Page 72 of The Scarlet Star

Ryn relaxed and nodded. “And about the senses trial where you’ll be blindfolded…” She inhaled a light breath as she thought about the assassins. If Xerxes died—she could hardly think about that—her deal would fall through, and she wouldn’t inherit half the kingdom and save the Adriel people. But…

Would he be angry she’d known all this time and was only telling him now? Would it break the delicate trust they’d built? And worse, would the King demand to know where she got her information from? What if Ryn was dragged away as a suspect? Would she utter the names of the Priesthood under interrogation? What if she gave up Kai?

A headache formed behind her eyes. She rubbed her temples, and a strand of her hair broke loose.

“What about the blindfold trial?” Xerxes asked when she didn’t finish. He unfolded his arms and took a step toward her, eyeing the strand of hair over her face. He raised a hand slightly, but he pulled his fingers in and dropped it back down again.

Ryn met his gaze. Despite all the things she felt since entering the tower, she couldn’t imagine those dark blue eyes lifeless and cold. Yes, she would save Xerxes from those assassins. She would ensure he wasn’t killed that day, she would complete their deal, and she would inherit half the kingdom for her people.

But she could not tell him. She would find another way.

“Ryn,” Xerxes said when she didn’t answer. He bit his lips and squinted his eyes. “That blindfold trial will be the death of me,”he remarked, and Ryn nearly choked. “I’m going to have to sit there with my eyes covered like a fool. I have to endure whatever nonsense the maidens come up with, and I’m only supposed to take the blindfold off if I’m truly entertained to give my approval. I hate the thought of it,” he admitted. Then he guessed, “Will you play your harp?”

Ryn shook her head. “I’m not sure what will happen to the gods in the room if I do.” She didn’t explain.

A devilish smile tugged on Xerxes mouth. “Give me a hint then, so I’ll know when it’s you.”

“Never.” Ryn fought an untimely smile. “You’ll have to guess.”

“Ryn,” he urged, dragging in another step.

There they were, smiling at each other. Again.

By the Divinities, Ryn was sure she’d be responsible for her own demise if she kept letting him smile at her like that. She thought about what Heva said,“You two are like magnets. You always get pulled toward each other.”

There was a reason for that. Xerxes was a boy on an island, after all. He was a boy who saw a ship passing by with Ryn on it. He’d found a way to escape the poisonous sea.

She had no idea if her ship was about to sink with both of them on it.

19

KAI

The storm swallowed the Mother City whole. Rain pattered over the Navy Road, turning it slick and forcing the silver carriages to slide off course. Per-Siana citizens rushed indoors to escape the downpour, leaving most of the streets empty of souls.

Apart from two.

Kai followed the B’rei Mira spy, rain drenching his black cloak that shadowed his face and concealed his green robe of the Priesthood. He hadn’t taken his sights off the man for days.He’d hardly eaten as he crept into revelry taverns to listen, as he hid behind temple pillars, as he dangled from rafters—all to eavesdrop on these intruders who had come to cause mischief in Per-Siana. He’d written down as much as he could interpret of their objectives, but some things he couldn’t understand. The B’rei Mira language was a complex linguistic challenge, even for him.

The intruder entered a bed house up ahead. Kai climbed the side of the building to spy into the room. When he was sure the man had fallen asleep for the night, Kai leapt from the windowsill, back onto the muddy road, and ran for the Priesthood Temple.

The grass was heavily watered when Kai reached the temple and swept around to the back door. He knocked, and Jonathan opened it immediately to let him in.

“Saturn has been waiting for you for hours,” Jonathan informed him.

Kai sighed and marched through the temple to the great room. Only a few torches were lit—most of the priests had gone to bed, but Saturn stood by the fireplace, watching the flames.

“It’s nearly time. B’rei Mira will strike at the palace soon. I don’t think they have the numbers inside the kingdom to send an army; I think they plan to infiltrate quietly. Possibly with only one person,” Kai reported as he approached.

Saturn didn’t answer right away. When he did, it came out quiet. “Do you think perhaps we’re in the wrong?” he asked. The young priest had been strange lately, lost in self reflection for days while the battle waged on around him. “Sometimes I wonder if raising weapons against the Weylin people in secret is only causing more harm.”

Kai set his jaw. “I had the same thought once. But then I came upon an Adriel family being harassed and beaten in the street. It’s not fair what they’re doing to us.”

Saturn nodded slowly. “There have been strange things happening around here, Kai,” he said. He lifted a finger to the temple. “I can’t explain it. The air feels colder, and the priests are restless. It used to be peaceful here.”

The logs on the fire made a popping sound.

Kai sighed and folded his arms. “Maybe you’re right,” he said. “Maybe we’ve gotten a little off course. But I can’t very well abandon these B’rei Mira intruders if I know they plan to go where my cousin is.”

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