Page 23 of Artemysia
Cold dread runs up my spine. Which rules? Before I can ask what that will entail during this mission, he goes on.
“He’s grown out of my control, unfortunately.” He sighs and presses two fingers against his temple. “Should you find that he works against us, by my authority, you must neutralize him.”
Neutralize? It takes me a second. “Arrest and detain him?”
He shakes his head, then drops me a knowing look. “If he becomes detrimental to the mission…”
Oh, gods. My gut lurches with disgust, threatening to spew out my breakfast.
He would sacrifice Riev like that? How can he expect me to eliminate one of my own men? To work to gain his trust, only to stab him in the back?
I would never.
He must sense my hesitation, because he adds, “You’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to succeed?” It’s less a question and more of a command.
I wipe my face clean of any emotion. A good leader appears adaptable, even if their mind is made up.
My gaze clashes with his. “The strongest tree moves with the storm; because it bends, it does not break,” I say assuredly, hoping he gleans the answer he wants from it. My mother said it all the time, and it’s stuck with me over the years.
He nods, studying me. “Precisely. I am only trying to save South Kingdom, same as you. I have no other agenda,” he adds grimly.
I want to believe him, despite every book I’ve ever read onpolitics and strategy warning me otherwise. The texts say there are three typesof rulers.
Those who seekmorepower.
Those who fight toretainpower.
Those who have achieved their ambitions and look torelinquishtheir power, knowing their work is done.
I want to believe King Galke is the second type, and that is why he uses Riev—to retain power. I don’t want to believehe seeks more power, because those who seek more power usually do not deserve it.
While I don’t doubt that he wants to save the people of South Kingdom, I begin to see that there has to be more to crossing Artemysia than that.
It’s whatI have no other agendausually means to those in power.
That there is one.
“A job like that must wrench your soul in more ways than one.” - Delphine
“The fate of humanity? What a drama king,” Throg mutters from where he waited for me outside the stone walls of the war room.
He spends the rest of the walk back to the food hall questioning me about Riev. “Did you know you kissed the king’s bestassassin?
“…What’s the deadliestsoldierwe havetastelike?
“…How awkward will it be on this mission, on a scale of one to ten? Ten being how ruby-red you are now? Does his violence turn you on?”
He loses it, throwing his head back to laugh hysterically.
“Effin’ hell, Throg.”
“We’re not twelve anymore. You can sayfucking, Elphie.” His cheeks swell as he tries to catch his breath, but he fails. His unabashed laughter continues to echo down the stone corridor.
He knows there are certain curse words I just can’t say.
I could punch him, but instead, I let him have hiseffin’fun and ignore him the rest of the way back.
I don’t want to talk about it. About Riev. About the fate of humankind. And I keep my final conversation with King Galke to myself.
