan? Isn’t he the most scheming fae in the council?”

“The most ambitious. He’ll seize the chance to become the new leader. I need allies, Azur. If I can’t convince the council, I can’t evacuate the Jewel City.”

“What if they insist on staying?”

“Then I don’t know.”

I don’t know anything. I’m on the brink of disaster, watching death approach me faster and faster, and I don’t have the slightest idea of what to do.

For a moment, I’m again the kid with a dead mother and wounded brother; I’m alone and lost and scared. Not even Azur is any help.

Every life matter s, my father always said, and yet I failed. I can’t save my life, can’t save Azur’s.

But I can still save a city.

TARLIA

“ T arlia, let’s go.” Lidiane’s voice snaps me out of my self-pitying daze.

I realize I’m still by the Charmed River, and that Renel and Azur are gone. Gone. Renel’s gone, and I can’t let that thought bring me down. Can’t let my mushy heart addle my mind.

I smile at her, trying to erase all traces of pain. “Sure. Is there more walking?”

She frowns, her face overcome with worry. “Are you in love with Renel?”

“Love? No. It was just a night, a lovely night, and yet a night.” My words are all wrong. “What about you? Are you in love with Azur?”

“It’s just a pull. We can accept it or not. You know when you’re starving and smell the tastiest food ever, and it makes your stomach growl? That’s the soulmate bond. You can decide not to eat it, except that you can’t eat anything else, and will starve forever.”

“That sounds dreadful. I’m sorry.”

She laughs. “I was trying to make it seem not so bad, but I guess it is terrible. At least you and Renel are not soulmates. Look at the bright side.”

“There’s nothing bright about it. If Zorwal doesn’t kill him, the council might, and if everything goes well, he’ll perish in a fiery volcano. There’s no bright side. No, I’m lying. The only bright side is that I don’t need to explain to Astra why I’m in love with the person who’s keeping her husband from taking the throne. So yay, I suppose.”

“She’d understand. What about me? With Renel’s dog?” Lidiane’s chuckle is bitter. “I can’t imagine what my brother would think. So yes, bright side.”

“You’re still his soulmate.”

“But I’m fighting the bond. That’s valiant, you know?”

“You’d rather not fight it.”

She pauses, thinking. “I’ve always wanted someone who would consider me an equal, who would have me stand by their side. Azur seemed to be that person—until he wasn’t anymore. And maybe that brings me even more sadness than lamenting the fact we never got to spend any time together. But he’s right that it would have strengthened the bond and perhaps made it worse. I’ll just go back to Nameless Blob. That one never lets me down.”

At least she makes me laugh. “If I could wipe Renel from my mind, I’d do the same.”

“What about Ziven?”

“Oh, one positive right there. I’m cured from my one-sided, pathetic obsession. But he’s a good friend, and I’ll be happy to see him again, give him a friendly hug, and reciprocate his beautiful non-romantic feelings.” I sound so jaded, and it wasn’t my intention. “I’m not being sarcastic. A friend like him is a treasure.”

“And you’ll come back, just like he asked you to.”

“I suppose.” The thought of returning to that house where I don’t belong, not knowing what to do with my life, fills me with little joy, even if I’m incredibly thankful for the shelter and food. “And I’ll need to plan my future.”

Lidiane sighs. “I don’t know. I used to want to have it all figured out, but sometimes we need to flow where the current takes us. There are moments in life when we’re in between things, when trying to force destiny is a wasted effort. You have friends, Tarlia. That’s more than what a lot of people have. We’ll find a solution.”

“True.” The smile that comes to my face is genuine. Friends are precious. “I need to be more thankful, but you’re right that I’ll find my way. I’ll just miss Renel.” There. I confessed it even to myself, even if the idea makes me cringe. “And if you think it’s ridiculous, you’re right.” I chuckle.

“There’s nothing ridiculous about it. Fae are renowned for falling fast and quick.”

“That would be a great excuse.” I touch the top of my very round ear. “Unfortunately, I’m not fae.”

“But he is.”

I shrug. “Well, he’s not in love.”

Her laughter is light and amused. “Tarlia, are you that oblivious? That man is completely obsessed with you. Even at the festival, why do you think someone tried to kidnap you ?”

“He thought I was Astra then, and was trying to seduce me.” The memory brings a bitter taste to my mouth, the idea that he was courting me—unsuccessfully, but still—thinking I was someone else.

“How did he find out you were an impostor?”

“I told him.” She looks at me, her eyes wide, and I add, “I was tired of pretending. And now you’re going to wonder how come I didn’t use all my training to deceive and seduce him. The issue is that I hated all that training. I hate Otavio, hate being used as a pawn by a disgusting, sinister old man.”

“Was Renel upset when you told him?”

“A lot. He was hoping Astra would fall in love with him and give him magic.”

Lidiane bursts out laughing. “Oh, that’s so ridiculously absurd.”

At least I laugh with her. “I know, but he said he wasn’t aware she was in love with Marlak. Maybe it was just pointless hope blinding him.”

“But he forgave you.”

“He did. And that was before we got anywhere near having fun together. I don’t think he’s a bad person.”

“Perhaps not.” Lidiane looks down, her eyes sad. “And yet his leadership has plunged the lower fae into so much suffering. He needs to be deposed.”

“He’ll be dead soon. No need to worry.” I’m flippant, sarcastic, angry, but not at her.

A shadow crosses her eyes. “What’s with the castle? Did he explain it?”

I tell her what he told me, that the castle master needs magic, that he can’t simply appoint someone else, and that he calculated that the castle would end up in the Fiery Gorge and cause a fissure, destroying a city.

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “I don’t want to be that person, but if Renel hadn’t taken Marlak’s throne, none of this would be happening.”

“You don’t say. Do you think it has ever crossed Renel’s mind?”

My sarcasm is obvious, and she just rolls her eyes and chuckles.

I don’t know how she does that, and ask, “How can you laugh?”

“No matter what happens, I told myself a long time ago that I would never let my spirit break. That’s what they do; they try to break your spirit first, and if you let them, they win before even trying.”

I’m not sure I see things the way she does. “For me, it’s different. My master wanted me to be cheerful, happy, and dutiful, as if being his tool was some stupid honor. My anger is my rebellion.”

“I’m angry too, Tarlia, but I can’t let the weight of that anger bury me. It’s why I find something to laugh at. You might be upset that Renel might die soon, but then Azur will die too. As much as it pains me, he was such a prick that I won’t be as sad as I should.”

I’m sure that’s exactly what Azur wanted; to prevent her from suffering, but I decide not to tell her what I think. Perhaps it’s better for her to remain annoyed at her soulmate. I can’t imagine the pain she must be feeling.

Mine is a fraction of hers, and it’s ripping me from the inside out. And then again, I don’t even trust that Renel’s in love or that we’d ever have a happy ending, so my pain is inane.

“What now? Where are we going?” I ask.

“To my house. There’s a way to do it using the rivers, but I don’t know if it will work. If not, we can walk or take a boat.” Her smile is cheeky as she turns to me. “Ready for some walking?”

“It is better than running, so I’ll look at the bright side.”

“There’s always a bright side. You can’t have shadows without light.”

“Well, if you go to a closed room at night, there’s no light, and there’s still plenty of darkness. Pure darkness.”

“Thanks for ruining my metaphor.”

She’s kidding, but I still want to fix my blunder. “I suppose we only call it dark because we also know light, right? Otherwise it wouldn’t have a name and we wouldn’t even know what it was. So you still have a point.”

“Silence,” she mutters. I guess I truly annoyed her.

“I know I sometimes ramble?—”

“Sush.” She places a finger in front of her lips, her eyes wide, attentive.

I freeze in place and try to hear what she’s hearing.

The landscape here has more trees and bushes than on the other side of the river, and the only sounds that reach my ears are some leaves rustling. I don’t dare ask her what she hears, afraid to disturb her focus.

I grab my dagger, ready to face whatever threats may come.

Out of nowhere, some ten fae guards appear around us. Lidiane doesn’t flinch, and I realize they’re her illusions.

Something zips past me. I assume it’s an arrow and try to dodge it, but then a large, brown thing falls over us, then trips us. It’s a net made of some kind of thick rope. I pull my dagger to cut it, then feel a dart hitting me. I’m not even sure how I didn’t see any of that, how we were such easy targets.

I want to keep fighting, break free, but instead, my eyes close and I don’t feel anything anymore.