Page 152 of Bloodguard

“Why?” I ask, certain he is using my papa’s life to barter for something.

He stills when bitter tears cloud my vision.

“I asked you why,” I bite out once more.

“It was the right thing to do,” he says. “He was innocent all along, and Vitor finally admitted it.” The nails of his huge hand dig into the stone windowsill. “I would never hurt Andres. And as his child, Princess, I will not hurt you. It was not supposed to end this way.”

My fingers tighten around the handle on top of the oil lamp. I know in my bones that there is more to his motivation than sheer goodwill. “Then tell me. How was it supposed to go?”

Tendrils of steam swirl from his nose as he eyes me closely. His emotions must be running especially high. “We were supposed to take out Vitor, and we did.”

“You, Pua, Soro, and Ugeen?” I guess.

“Do not group me with them as an ally.” He shakes his head, his frustration making it harder for him to form words. He slows his speech, enunciating each syllable carefully. “They are the means to an end. I, among others, have spent years infiltrating this establishment.” His deep wrinkles expand across his leathery face, aging him further. “Some were caught early on.” He pauses. “You can guess what happened to them.”

“The arena,” I offer. “Yes, a fabulous way to ensure Aurora grows big and strong.”

Tut shakes his head, and his shoulders slump as if he’s exhausted. “None of this is her fault. She’s a tool used by bad people to do inexcusable things.”

I can’t believe he’d defend that monstrous creature, but his words and expression seem sincere. “That’s one way to look at matters.” I ease away to sit on the bed, balancing the lamp on my knee just in case his mood, or my own, grows hostile.

“Your grandmother suspected traitors,” he says. “And she was right to. So instead of revealing Aurora to us, she fed her in secret.” He pulls down his cuirass when his plump belly pushes through. “We’ve spent decades trying to get close to the queen and Vitor. It took the queen dying for Vitor to seek a new ally. Yet as much as I did to earn his trust, he never trusted me enough to reveal where the phoenix was held.”

“But now you know.”

“Now I know.”

The oil lamp balanced on my knee flickers, causing Tut’s shadow to dance along the wall, highlighting how imposing Tut is compared to me. His shadow is three of mine across and twice as tall. But I’m not afraid. Not of him. I won’t give him that power over me.

“So that I’m clear, you spent years waiting to meet Aurora so you could capture her to use as a weapon against Arrow?” I ask. “Was that your ultimate goal?” It’s no wonder Grandmother and Vitor were so damn paranoid.

“No,” he grunts. “Not to capture as a weapon.”

“What, then?”

Tut hangs his head low, clearly fighting for composure as he takes several deep breaths. When he looks up, he appears even more weathered. “Princess Maeve, please hear me. I need your help. Wemustwork together.”

“Work together why?” I ask. This isn’t just about my papa, and Tut proves me right.

He stretches out his arms, all but pleading. “My plight is much bigger than you or me or Arrow. Old Erth is dying, and she’s taking us with her. Our only hope of salvation is to set the phoenix free.”

chapter 53

Maeve

I stare at Tut, waiting for the punch line to this terrible joke, but he only stares back at me.

Free the phoenix? The same monster who swallows people whole and spits out their bones?No way will that ever happen. I push to my feet, ready to hurl my lamp and light this ogre aflame.

He points at himself, voice calm despite my clear hostility. “I’m the head of surveillance. I am sent to survey the outskirts of Arrow, where Erth-wide disasters have begun to encroach on Arrow’s borders. I’ve seen the destruction with my own eyes.” He blows out more steam. “Aurora was never your grandmother’s to capture. She must be freed. Only then will Old Erth regain its peace.”

He’s serious. “Regain its peace or be massacred, Tut?”

As if he wasn’t expecting this reaction, he does a double-take—an odd motion, considering ogres barely have a neck.

“The great phoenix was meant to roam the skies—”

“She’s a harbinger of death!” I all but strangle him with my words.

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