Page 228 of Born of Blood and Ash

“You haven’t,” I said, even though I hadn’t allowed myselfto see anything about him. But I didn’t think many deserved the kind ofsickness that was a different type of rot.

His eyes shuttered closed. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” I stepped back and glanced at Nektas.

The draken stared at me blandly.

“Whoops.”

“Whoops, indeed,” he replied dryly.

“I have no idea what is happening.” Jamison scratched hishead, his gaze bouncing back and forth between Tovar and us. And Tovar, he was…

Well, he was just rocking back and forth, thanking me overand over.

There was a good chance I probably shouldn’t have done that.Actually, I had no idea if I should’ve done that or not, but I doubted healinghim would cause any cosmic imbalance.

Or at least I hoped it wouldn’t.

Either way, I couldn’t regret it after seeing the relief onthe man’s face.

Nektas touched my arm, remindingme that we had a reason for being here, and this wasn’t it.

I pulled my gaze from Tovar. “I need to speak with theQueen.”

“Her Majesty is in the dining hall,” Jamison answered.

“Thank you.” I gave Tovar one last look and felt compelledto say something. “Make your life a worthy one.”

“Of course. Yes. I will.” Tovar folded his hands togetherbeneath his chin. “I swear to you.”

Nodding, I entered the hall adorned with mauve bannersbearing the insignia of the Mierel family, a crownwith a sword slicing through it.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” I said after a moment.

There was no answer, but I knew Nektashad followed me. I stopped and turned.

He stood in front of one of the banners, his brow pinched.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“The crest. It’s an odd symbol.”

“It is.” I glanced down the empty hall. “It’s supposed torepresent strength and leadership. Except it looks like someone getting stabbedthrough the head.”

“Strength and leadership? That’s not what it means. Notoriginally,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “The leaves? Those arenot laurel. They’re elm.”

My brows lifted. “I’ll have to take your word for that.”

“Do you know the significance of elm trees to the Ancients?”

The nape of my neck tingled. “Life.”

“Yes. And the sword? It symbolizes many things—power,strength, courage.” Nektas paused. “Truth.”

A fine shiver broke out over my skin. If the crownrepresented life and the sword could be truth, then… “True Life? True Primal ofLife?” I laughed. “No. That has to be a coincidence and a stretch.”

“I do not believe in coincidences, nor do I believe that isall this insignia represents. Look at the positioning of the sword.” Nektas pointed. “It’s slanted. Not entirely straight.” Helooked at me. “That should be familiar to you.”

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