Page 52 of Ash and Feather

It was much quieter in the streets than before, even once I passed back into the more residential area of the city. Although, if I strained, I could hear the roar of a crowd building far in the distance—most of the city was gathering toward the square the soldier had mentioned, I assumed.

Somewhat reluctantly, I kept moving toward that sound. I was looking more and more closely at potential getaway routes as I drew nearer—which is what led to me staring down a narrow, winding path lined with blue flowers.

On the other end of it, I could just make out the edge of what looked to be a monument made of white stone.

The stone was so massive, and shining so beautifully in the sun, that curiosity got the better of me.

I followed the path and found myself facing a wide open, natural space that seemed completely at odds with the city behind me. I forgot about the stone monument for a moment as I kneeled, pressing a hand into impossibly lush grass. Hills of that grass rolled in all directions, dotted with more blue flowers that shivered in the slight breeze.

Trees bursting with blossoms were spaced evenly along the edge of the space, blocking out much of the noise from the city. The quiet made the place feel oddly solemn, maybe even sacred, and I wondered again what the monument at the front of it stood for.

Only as I started to make my way back to the street did I pause long enough to study that stone more closely, and what I saw sent chills racing through my entire body.

It was covered in names.

Hundreds of names.

I didn’t count them all. I didn’t have to. Dravyn had already told me the exact number months ago. And the reason for the lush, fertile grass and the strange, solemn air of this place suddenly became clear.

It was a mass grave.

I backed away slowly, not stopping until I was surrounded by grey streets and buildings once more. The city reeled around me. I resumed my original path with shaky legs, only this time I keptmy eyes straight ahead and didn’t stop until I reached the crowd at the square.

It was even more massive than I’d expected.

I disappeared among the shifting, jostling bodies for several minutes, grateful for the noise that drowned out my thoughts along with my pained, uneven breaths.

Once I’d somewhat collected myself, I moved to a clearer space and stretched taller, surveying the area, still determined to finish what I’d set out to do.

There were four humans standing upon a small platform I hadn’t noticed during my earlier walk through this part of the city. An elven soldier stood between them with a roll of paper in his hands, reading the charges against them. The noise around me made it hard to hear what he was saying, but whispers carried through the crowd quickly enough, repeating his words with increasing fervor.

Spying, trespassing, thievery—all the things I was also guilty of, but which I’d gotten away with merely because I looked like I could belong here.

My gaze dropped to my boots. I didn’t need to watch any of these executions. It was enough to know they were happening.

I didn’t need to look.

Why, why,whydid I look?

I didn’t know why, but as several members of the crowd inhaled sharply, I lifted my head. I looked toward the platform just in time to catch a sword gleaming in the daylight.

Just in time to see the executioner’s face before she turned her back to me.

Everything seemed to crash to a stop.

Because the one holding the blade was my sister.

And before I could even whisper her name, she swung.

Chapter 14

Karys

I didn’t seethe head hit the ground—I was too busy staring at my sister’s smiling face—but I heard the sickening thud as a brief hush swept over the crowd.

Savna winced at the sound, but her smile never faltered.

The longer I stared at her, the more disconnected I became from myself and my surroundings.

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