Page 203 of Glow of the Everflame

“He did leave a note. I delivered it to the palace this morning myself. Did you receive it?”

I gave a jerky nod. “I did. Thank you.”

“I, um, that is... I thought he would have explained in his letter.”

I shook my head, and Henri’s father swore under his breath.

“I told him to stay,” he confessed quietly. “I think, maybe... maybe it was too hard for him to face the possibility that you might...” He grimaced. “Well... you know.”

“Yes.” I swallowed hard. “That must be it.”

“It’s a barbaric thing, that Challenging. Disgusting. Should have stopped long ago.”

I stared at him in a daze.

Itwasbarbaric. Itwasdisgusting. But still I had to face it—and I would have to do it without Henri.

Numbly, I backed away. “Thank you, Mr. Albanon. I’m sorry I bothered you.”

“Diem, wait.” His features twisted, his expression lined with an old, inescapable grief. “Losing his mother the way he did... Henri’s never been good with death or goodbyes. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. This has all been a lot for him to handle.”

I smiled tightly. “It’s been a lot for me to handle, too.”

He sighed and lowered his head, and I turned to leave, my heart splintering in my chest.

“We’re all praying for you,” he called out. “Some people thought you might forget us once you got to the palace. Then word started spreading about what you’ve been doing—for the orphanage and the healers. A friend who works for one of the big Descended Houses says he heard they wanted to kick us all out of the realm, and you refused.”

I glanced back at him. “If I fail tomorrow, life for the mortals could get much harsher. You should prepare for the worst.”

“We know.” He gave me a deep, slow bow. “We believe in you, Your Majesty. Go give ‘em hell.”

ChapterForty

“You’re going to stay here at the palace, right?”

Silence.

“You’re not going to take off and follow me as soon as I leave?”

More silence.

“No matter what trouble you sense, you’re going tostay here. Right?”

Still silence.

“Right?”

Two reptilian eyes blinked at me.

“Sorae!”

The gryvern snorted loudly, the sound coming out sharp and indignant. The dark tip of her tail smacked loudly against the stone floor as it whipped around her.

I grazed my hand down the length of her snout. “I don’t like it either, but you know the rules. If you come crashing in to save me, the Challenging won’t count. I have to do this alone... even if it kills me.”

Sorae let out a low growl, her breath growing blisteringly hot as azure fire glowed in her throat.

Because the Challenging was a modern creation, not part of the Forging spell that governed all of Emarion’s magic, it worked in direct conflict to Sorae’s obligation to protect my life at all costs. Past Lumnos Crowns had gone so far as to chain her to the ground to keep her from interfering.

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