Page 70 of Destroyer

Ru,

By now you’ll have met the repulsive trio of Children they sent to keep an eye on your research. No idea what they expect you to find. Who knows with these religious types. Are they hoping the artifact will prove to be god himself descended from the heavens?

Whatever their aim, I do happen to know that they expect you to deliver results. And quickly. If they don’t see that you’re making progress (toward summoning god??), I have it on good authority that they’ll send even more of the white weasels to the Tower, and who knowswhatthey intend to do to ensure you keep up your end of whatever ridiculous bargain you’ve bumbled your way into.

Your devoted and loving brother,

Simon

Ru’s heart sank. When she had realized the letter was from Simon, she had hoped he might have shed light on the regent’s comment about the traitor and how she’d dealt with the situation. Surely it couldn’t have been that easy. Even a clear answer as to what exactly the regent expected Ru’s team to discover about the artifact would have been nice. Instead, she was still mostly in the dark when it came to Sigrun’s motivations. And now there was added pressure.

If she didn’t “deliver,” there would be further oversight, and it would be impossible to work under those conditions.

CHAPTER24

The next morning, Ru went straight from her room to the dungeon, eager to get started. She was thrumming with nerves and anticipation. They would finally be able to begin proper research. And who could say, maybe the artifact would open up to them like it hadn’t opened up to Ru yet, like a blooming flower, and they would discover something incredible.

It could also be a weapon, a sudden thought intruded.Why would something wonderful come from an object that wiped out an entire dig site? What if it had been there since the Destruction itself?

“You sick, Delara?”

Ru stopped in her tracks at the top of the dungeon stairs. Two different guards were posted there now. With a burst of recognition, she saw that it was Lyr who had spoken. He no longer wore the plumed hat and uniform of a King’s Rider, now fully outfitted in the armor of a King’s Guard.

“Lyr!” she said. “I didn’t see you under all that armor. Are you a king’s guard now?”

“Am indeed,” he said, lifting his chin ever so slightly as he spoke. “Regent Sigrun thought you might need an extra sword.” He frowned slightly, peering down his oversized nose at Ru. “You all right? Look a bit green in the face.”

She chewed her lip. “I’m fine. Just… thinking. Anyway, I’m surprised you’d want to stay here when your friends are at the palace.”

He frowned. “Don’t make me admit to liking you.”

Ru couldn’t help but smile at that. “Does this mean we’re friends, Lyrren Briar?”

The rider-turned-guard glowered, heavy black brows crowding over dark eyes. “It’s Lyr,” he said.

Ru laughed, stealing a faint smile from the guard’s lips. “Thank you for staying, Lyr. You and the others saved my life.”

He nodded once. “Doing our job. Just so happens you attract trouble.”

“Let’s hope that phase of my life is over,” Ru muttered, passing between the guards and down the cool steps that led into the dungeon. Lyr’s presence was a surprising relief to Ru, a balm she didn’t know she needed. He was reticent verging on surly, not as warm and trusting as Rosylla, but even so, she was buoyed by his familiar presence.

When she stepped out into the cavernous room, Ru saw that Fen was already there, lighting a lamp on the artifact’s table. The contrast of light on his face sharpened his cheekbones, his nose in profile almost regal. His hair hung over his eyes as he bent to adjust something, and when he brushed it off his forehead with a hand, he saw Ru standing there watching.

“You snuck up on me,” he said, a smile slowly spreading across his face. “Did you bring coffee?”

“No,” said Ru, smiling back. “But I’m sure Lyr would love to fetch you some.”

“Somehow, I think that’s inaccurate.”

Ru joined him at the table, picking up a pair of thick woolen gloves. The Tower kitchens had generously donated a pile to the cause. Ru had declared it unsafe to handle the artifact without some form of protection. It would be difficult verging on impossible to handle it in any delicate or meaningful way with their hands stuffed into oven mitts, but Ru wouldn’t take any chances.

She found her gaze drawn to the artifact, even wrapped up in its thick blanket.

“Does it scare you?” Fen asked, somehow knowing where her thoughts lay.

“Yes,” she said. She would have been a fool not to be frightened of it.

“Me too,” he said. Somehow, that small admission felt like a revelation. Ru still understood so little of Fen, but she was hungry for more. She craved to know him.

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