Page 88 of King of Storms and Feathers

She stared back at me with vacant gray eyes. My head spun, and I took a seat at the table, shock slowing my movements. With shaking hands, I wiped the blade on my tunic, and beside me, Grendal sobbed like she was the one who had just been attacked by a slaver.

Her hands balled into fists, then she shrieked like a mad woman and snatched my knife from the tabletop, slashing it wildly, only just missing my face as I lurched backward.

“What is wrong with you?” I grabbed her wrist, and she struggled to lift the knife toward my neck. “You’ve lost your fucking mind!”

“Please, Leaf. I don’t want to hurt you. But I promised that you’d go with him.”

“That man is nothing but a fast trip to a slave market in a different gods-forsaken realm. Why would you want that for me?” Sighing, I gentled my voice and let her wrist drop. The knife clattered onto the table. “Forget him, and let’s get out of here before someone finds us and wonders what we’re doing in an empty tea garden.”

“Please, Leaf. I’m begging you.” Grendal leaped up. As I reached for the knife to sheathe it, she grabbed it, forcing me onto my feet and into another ridiculous scuffle.

Without causing harm, I tried to disarm her, blocking three clumsy strikes with my forearm. Losing patience, I pushed her against the stone wall and twisted her wrist, the blade she still clung to pressing against her throat. She thrashed her head and slammed her knee into my stomach, but my grip didn’t weaken.

“Grendal! Just stop. You’ll get hurt.”

“You might as well finish me off.” Her muscles loosening, the fight went out of her eyes. “He’ll send someone to kill me.”

“Who will? Marlewyn?”

Determination drew her features into a grimace. She screamed, gripping the back of my head with her free hand, pushing herself forward and thrusting the Sayeeda’s pretty blade into her throat.

I cried out, adrenaline pounding through my system and nausea rising.

Blood bubbling from her mouth, she slid down the wall. On the ground, I cradled her in my arms. “Grendal, no, no.”

The blade stuck out from her throat at a fatal angle, bright blood frothing from the wound. She didn’t have long to live.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “He promised to get serum to my son, Zaret… an addict in an encamp… encampment. He promised he would… take care of you, too. I told him you were valuable cargo, but… but not who you really are. I’m sorry, Leaf.” She coughed, blood splattering my tunic. “Sorry I disappointed you.”

Stroking blood off her cheek with a trembling hand, I attempted a smile, and then a poorly timed joke to distract her. “In truth, I’m disappointed. First no apple tea? And now this?”

She laughed, blood glimmering on her lips, like gruesome gemstones.

“I understand why you did it. I…” My words trailed off as her words sank in. “Wait. You said you didn’t tell him who I was. What did you mean? The king’s pet? Someone else? Tell me, Grendal. Please.”

“No… not the king’s slave, silly girl… you… your parents…” A final breath rattled from her lungs, the veils of impending death darkening her eyes. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Jaw lax, her head slumped against the wall.

“Grendal!” I knew she was dead but shook her anyway. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I clung to her. I didn’t care so much that she’d used me because the son she’d never mentioned needed help. That I could understand. But if she knew my real identity and didn’t tell me—well, that was a betrayal I couldn’t forgive so easily.

Soft hands drew me off Grendal, and Ildri lifted me onto my feet and into her arms. “Leaf, what have you done?”

“I didn’t hurt her. I promise.”

Raiden appeared beside me and bent to check Grendal’s pulse. He looked over his shoulder and shook his head, confirming Grendal was dead.

Footsteps sounded, then Ari arrived at my side. “What happened?” she asked.

“I didn’t kill her. She was trying to send me away with a trader, attacked me when I wouldn’t go, and then pushed herself into my blade. I swear it.”

Ari wiped my face with her sleeve. “I believe you. Come. Ildri will return with you to the king’s dome.”

“Where did this trader go?” Ildri asked.

I pointed at the door that was partially hidden in the wall. “Through there. He said he had a cart waiting that would take me to a ship. Grendal called him Marlewyn. And for a moment, I thought she might tell me who I was.”

Ari’s golden brow rose but she said nothing.

Raiden pushed on the door. “Doesn’t open.”

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