Page 162 of Ash and Feather

“I know what you’re thinking.” My sister gave me a grim smile. “But it’s not as bad as it looks.”

The rage that overtook me was so intense, so all-consuming, that I didn’t trust myself to speak through it. I closed my eyes and willed another wave of calmness to overtake me.

I’m fine, I assured Dravyn, before he could ask.

“You’ve been bearing countless scars and bruises on your own for years,” Savna said. “Now we’re a bit more even, that’s all.”

“That doesn’t make it any better,” I said, fiercely. “How could you think I would—”

“Is thisreallywhat you summoned me here to discuss?”

I snapped my mouth shut.

“It’s not, is it?”

“No.”

“Focus, then.”

It irked me to be ordered around by her—like I was still just her kid sister, nothing more—but I also knew she was right. There was no shortage of things we could spend the next several hours raging about. This wouldn’t fix anything, however.

“So here I am,” she prompted. “Butwhyam I here?”

I jerked my head toward the gatehouse. She moved first. I managed to follow her lead, and once we were inside, I took a deep breath and rattled off the speech I’d rehearsed before I had a chance to freeze up and overthink it.

“The King of Galizur is planning something,” I told her. “Retaliation for Mindoth, and for all the transgressions the elves have made against this kingdom before that. A battle to end all others. And Andrel led me to believe he has something similar planned from your side of things.”

She neither confirmed nor denied the last part. She was listening intently, though, so I kept talking.

“If we let these sides clash, I fear there will be no coming back from it. This realm will be devastated by such a war. Elves, humans—bothsides will be ruined.”

The room felt small, cramped and dark as it was with all the uncertain, heavy things between us. The only light came from a single square, barred window. Savna moved toward this brokensunlight, but stopped short of it, as if she didn’t want to risk being seen by anyone outside.

She lowered her voice when she finally replied—even though we were surrounded by thick stone with no one close enough to hear us. “What do you want from me, Karys?” Exasperation filled her voice, yet there was a genuine plea underneath it.

Tell me what to do.

Tell me how we can fix this.

“I have the king almost willing to listen to my advice,” I said. “And he may be willing to reconsider his plans for attack, too, if I can convince him that you might do the same. But I can’t do it on my own. I need you to speak to him.”

She shook her head, unconvinced.

“Iknowyou, Savna,” I pressed. “I haven’t been there to watch it happen, but I know you have followers who would march with you to whatever ending—you were always the one who could rally others. You have as much control over the rebellion factions as Andrel does.”

“I don’t think we have enough to stand against the ones who are more loyal to Andrel.”

“But you have me, too.” I stepped closer, effectively cornering her. “And the divine court I belong to as well—”

She scoffed at the mention of the gods.

“The king is a potential ally, too,” I insisted.

“Yes, but Andrel—”

“He killed Cillian,” I blurted out, frustration taking hold of my tongue and turning it sharp. “He killed every hostage taken that night from Mindoth. Snuck poison into their water so they couldn’t spill any secrets. Does that not make you want to at leasttryto stand up to him?”

Her gaze was wild as it fixed on mine, flashing between fear, grief, anger—all the emotions I’d felt since learning the news, all at once.

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