Page 121 of Fall of Ruin and Wrath

“It’s strange,” I said after a moment. “And rather . . . nice.”

“What is?”

“To be in agreement.”

Prince Thorne laughed then. “I can think of other things we can be in agreement about that are far better than just nice.”

“And then you ruined it.”

Another laugh rumbled from him, and I felt my lips twitching. His laugh was almost as infectious as Naomi’s, and that caused my heart to give an unsteady leap.

The sound faded, though, as did his smile. “I don’t know how much I am like the others, but I know how I am not. I will not make you do what you truly do not want to do.”

He released my hand then, but his touch lingered, warming my skin as I stepped back. Doubt filled me, even as he made no move, even as I made no move. I glanced at the door, pressing my lips together. I hesitated, searching for a reason to linger, and I found one. “Lord Bastian mentioned that the King will be displeased.” I faced him. “What for?”

A smile appeared, but it was brief. “My decision regarding Archwood.”

“I don’t understand.” I frowned. “You’re planning to defend Archwood. . . .” I trailed off as his words from supper returned.We’ve come to determine what course of action. . . “Unless that was just an option. A choice to decide if we were worth saving or . . .” I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“Or not.” The Prince had no trouble saying it. “Destroying Archwood was an option. Primvera would be abandoned and new ports along the Eastern Canal would be established. And that is what the King prefers.”

CHAPTER 26

“Gods,” I rasped, pressing a hand to my chest. “Why would you— ? Wait.” A new kind of horror rose. “Why would the King be displeased with you deciding not to destroy Archwood?”

The Prince eyed me for several moments. “Because destroying the city would be easier.”

“Easier?” I whispered, bumping into the legs of a couch. “Killing and dislocating thousands of innocent people is easier?”

“It’s less of a risk to the Hyhborn forces. Very few if any would be lost in . . . removing Archwood as possible leverage,” he said, arms folded across his chest. “Our knights will die defending the city.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, even if I shouldn’t be surprised. It wasn’t like I believed King Euros cared all that much for lowborn, but this was . . . it was brutal in his lack of caring. “So, the lives of lowborn mean that little to our king?”

The Prince said nothing.

A biting laugh burned my throat as anger flooded me. “Is this what happened to Astoria then? You were sent in, as judge and executioner?”

“Astoria was something else entirely,” he said, features sharpening. “The city was already lost.”

“Does the reason for destruction matter?” I questioned.

He was quiet again.

I inhaled deeply. “How many people have you killed?”

“Too many.” The brown in his eyes darkened to a pitch black and spread over the rest of the colors, and I would’ve sworn the temperature of the chamber had dropped. “But just so you know, neither I nor my knights sack the cities that have fallen. We do not lift our weapons against those people. We do not kill indiscriminately. What deaths have occurred happened in spite of all we have done to prevent it.”

“You mean those deaths occurred because the people who lived in these towns fought back? To protect their homes and livelihoods? Do you expect them not to?”

“I would expect nothing less from them,” he said.

Suddenly cold, I wrapped my arms over my waist. “How many cities has our king decided weren’t worth the precious lives of Hyhborn?” I asked, thinking of the small villages and towns that had disappeared over the years.

“Too many,” he repeated flatly. “And far more than that would be lost if I sided with the King in every situation.” His head tilted. “What? Do you think I can disobey the King’s orders? I am a prince, and he is the King. Choice is limited, even for someone like me.”

I stared at him, a part of me understanding that he was just another cog in the wheel— albeit a very powerful cog. I drew in a shaky breath. “What makes you decide which city is worthyourprotection and which one is to be sentenced to death? Better yet, why would you save Archwood after what was done to you?”

A muscle flexed along his jaw as he looked away. “You.”