Page 14 of A Simple Truth

A muscle in my jaw twitched and I took a long breath, keeping my voice cool and constrained.

“Your anger, however righteous it might be, is misplaced. To answer your question, if it was that simple, believe me, I would’ve done it already. I reap no benefit from their suffering.”

“Itisthat simple. You can take your army and save them,” she countered, taking a step closer.

“Seems like you have all the answers, Finn. Perhaps, you can provide more of yoursimplesolutions for me. If I take myDestroyerarmy to march across Esnox to the Rock Quarries tomorrow, it would be an open act of war. Then, everyone would know the Destroyers’ clear involvement with the Rebels. Everyone would know ofmyinvolvement, so all the intel I’ve gathered would be pointless. We would be left with no allies, no knowledge of their armies, and no plan of attack. So answer me this, Finn, when we lose the war we are not yet prepared for, areyougoing to protect the few surviving Magic Wielders? Granted, that is if there would be any left after the Queen makes her move. Is it going to beyourpeople murdered in an ambush the moment we start a war on a whim? Why would I sacrifice all their futures and the future of Magic Wielders for your human friends, whoever they are?” I harshly answered, my eyes darkening with a warning.

“His name is Viyak.”

“Great...Perhaps, you should ask yourself ifhislife is worth more than the rest of theirs?” I motioned with my chin toward the camp outside the tent. “Because if you tell me right now thatthis one human life is more valuable than all of theirs, then I will retrieve him for you myself. I will bring him to you on a silver platter. I will pay the price for you with many, if you answer me this onesimplequestion: is his life worth more than all of theirs combined?”

Devastation flashed through her face, as she pulled her eyes away from me.

“No,” she finally said, her voice quiet, almost a whisper. The sorrowful look on her face made my heart ache with unfamiliar to me feelings.

“You wanted the truth, so here it is. Whether you like it or not, everyone pays the price in war. Now, if there is nothing else that Ioweyou, I must attend to some urgent matters,” I said, feeling regretful for how this conversation had unfolded.

Before I could say anything else, Finn stormed off without another word, my eyes trailing her departing figure. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I closed my eyes, wondering if, for once, the price to win had become too high for me to pay.

9

FINNLEAH

Little rays of bright, morning sun snuck past the covered windows, landing straight onto my face. I stifled a loud yawn, noticing the still-slumbering women in the tent. Though my headache was gone, I got out of bed with a heavy feeling in my stomach.

I laced up my boots, resenting my bladder for making me go out into the freezing cold. Moving my blankets, I grabbed my winter cloak off the edge of my bed, only now noticing a small note alongside the polished and cleaned Heart Piercer, placed at the foot of my bed.

I hesitantly broke the wax seal, opening the letter as my eyes trailed the neatly written lines.

As ‘owed’, your Basalt Glass dagger. Be a good girl and try not to stab anyone with it while I am away.Please.

Yours truly,

Gideon Bellator

My eyes narrowed at the underlinedplease,and I folded theletter away. I gripped the bloodthirsty dagger, contemplating who I could stab out of spite, irked by his sheer cockiness. The perfectly balanced dagger felt light in my hand. It wascomforting to have it back, despite the odd pull that came with it. It felt as though my very blood was retreating from its cold, sharp surface.

I clung to the bit of familiarity that the glass blade brought, sheathing it at my hip as I walked out of the tent. The crisp, ice-covered grass outside crunched under my feet as I ambled towards the bathroom, passing the now-empty tent of the Destroyer General. I stopped a patrolling soldier as he made his rounds.

“When will the General be back?” I asked him.

“A month, if not longer.” He shrugged, scratching his scrawny, red beard.

“What? Where did he go?” I asked again, hiding a sudden wave of disappointment.

“I’m not sure exactly, but I’d guess to address more of the Mad Queen’s demands?” he said, walking away.

Suddenly, I became aware of the hidden part of me, which regretted how our conversation had transpired last night—heated, accusatory, a bit harsh. Perhaps I was so eager to be heard, that I forgot to listen. But another part of me wished he would be here now, so that kernel of regret would quickly die from a single look at his smug face.

Deep inside, I knew the General was right, and I hated myself for it.

Every war has a price—yes, one I would not recompense with the lives of many.

But one I would gladly pay with my own.

10

FINNLEAH

---