Page 58

SORA

ROSE PALACE, GAYA

I finally had a full night’s sleep, and I feel like a new person.

After the events of the midnight beach, the five of us all went to bed. The Gayan rebels who’d followed us lined the streets of the hill, standing guard until we awoke. The human wall was more security than we’ve ever had.

The five of us had breakfast at noon, and a bell later, I finally find a chance to talk with Mikail. I want to ask the question that’s been weighing on my mind, and I’m also worried about him after the way he used the scepter last night.

He and I stroll the gardens where they burned the governor’s guards and the women who tried to poison him. The firepit and the manicured grounds look no worse for wear. The pyre is already dismantled, the ashes cleaned up.

I walk holding Mikail’s left arm. It trembles, but so does mine sometimes, so I say nothing about it. The same way I said nothing about the small convulsion he had in the kitchens yesterday.

The sun is warm and pleasant on my face, and Mikail seems at peace in this land. At least as much as he ever is. His brow is smooth, and his gait is relaxed.

“Come this way, down to the Fountain of Life,” he says.

I glance over at him, worried he’ll use the scepter that’s in his right hand. He hasn’t bothered with concealing it inside the walking stick today.

“I’m told a miracle occurred overnight, and I want to see it for myself,” he adds.

Horrors and miracles. At least it’s the latter.

Rather than scaling the walls like when we came here, we take the gentle stone steps of the terrace. It doesn’t take long to notice the abundance of red roses blooming in a perfect circle around the Fountain of Life.

I blink, clearing my vision. Those flowers weren’t there yesterday. I stood feet away from the spring, and there was nothing but green grass—not even a bud or a thorn.

Mikail smiles, his eyes filled with wonder.

We reach the roses, and we stop and stare.

Each bloom is so large, it would take both of my hands to cup one.

I lean down and breathe in the smell. It’s like rich perfume.

I stroke the petals, and the flowers feel like the smoothest, softest velvet.

They are beautiful and impossible, each one in full, perfect bloom.

“They’re fantastic,” I whisper.

Mikail nods. “The people have taken them as a sure sign that the goddess has returned to Gaya, or at least that we have her favor again. My home is called Rose Palace because riots of these roses used to encircle the columns. They haven’t in two hundred years.”

He stares at the palace with an appraising eye, and I can picture it.

How different the white structure must’ve looked covered in flowers—the true home of an earth goddess.

Mikail reaches down and caresses one of the roses, and then he touches his hand to his forehead in homage.

He offers me his arm again. I take it, and we amble back toward the palace.

“But you didn’t ask to speak with me about flowers or miracles.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “What’s on your mind, Sora?”

“Well, I did want to see how you were feeling after last night’s tidal wave,” I say.

It was as fantastic as it was terrifying.

Mikail smiles as he half closes his eyes.

“I’m in a tremendous amount of pain. I’d take laoli if I weren’t well aware of how addictive it is.

I drank charm tea at breakfast and ate salted fruits to ease the aches, and it does help some.

But nothing stops the toll. I saw you notice the seizures.

They’re getting worse, but right now, they’re still blessedly short. ”

I stop on the path and turn toward him. “Oh, Mikail.”

He shakes his head. “It’s okay, Sora. I’ve been through worse. And if I had to make the decision to use the scepter again, I’d do the same.”

I don’t doubt it. Mikail doesn’t waste time on remorse. Not even in drowning a hundred men.

We continue to walk, slowly meandering back.

With everything that happened yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to appreciate how stunning the views are from the hill.

The entire city of Jeul is laid out around it, mostly small houses and shops lined in black timbers, and then the sea in the distance.

The gardens, although not what they once were, are equally as beautiful, verdant and manicured.

And the sky is the brightest blue I’ve ever seen.

When I was first brought to Gain, I couldn’t believe how things could grow in the southern sunshine of Yusan. Hana felt the same, since she came from the western desert. There was so much abundance that we could never understand the hoarding, torture, and betrayal just to have more.

“What happened to Hana, Mikail?” I ask.

His mouth moves in such a way that I know he was waiting for me to ask.

He raises his chin and takes a breath. “I thought it was best for her to leave us. I can’t trust someone who was working for the western count and who could still be working for Joon.

I didn’t want her to be at risk in Yusan, so I suggested a ship to Khitan.

If she left for the northern realm, she is safe. ”

He studies me, and I can tell he wants to gauge if I’m all right with his decision.

One he didn’t consult with me about. I don’t know how I feel, though.

I was so hurt and betrayed by learning Hana has been alive this whole time that the lie was all I could focus on.

Yet my stomach twists at the thought of her going to Khitan, of her leaving me again.

I don’t know what to do with all of this emotion.

Nothing seems right, and maybe that’s just what happens when the love of your life deceives you like this.

Yet, as far as Mikail goes, I understand his reasoning.

It was the same thought behind getting rid of Fallador.

I bite my lip. It’s yet another impossible web of lies and emotion to untangle. I simply push it to the back of my mind, hoping one day I have the time and space to unravel it all. Mikail puts his hand over mine, but then his gaze darts to the side.

Teo and Calier approach us as we come up the last set of stairs. They carry silver trays filled with envelopes, both eagle post and courier from the island. Most of the letters are addressed to the governor, but some are for Mikail—probably intel from rebel sources.

“Bring the letters to the war room, please,” he says.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” they reply.

The brothers bow low before they leave, and there’s reverence in their expressions. The lore of Mikail has already begun. They think he’s a demigod because of what he did last night and because of the roses returning.

Maybe he is.

Mikail smiles and nods.

“It suits you,” I say.

“What does?”

“This role as king of Gaya.”

He smiles, but then he sighs. “It doesn’t, Sora.

It is fine for now because I’m not actually ruling but grasping for power.

In the end, I am a killer and a spy. I don’t understand diplomacy or governing a people.

No matter how much I love them, the scale of this is over my head.

I understand how to bring down realms, not how to restore them.

I can kill enough men for the island to be free, but someone else will have to worry about what comes after. ”

I take a step back, startled, but I suppose his answer shouldn’t surprise me.

None of us actually want a throne or power over others.

We just can’t live with things the way they are.

I’m beginning to wonder if anyone good ever wants to rule, or if it is always morally devoid men like Seok and ruthless women like Quilimar.

But thinking about kings and queens brings up new questions and concerns.

“We attack tonight?” I ask.

Mikail nods.

I take a deep breath. The plan is as simple as it is impossible.

Scouts have been tracking the progress of the Weian fleet.

They are swinging around Gaya, taking the South Sea.

The Gayans suspect they’re sailing this way to avoid detection by Yusan.

Mikail thinks the fleet will wait in the Strait of Teeth until dusk.

Once it’s nightfall, the ships will move into Tamneki Harbor.

We will find King Joon’s ship, use the scepter to isolate it, climb aboard, and kill the king.

My stomach knots, and I worry the fabric of my dress, because nothing, not my poisoned kiss or even the flood in Quu Harbor, has been able to put an end to King Joon’s life.

And even if we succeed, his death will only legitimize Seok’s rule.

But what choice do we have? Aeri is right: we aren’t safe as long as the king breathes. One enemy at a time.

“I’d rather you and Tiyung stay here tonight,” Mikail says.

I shake my head before he finishes the sentence.

He pats my hand. “I know, we go together, Sora, but I thought I’d express my pointless hope. You are both valuable hostages if things go wrong—too much so for comfort. With all the love in my heart, I wish that you’d stay here.”

I ignore the sting of his words.

“We don’t let things go wrong,” I say. “You’ll kill King Joon, take the sword, and put an end to this.”

He nods, but there’s chilling uncertainty in his eyes. Simple plans have a way of getting complicated in Yusan. I shudder in the heat, and my mouth goes dry.

“What else is troubling you?” Mikail asks.

“Oh, nothing really.” I smile. “Everything is just fine. A normal day.”

He laughs, and I do as well.

Tiyung rounds the corner just as Mikail and I are laughing together. He looks from me to Mikail without smiling. I don’t know if he mistakes our friendship for something else or if our closeness bothers him regardless.

Mikail holds himself straighter when he notices Tiyung. “What is it?”

Ty clears his expression and his throat. “There’s someone here to see you, Mikail.”

I look toward the palace. This can’t be good.

“Who?” Mikail asks. His earlier mirth becomes a memory.

“Fallador, the exiled prince of Gaya,” he says.

Yes, that is definitely not good. Fallador should be with Rune in Tamneki.

What is he doing here? How did he know where to find us?

I immediately think Hana betrayed us again, but Mikail did just spare hundreds of soldiers.

Someone could have easily reached Tamneki and spread the word about Mikail by this morning.

Still, Mikail stiffens, his biceps hardening. I search his face, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring up at the palace.

“Very well,” he says. “Show him to the throne room, please.”

I touch Mikail’s shoulder. “What if it’s a trap?”

He shrugs. “Everything could be. But I have some questions for my old friend. Don’t worry, Sora. I’ll bring my guards and Aeri and Royo. If you’d like to come, too, you can. I’m in no peril from an audience. We are the most dangerous people on this island. Not him.”

I’m not sure that’s true, since love has a way of cutting the deepest.

Tiyung turns on his heels, walking without us. Mikail and I exchange glances, and then we make our way back to the palace.