Page 13 of Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades #2)

Tiyung

Idle Prison, Yusan

As soon as Hana leaves, I dive at the envelope, scrambling on my hands and knees across the dirty floor. I’m so eager to get to the message that I have to stop myself from tearing the paper.

The letter was already opened, but strangely, it is my seal on the envelope. Puzzled, I turn it over in my hands. Why would Hana give me a letter I wrote? Then I realize that Sora must have my seal. It is a message from her.

My heart overflows to the point that I think it will burst. I feel happiness for the first time since being thrown in this cell. And more than that—the light of hope is rekindled inside me.

I slide out the paper, ready to read her words, but the letter isn’t addressed to me. It’s to my father.

Seok,

It was his plan. Tiyung is idling the day away. Within a month I will keep my word. Keep your word.

Disappointment hits. It’s not exactly the heartfelt message I hoped for, but I still feel bolstered having something written by Sora’s hand. She must’ve penned this within the last day or so and sent it by eagle post. Which means she survived the throne room.

This is proof she is alive and free.

I read it again and revel in how clever she is. Sora wrote expecting that the letter could be intercepted and read. There is nothing incriminating in the note, but she is telling my father that our assassination plan failed because it was the king behind the plot all along. She is also letting him know that she still plans on killing King Joon within a month. And she wants to ensure her sister will be safe in the meantime.

But all I can focus on is the fact that she is trying to tell my father that I am in Idle Prison— Tiyung is idling the day away . She is warning him and trying to help me. The same way she begged for my life in the throne room of Qali.

She cares. Maybe it isn’t love, but she is still doing all she can to free me. She still believes I can make it out of here.

Tears fill my eyes, and warmth spreads down my chest. She doesn’t have to care. I wouldn’t blame her if she walked away from my suffering the way I walked away from hers many times as a boy. But Sora is better than me—she always has been. I won’t let her brave efforts be in vain. I will make it through this for her. Even if she may love Hana, not me.

I draw a breath and sigh, holding the letter to my chest. But soon my smile fades. Something is off about this whole thing. Namely, the fact that I have it. This message never reached my father, so why did Hana give it to me? She hates me and my family. Why did she leave me a lantern and the letter?

Maybe she is trying to get me to trust her. But to what end? I don’t have a lot of options in here.

I puzzle over it for a long while, trying to solve the riddle. I would think that it’s just kindness, but Hana isn’t Sora. She has no reason to be kind; therefore, she is not.

Eventually, I give up. In whichever way Hana meant it, the letter and the lantern are a gift. One I will remember.

I stare at Sora’s letter until the oil finally burns out.

And then I’m alone again in the dark.