Page 82 of Bloodguard

Maeve huffs, and I have my answer.

I rise until I’m standing beside her.

She crosses her arms. “Vitor has hired a wizard for a magic display that will light up the night sky. There will be music and more performances.”

I see some of the commoners already walking in the direction of the castle.

But then those dreaded drums start up again.

Vitor sits upon a throne that is carried by a slew of servants. He is surrounded by guards.

“Revlis. Revlis,” the crowd chants.

But Vitor and his entourage aren’t wearing the same colors that Soro and the other members did.

“Vitor’s colors are silver and blue,” Maeve says. “Same as Soro’s.” She sounds so far away even as she remains in my arms.

“Yet they wear Arrow’s colors,” I acknowledge. Blue and green trimmed with gold.

The strands of her thick braid slide along my chest as she shakes her head. “No, Leith. Those are the colors of House Iamond.” She looks up at me. “The colors ofmyfamily.”

chapter 29

Maeve

Before Leith can stop me, I leap the fence and run down the alleyway, throwing my hood back and untying my cloak as I go, letting it fall to the cobblestone street.

Vitor said he wasn’t participating in the parade. And yet here he is. On my grandmother’s throne. Wearingmycolors!

Uni and Neh-Neh see me first, and there is some commotion as they shoulder their way across the street, cutting through the last of Vitor’s procession until they reach me.

“What are you doing?” Leith hisses as he catches up.

His legs are far from mended. Running as he did is not good.

“I need to do this,” I tell him.“Alone.”

He flinches but doesn’t argue. “I’ll escort you.”

I want to kiss him. To go up on my toes and show him—show everyone—that he matters to me.

But that would make him a target. And the arena will be hard enough without Soro’s enmity. So while I’m so grateful that Leith would risk himself for me, I cannot let him go through with it.

“This isn’t your fight, Leith.Ineed to make my presence known. Not just in the castle or the council but to all of Arrow.”

Leith grimaces but ultimately nods. It isn’t because of my title. Leith simply respects that I must make my own choices.

He turns to Uni. “Can you accompany her?”

Uni shares a look with his wife. Neh-Neh’s mouth trembles, and then she nods encouragingly and holds her hands out for the baby. They will not abandon me, though there is risk to themselves if they stand beside me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Is your father at the castle?” Leith asks, his gaze darting around. “Jakeb, I mean.”

“No, he’s at the manor.”

Many of the Middling and Commoners assembled are taking notice. Rather than follow toward the castle, they’re staring at us. Pointing at us.

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