Page 67 of Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades #2)

Royo

The Palace of the Sky King, Khitan

The fuck is going on right now?

The fancy people in the hall murmur, crowding by the front set of doors. Well, as close as they can get. They’re a hundred feet back because of the Rule of Distance. Still, they jam in together, trying to get a peek at Euyn. He’s about to turn the egg into gold with the Queen of Khitan’s ring. I hope. Because if he can’t, she’ll chop off his head.

Did I even hear that right?

I rub my forehead. I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind. Everyone in the banquet room is moving around, guards taking positions and Sora and Aeri nervously shifting their weight. Euyn and Queen Quilimar stand next to each other by the throne.

He didn’t say nothing about this. Or he did, and I’m the only one in the dark.

I look at Aeri, but she and Sora seem just as puzzled by what’s going on. Sora keeps holding her breath and then realizing it and letting out long exhales. The queen wanted to arrest us all and now…this.

The only one I can’t get a bead on is Mikail. He doesn’t ever show what he’s thinking. Even when he’s about to betray us. But I don’t think he knew about this, either.

So what is happening?

And why does the queen hate Euyn so much?

When I was younger, I really wanted a little sister, or anybody so I wouldn’t be all alone, but I’ve never seen siblings hate each other like this. Euyn knew exactly how to get under her skin, and it worked. But what’s his plan? And is he actually Baejkin or not?

I keep Aeri close because I have a feeling this is about to go to shit. And if it does, we’ve got no way out.

As soon as I think it, the little hairs on the back of my neck stand. Something is up. It’s the same feeling as when I catch someone following me or when the gang was waiting to attack us in the alley in Oosant.

My skin prickles. Nothing good is going to come out of this. There was no reason for the queen to take the gamble when she had us trapped. I wish I had my axe—or any weapon. I eye the guards. Two have axes, but they’re far away. One has a bow. Most have swords. They keep their blades on their left hips, and they wear chest armor. I could reach the sword next to me if I had to, but the armor will make it harder to kill them.

“Ready, brother?” the queen asks.

Euyn nods.

Queen Quilimar slowly slides the ring off her finger and then extends it to him. All the guards have their hands near their weapons, ready, but Euyn keeps his eyes solely on his sister. He extends his palm, and the ring lands in his hand.

“Do you feel that?” Aeri whispers.

I don’t got a clue what she means, but she’s staring at the ring. And yeah, I do feel something, but it’s the vibration of the drums that are still beating, softer now, but still warning everybody to get inside the city walls. I don’t think that’s what she means, though.

“That?” Aeri says, searching my face. “You don’t feel it?”

This really ain’t the time for her to be weird.

I shake my head, watching Euyn. He’s sliding the ring down his finger. He gets it past his knuckle, and then he looks at the egg. His forehead shimmers with sweat.

“Are…are there words that need to be said?” he asks.

“The king would simply touch something with the ring, and it would turn to gold,” Queen Quilimar replies. A couple of the guards nod, but we can’t trust them.

Euyn looks at Mikail, now not as confident. His hand shakes a little.

“It’s intention,” Mikail says. “The etherum in the ring works based on what the wearer wants. The wielder has to desire something to be turned to gold; otherwise, it doesn’t work. But I think you’ve taken this bet far enough. Give her back the ring, Euyn.”

The queen holds herself straighter and shakes her head.

“We made a wager,” Queen Quilimar says.

“Nothing worth his death,” Mikail responds.

She shrugs. “That is his issue. This is a fair and legal bet.”

I look over at Aeri, but she’s staring straight ahead. She couldn’t be thinking about stealing the ring. I follow her line of sight.

Ten Hells. Yes, she could.

“No,” I whisper.

She blinks at me like I interrupted her thoughts.

“The egg,” Queen Quilimar says, gesturing to the center of the table.

She presses her lips together, clearly eager to see him try. I think she’s even more eager to see him fail. The queen shifts her arm to brush back her long hair, and there’s just a little glimmer at the end of her sleeve. It’s a blade.

There’s a saber hidden up her sleeve, and I don’t think anyone else has noticed.

“Euyn, no!” I say. “She—”

“Silence!” The queen’s voice echoes over the drums, bouncing off the high ceiling. The guard next to me moves a step closer, the threat clear. Then she turns to Euyn. “Well? Do you concede?”

“He hasn’t tried yet,” Aeri says.

The queen sighs, her shoulders lowering. She regains her composure. “Do be quick about this, brother. We’re at war, and I will need your head.”

Euyn takes a breath, then reaches his hand out, straightening his arm.

“Turn to gold,” he whispers.

And then he touches the ring to the egg.