Page 45 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

He’s right. Viridian may be aware of Maelyrra’s strategizing. I know that. Still, it does little to dispel the anxiety clutching my stomach. Because it’s just as likely that Viridian doesn’t know. Surrounded by the Kjos Mountains, which provide natural barriers in and out of Keuron, the city is often insulated from news of the Courts.

If Viridian learns of Maelyrra’s moves against him too late, he may be unable to retaliate. And if war truly is coming, then he and Cryssa could lose so much more than the throne—they could lose their lives.

“I’m not willing to take chances.” Sensing Asheros’s apprehension, I take a small step forward. “If it were one of them in his place,” I say, pointing to the dining table where the members of his inner circle had sat moments ago, “and you in mine, you would seek to do the same.”

Only a few paces behind us, Savell’s shoulders tense and his eyes narrow, dark with distrust. I don’t know how much he’s heard, but his demeanor makes it painfully obvious that he doesn’t like however much of our conversation he did happen to overhear.

Asheros exhales, casually placing his hands on his hips. I can’t help but notice how his arms flex slightly with the movement, and how it makes his hips seem even more defined. “You’re right.”

“You can’t seriously be considering this,” Savell interjects, approaching Asheros. “She’ll use this as an opportunity to betray us.”

Mouth tightening, Asheros glances at him. “I’m highly aware of that possibility, but something tells me there’s no reason to worry.” He pauses, pursing his lips as if he’s mulling over an unfamiliar taste. Looking at me, he asks, “Must we do this now, or can it wait until morning?”

“It can wait,” I say, though I would feel much better getting it over with tonight.

As if to protest, Savell opens his mouth.

Asheros cuts him off. “Good,” he says, rubbing his palms together. “Then we’ll handle this matter in the morning.”

Chapter Thirteen

If Asheros hoped delaying communication with Viridian until morning would lessen my resolve, then he’d better be prepared for disappointment.

Rather, the opposite is true. Waiting has only lent itself to the firmness of my decision to warn Viridian and Cryssa of the Gold Court’s plans. It’s been more than a week since the attack at Nemos’s pass. At this point, had I stayed on course, I would just be arriving at Illnamoor, if I hadn’t already a few days earlier.

Moving from my bed to the window, I peer at the sunrise peeking over the treetops, coloring the sky a bright honey that gives way to cerulean. The beautiful, intermingling shades splayed across the horizon lessen the tension in my shoulders, lowering them slightly. Crossing the room to the dresser, where I laid out my leathers before going to bed last night, I put them on, fastening the buckles to secure them to my body.

Catching a whiff of them when I do, I wrinkle my nose. I’ll need to wash these soon. As part of my training for the Guard, we learned how to care for them properly so they last.

I brush my hair back and run my fingers through it to work out the tangles. My sleek, blue-black mane has lost some of its luster, likely from being on the road for as long as we have, though it’s still smooth and easy to detangle. Separating it into three groups, I quickly weave my hair into a braid that falls over my left shoulder.

Taking a breath to still myself, I carefully open my chamber door and step into the hallway. The manor is dark, the corridor lit by the sunlight cast through the slim window at the end of the hall. Stepping lightly, I make my way down the staircase, but pause before entering the sitting room.

Kheldryn sits in one of the armchairs with her legs crossed. She leans over the chair’s arm, an open book resting in her lap. “You can come in,” she calls, without adjusting her posture, voice raised so I can hear.

“All right,” I say by way of announcing my entrance.

She moves only to turn the page, still focused on her book.

I wander toward the bookshelves, my arms hanging loosely by my sides. Reading had been a passion of mine years ago, before I left for High Keep. Even then, I didn’t read much for pleasure. Most of my reading was selected by my mother or my tutors. Boring, bland material on Inatian history, treatises on alliances between the Noble Houses, that sort of thing.

But once I joined the Guard, I didn’t have the time, nor the patience, for reading. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a book. It feels foreign to me now.

“Orim’s mother is an avid reader,” Kheldryn says, and my attention snaps to her. “Any genre you could imagine is somewhere on those shelves. There’s even more in her personal library.” She straightens her back, holding up the book she’s reading. “That’s where I found this one.”

I raise my brow. “She won’t be angry about that?”

“She won’t know.” Kheldryn’s eyes briefly meet mine and then she turns the page.

I press my lips together, the corner of my mouth tilted upward. “Of course.”

Crossing my arms, I turn away from her. The image of Asheros brushing her hair at dinner last night flashes before my eyes, sparking a tight pang in my chest.

“You and Asheros seem close,” I say, unable to stop myself. If I had a clearer head, I would have kept those words to myself. They’ll only lead me to answers I won’t like and things I don’t want to hear. What do I care if they’re together? Though he’s my fated, I have no claim on him.

No claim at all.

That thought should soothe the jealousy coursing through me. But it only adds kindling to the spark in my chest, making it catch fire.

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