Page 86 of Artemysia
Riev’s expression remains unchanged. He means to fight to his death. I see it in his eyes, gray like dirty ice. Cold and destructive.
He flinches when the Syf behind me finally speaks. “Soldiers of South Kingdom.”
We all flinch.
Syf have never been known to speak any language at all.
“You dare attempt the assassination of Syf royalty?” The Syf’s voice is as smooth as his glossy dark hair. “You would have failed, struck down before your sword came within striking distance.” Two Syf ride up to flank him, wearing sea-green and gold uniforms of silk and finely forged metal. The rest of the army shifts in unison—two steps forward on their beautiful steeds.
Riev keeps both hands on his sword, his stance weighted forward. He’s still on the offense. “I don’t care how fancy your ass is in the Syf world, or that you learned the language of Stargazer. I’ll slaughter you all and bathe in your blood.”
The royal Syf ignores Riev. He stares down his long, fine nose at me. Deep chestnut hair, like Riev’s, almost black under the shadowy forest canopy, contrasts his pale blue eyes.
“A human saving the life of a Syf? How perceptive of you to see our hidden army.” The Syf male doesn’t blink.
I wonder if he expects a reply from me, but before I can speak—
Riev shifts forward to stand protectively in front of me, blocking me from view. “Don’t look at her with your disgusting eyes. Whyshewould stop me from killing you sick fuckers is beyond me.”
Those last words are meant for me, and they are a hard punch to the gut.
The Syf’s delicately pointed ears flit as the harsh words escape Riev’s lips.
“There is much of which you are ignorant.” His mouth presses into a firm line, his crystal blue eyes remaining watchful. Perhaps Riev makes him nervous. It’s the same look with which King Galke regarded Riev in the war room—the wary look of a man treading cautiously around an angry, caged lion.
“All I know is that the Syf are murderous animals,” Riev replies, the accusation ripping from his throat with a menacing snarl as he flips the handle of his sword, shifting into a backhand grip.
“Riev,” I warn.
The regal Syf sighs heavily, and it’s hard to tell what emotion he feels as he utters his next words forcefully:
“Riev, I have been searching for you, you half-Syf beast. I am King Foss of Artemysia, and you will lay down your blade and heed my words.”
Half-Syf beast?The King…of Artemysia…knows Riev’s name?
I stare dumbfounded at the Syf king for a moment longer, as if he might break into a smile and I’d know it was a joke. But he does no such thing.
So it’s true. Riev is half-Syf. When I glance at Riev, his hand is bloodless from his death grip on his sword.
When he refuses to lay down his blade, a guard beside the king stiffens, her hand going to the hilt of her broadsword.
“Riev, listen to him,” I plead. There’s a beat of defiant silence, and I believe he will challenge me again. But for whatever reason—maybe even to momentarily deceive and defy the king before us—Riev listens to me and lowers his blade.
A murmur rumbles across the Syf army behind the king.
The Syf king frowns at me. “Youare in command? It seems I’ve been addressing the wrong individual.” His lips part in neither a smile nor a sneer. He has no fangs as far as I can see. Just normal blunt teeth.
I address Syf King Foss. “Your Majesty, we mean you no harm if you intend the same for my company.”
Throg and Ivy have inched their way closer behind me, armed and poised. “I am responsible for the safety of my squad.” I raise a palmby my side to stop Throg and Ivy from advancing. “They will obey me and lay down their weapons if your men do the same.”
The Syf king folds an armored forearm across his waist, as if posing for a painting, and his army lowers their spears, arrows, and blades.
Ivy’s bull elk stamps and chuffs, but the Syf army is silent.
The king speaks again. “I am only here for Riev. Relinquish your responsibility of him to me, and you and yours may leave. He is summoned to court. He must answer for his crimes against his own people,” he says ominously.
I swallow. I don’t want to sound as nervous as I feel. “Riev is under my command. He has committed no more wrongdoing against your people than the rest of us. I do not trade my men for my own safety.”
