Page 22 of Tree of Ash (The Runic Saga #2)

Unabsolved Sin

Anara

Anara cracked her knuckles, then rotated her neck until she heard the satisfying crunch.

Gods, giants . . . What’s next, will the dragons return?

she thought, walking a step behind Larissa and Darien.

They were returning to the truck that awaited them outside the Speaker’s house.

Though their meeting had not been publicized, Larissa’s guards were holding back a small crowd that had gathered to see their lost Princess.

At Larissa’s presence, they surged forward, but upon catching sight of Anara, they paused in their tracks.

Their whispered voices were crystal clear to Anara’s sensitive ears.

“ . . . the shifter-Queen . . .”

“ Draugr , more likely . . .”

A scratchy, high-pitched call drew Anara’s gaze to the sky, where a red-tailed hawk circled above them. Her lips tightened as the hawk dove. She remained unmoved even as the hawk’s feathers blurred, and its form shifted the instant before it touched the ground.

Ishaan bowed. “Your Highness.”

Darien and Larissa turned in surprise, their hands on their weapons before they registered Ishaan’s face. Even the crowd shrank further back from the presence of a second shifter.

Anara crossed her arms. “What do you want?”

Ishaan bowed to Darien and Larissa. “All arrangements have been made. We are to pack up our items tonight and rest for an early departure tomorrow morning.”

Eager anticipation displaced Anara’s displeasure at seeing Ishaan. At last, it was time to leave. But even in her excitement, Anara could not ignore Ishaan’s pointed look. Whatever else he’d come to say, it was clear he wanted to say it in private.

One of the guards approached. “Your Highnesses, we must leave before the crowd grows any larger.”

Larissa nodded, her mind no doubt still occupied by the conversation with the giants. She followed Darien into the truck, but Anara remained.

“I’ll follow on my own,” she called out.

“Your Highness,” the guard said. “The crowd—”

“Won’t want anything to do with me. They’ll follow as soon as you leave. I have my own way of getting back.”

As if registering the truth of her words, the guard nodded and shut the door. In the tiniest gap before it closed, Anara caught Larissa’s inquisitive face. Anara knew she would have questions later.

Just as she’d predicted, the moment the truck departed, the crowd dispersed, some following it while others returned to their homes. Few remained, lingering just across the street, their hard eyes glaring at Anara and Ishaan. One man stood and crossed his arms, hostility oozing from his body.

The General’s eyes lingered on the man in the distance. Ishaan’s lip curled. “Someone should teach him some respect.”

“And give him even more reason to distrust Rubinians?” she sighed. “Ignore him, and ask me whatever it is you wanted to ask.”

Before Ishaan could ask anything, several other men joined the first on the street, stalking toward Anara. Their hands were curled into fists. Ishaan moved to stand in front of Anara, but she only snorted. She’d dealt with men like this before.

“What do you want?” she asked the largest man who assuredly was the leader, her voice bored and detached.

“You should leave.” The largest man pushed back his jacket, revealing a gun at his side. “We know what you are, draugr , and we’ll put you down like the stray you are—”

Ishaan’s clawed hand wrapped around his throat before the words had died on the man’s lips. Blood dripped down the man’s neck as he gasped for air, pulling uselessly against Ishaan’s grasp. Behind him, his friends reached for their guns but froze as a snarl ripped from Anara’s chest.

“Only one of you has committed an offense punishable by death,” she growled. “Think carefully before your next move.”

Like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs, the rest of the men fled, not daring to look back at the one still in Ishaan’s grasp.

With a huff, Anara returned to the problem at hand. “General Ishaan, let him breathe and take him to Torsten for his punishment.”

“I can kill him just as easily here,” Ishaan argued, tightening his hand until the man’s eyes rolled back in his head. “Then I can dispose of the others as well. I can still smell them.”

“Do as I command,” she ordered, her growl returning. “And tell Torsten I only require imprisonment. Then he can serve on the front lines of the battle. Fate can decide what to do with him from there.”

After a second, Ishaan snarled, then let the unconscious man fall to the ground. “And if fate decides he lives?”

“Then he lives. I won’t be his executioner. I won’t allow his actions to force me to become the monster he thinks I am.”

Ishaan shook his head, his eyes revealing the bitter words his tongue held captive.

“What did you want, Ishaan? I need to prepare for my departure.”

A rumble penetrated Ishaan’s composure. “That is what I wanted to discuss. We march for Perle, and then for Safír. The council then wants to reclaim Smaragd, and only then will they consider mounting an attack on Rubin.”

“Besides Diamant, Rubin is the most defended.” Irritation leaked through Anara’s voice. “It makes sense to wait until the Vienám is at its strongest to attack.”

A tick of annoyance pulsed in Ishaan’s cheek. “All due respect, Your Highness, that’s only part of the reason.”

“You don’t say?” Anara tilted her head in mock surprise. “I’m not an idiot, General. I know full well that the Vienám would much rather burn down Rubin than reclaim it at all.”

“Then why won’t you listen to me? I was to be your advisor; let me advise you.

Fight for Rubin, for our people, in these ridiculous council meetings instead of serving under the other monarchs.

” Ishaan’s voice hardly concealed his bitterness.

“Why won’t you fight for our people, but you’ll defend trash like this? ” He kicked the body at his feet.

“I won’t argue this with you again.” Anara’s voice went deathly cold. “And you will not disrespect me by assuming that I am not fighting for my people.”

Ishaan pursed his lips but bowed, his body stiff with reluctance. “Then I will see you on the road, Highness.”

“I will send guards to help you with the body.” In a twist, Anara’s body shifted into the raven that soared over the valley without a backward glance, but not even flight could cool her burning heart.

It was always the same. People would always hate Rubin for what they’d done in allowing the Empress to corrupt their bodies and galdr to serve her purposes.

Ishaan, always so focused on restoring Rubin to its former glory, would never admit to the sins staining the soul of their kingdom.

Nor would he wonder as Anara did, if their sins could truly be redeemed.