Page 53 of Realms of Swords and Storms
She hesitated, then nodded, settling back beside me. The warmth of her arm against mine was a comfort I clung to as the meeting continued, the plans growing more detailed, more concrete—and potentially more dangerous.
By the time Kalen called the meeting to a close, my leg was throbbing mercilessly, and sweat had broken out across mybrow despite the cellar's chill. The wound was hot to the touch—not a good sign. I needed rest, herbs, proper time to heal. But there was no time, not with the festival less than two weeks away.
As the crowd began to disperse, Kalen caught my eye, making a subtle gesture for me to remain. I nodded, then turned to Livia.
"Go ahead with Marcus and Antonius," I said, trying to keep my voice casual. "I’ll speak with Kalen and Mira about our concerns and then catch up."
I watched as she left with Marcus and Antonius. The big northerner had positioned himself protectively at her side, a gesture that might have sparked jealousy if I hadn't recognized the look in his eyes—not desire, but a kind of reverent admiration. He was falling for her, though I doubted he even realized it himself yet. Another complication in our already complicated lives.
When the cellar had emptied save for a few core members, Kalen and Mira approached, pulling up chairs across from me.
"How's the leg?" Kalen asked without preamble, his eyes sharp beneath bushy grey brows.
"Healing," I lied. "I'll be ready for the festival."
He nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Because we have something specific in mind for you."
Mira glanced around, then leaned forward, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "What we're about to tell you doesn't leave this table. Not everyone needs to know all aspects of the plan."
A prickle of unease ran up my spine. "I understand."
"The festival demonstration is proceeding as discussed," Kalen said, his weathered hands folded before him. "But there's another element, a more... decisive action being planned simultaneously."
"What kind of action?" I asked, my mouth suddenly dry.
Mira and Kalen exchanged a glance. "The less you know right now, the better," Mira said. "But it will strike at the heart of Imperial power in a way that can't be ignored or dismissed as a simple protest."
"Why tell me at all, then?" I couldn't keep the edge from my voice.
Kalen's expression was grave. "Because when the moment comes, we'll need someone with your particular... skills. Someone who understands what's truly at stake for the Talfen."
My blood ran cold. They knew. They knew what happened when I lost control, when the rage took over. They'd heard about Varin, about what I'd done to him in that alley.
"I'm not an assassin," I said carefully.
"We're not asking you to be," Kalen assured me, though something in his eyes made me doubt his sincerity. "Just to be ready. To do what's necessary when the time comes."
"And what exactly will be necessary?"
"We'll brief you fully closer to the event," Mira said, her tone making it clear the subject was closed for now. "For the moment, all you need to know is that we're trusting you with information few others have. The success of everything we've worked for may depend on your actions that day."
The weight of their words pressed down on me like a physical force. I'd joined the resistance to fight for my people, for a future where Talfen and humans could coexist without fear or hatred. But there had always been lines I wouldn't cross—innocents I wouldn't endanger, certain acts I wouldn't commit, no matter the cause.
"I need to know what you're planning," I insisted. "I can't agree to something blindly."
Kalen's expression hardened slightly. "You joined this movement knowing the risks, knowing that we fight against an Empire that has slaughtered your people for generations. Areyou having doubts now, when we're finally poised to make a real difference?"
"Not doubts about the cause," I said carefully. "Just about the methods."
"Sometimes," Mira said softly, "freedom requires blood. You know this better than most."
The implication was clear, and it stung. They were using my heritage, my Talfen blood, as a lever to ensure my compliance. The worst part was, it was working. I did know the cost of freedom. I'd seen it firsthand in burning villages, in public executions, in the haunted eyes of half-blood children orphaned by Imperial "pacification" efforts.
"I'll do what's necessary," I finally said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "But I want the full briefing as soon as possible. No last-minute surprises."
Kalen nodded, apparently satisfied. "Soon. In the meantime, keep this between us. Not everyone has the stomach for what must be done."
Not even Livia, went the unspoken suggestion. The thought of keeping secrets from her twisted something in my gut, but I nodded anyway. Until I knew exactly what they were planning, perhaps it was better she remained ignorant. Plausible deniability, Septimus would call it.
