Page 20 of Tortured

Queen Sorfrona’s grip tightens on my forearm. “I’m so glad you’re alive. Did you really have to leave Niawen? We could have kept her safe here.”

I shake my head.

I told every detail, from the moment I jumped on my horse, to being captured and flung into prison and tortured by Caedryn, all the way to my visit with the High Emrys. And even after telling them how Niawen found me near death and after describing every assassin attempt, Mother still believes Niawen and I will be safe from Caedryn in Cynwrig.

“Mother.” I take her hand. “No one will ever be safe with me around. I must leave. He hears my thoughts if I’m not careful. He breaks through my consciousness. He can find me. He will take his vengeance on all those I love. I must go far away from everything, from every place I love and every person and every dream I ever had for myself.”

Kelyn leans forward in his chair. “We can kill him. You and I will go, with our men, and destroy that despicable man.”

“We would never be able to get at him. He has defenses. He knows things, and he would see us coming if I were with you.”

And Niawen made me swear that I would never go after him.

This is a promise I don’t have to keep.

“No one’s unstoppable.” Kelyn clenches his hand. “I don’t believe that.”

“I promised Niawen. I promised her I wouldn’t go back.”

Kelyn jumps up. “That doesn’t matter!”

I rise to my feet. “I know you’re angry. You’re even angry at me for chasing Niawen off. Please forgive me. I was shortsighted, thinking with my heart instead of my head. She is too young for this world. Too naïve in the ways of mortals. She had to go off on her own.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t go after Caedryn.”

“You need to have faith in me, Kelyn. Believe that I’ve seen and done the impossible because of my new light, but when I tell you that he will be impossible to get at, you need to believe me.”

Kelyn narrows his eyes, studying me.

“You’re not the one making the sacrifice,” I say. “All my dreams of settling down with a lovely wife and having half-a-dozen sons and daughters on an estate in the northern highlands are destroyed. I can’t endanger anyone by making a life here.”

My mother gasps a sob.

I take a deep breath and squeeze Kelyn’s shoulder as I look him in the eye. “Promise me you won’t go after him.”

Kelyn’s eyes brood with emotion.

“Promise me.”

Kelyn huffs air out of his nostrils. “Fine. I swear it.”

“Good.”

“So that’s it, then?”

“Fraid so,” I mumble. This is it. Time for me to go. I’ve seen my family. Now I must leave them.

Be brave, Seren says.

“The High Emrys knows where Niawen is?” Kelyn asks.

“Yes. She’s safe.” I remove the note from my breast pocket. “I can’t know the information on this paper. The High Emrys scribed it herself, for your eyes only. You must burn it in the fire once you read it, and never speak of where Niawen is. Even with all those precautions, Caedryn could still learn of her whereabouts.”

Kelyn quirks his brow as he takes the paper.

“Don’t open it while I’m here. The High Emrys left specific instructions.” I finger the dragon stone around my neck, reluctant to part with my gift from Niawen. Farewell, Seren. Kelyn will see your stone safely into Niawen’s hands.

Farewell, Kenrik. May the Creator protect you.

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