Page 145 of Stormvein
He picks out four from our group. They lead Lisandra away, her eyes finding mine as she passes. There’s something in her gaze, not quite defiance, but not surrender either. She’s planning something, working an angle I haven’t seen yet.
“I want to thank you all for your loyalty,” I say to the remaining fighters, men and women who’ve followed me into danger without question, who’ve risked everything for a cause that sometimes seems hopeless. Some bear fresh wounds from Blackstone Ridge, bandages that speak of close calls and narrow escapes. All of them have risked their lives over the past few days. “Please, go to your homes and rest.”
With nods, or hands touching chests, they take their leave. Once the door closes behind the last of them, Ellie turns to me.
“What do we do now?” She isn’t asking about Lisandra or the ride here. She’s asking what we do now that Sereven knows I’m alive, knowssheexists.
“The prophecy. We need to find out more about it.”
“I thought you said you didn’t put much faith in prophecy.”
“I prefer tangible evidence over mystical interpretation, but the dream predictions and Sereven’s reaction can’t be ignored. But first …” I move to pour water from a pitcher on the side table. “Food and rest. We need clear minds for this.”
I offer her a drink, which she accepts.
“Do you think the Veinwarden leaders will know anything about it?”
“I would assume so. The prophecy emerged after my imprisonment. It may contain references that I am unaware of.”
She sets the cup down after drinking half of it. “And Lisandra?”
“She will remain secured below until her fate is decided.”
“You mean until you make a decision on whether to kill her or not.”
I don’t deny it. There’s no point in pretending the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, hasn’t been circling in my head like a carrion bird since the moment she admitted the scope of her betrayal.
“Her betrayal goes deeper than just how it affected me. Actions have consequences.”
“I know.” Her voice is quiet, but there’s steel underneath it. “I watched you dying because of what she did.”
“She will receive Veinwarden justice. It will not be my decision alone that determines her fate. It will be given to the Veinwarden leaders to discuss and vote upon.”
“We need to talk to her first. She saw Sereven’s reaction to me. To my name. She might know something.”
She’s right, and I hate that she’s right. As much as I want to leave Lisandra to rot in that cell until her trial, she may be our only source of information about things that happened while I was imprisoned. Everything she says will need to be verified, every claim checked against other sources, but it’s a starting point.
“After we’ve discovered what information might already exist within Stonehaven. I don’t want to rely solely on the word of a proven traitor.”
Varam returns then. “Lisandra is secured. Four guards on rotation.”
“Good. Do you know whether there are any copies of the full Veinblood Prophecy kept here?”
“I believe so.”
“Could you bring it to me?”
“Of course.” He nods, and departs.
While we wait, Ellie moves around the room, stopping at the maps spread out across the table. I cross to the door and ask the guards outside to arrange for food to be brought, along with hot water so we can clean off the travel dirt.
“Do you think we’ll find anything in the prophecy?”
“I don’t know. But Sereven recognized your name, and my dream said that truths will be revealed. There must be a reason.”
She falls silent, tracing her finger over the map. I cross the room and crouch in front of the hearth to light the fire, bringing some much-needed warmth to the space. It doesn’t take long before Ellie leaves her position by the table to take a seat nearby, leaning toward the flames.
Varam returns shortly after with a wooden case containing the scroll. He places it on the table and glances between us.
