Page 138 of A Blightress of Wrath
“He’salive,”Thevincalled. “Comehere.Ineed you to stop the bleeding.”
Mylips trembled, butIrose, stepping toward the manI’dalmost murdered in cold blood because he said something so foul,Isnapped.
“Righthere,”Thevinurged. “Closethis gash.”
“Sarchio,”Iwhispered, my teeth chattering in a coldIfelt to my bones.
Thewound slowly closed, my magic returning to the hazy whiteI’dknown all my life.
Thevinpressed his fingers toMavryn’spulse. “He’lllive,Sae.Youdidn’t kill him.”
Ilet out a pathetic sob of relief, my nails digging intoThevin’sarm. “Wehave to tell my mother,”Isaid, still staring at the pool of blood trailing through the grooved lines of the tiled floor.
Henodded. “Wehave to tell one of theFour.Itdoesn’t have to be your mother.There’sno one else high enough in rank to dismiss him and do so quietly.”
“He’llbe dismissed?”Iasked, bleary eyed, my thoughts swimming.
“Whatdid he do?”
Isobered atThevin’stone.
“Hewas angry.Heblamed me for the loss of his parents and sister.”
“Didhe touch you?”
“Doesit matter?”Iscoffed, “Lookat him!Ialmost killed a man,Thevin!Idon’t even remember snapping.”Igulped again, my throat scratchy asIsaid, “Mymagic turned black and…andIheard her speaking in my head again.”
Heshook his head with eyes of cold steel. “Itmatters.Didhe touch you?”
“He-he grabbed me and pushed me to the shadows.”
“Butthat’s not what made you do this,” he said low, rising and glancing toward the hall doors. “Whatcaused this,Sae?Whatturned your power black and called theBlightressto your mind?”
“I-Idon’t…remember.”
“Lie.”Hereached down for my hand and pulled me swiftly to my feet, catching my waist and lifting my chin. “Iwill not harm him further.Tellme what he said to you.”
“Hesaid”—a tear ran hot down my cheek—“he said you’re a better man than him.Andthat he would have…he would have fucked me, and then turned me over to her when he was done.”
Thevinblinked slowly, his jaw feathering in the forceIknew he placed upon it.Hemoved his hand to catch the second tear falling in the trail of the last. “Hedeserved what you gave him and more.Let’sfind your mother and be rid of this.”
“No,”Istopped him as he tried to leave. “Myuncle.Hecan help us.Idon’t want my mother to…Idon’t want to burden her with this or know theBlightressspoke to me again.She’sbarely hanging on as it is, andIdon’t know what this could do.”
“Alright.TheHandlessKingit is.Buttell me you will agree to his judgement.Whateverhe proposes as punishment forMavrynwill happen unhindered.”
Inodded, taking his hand.
Weleft the hall, finding our way out to the foyer and taking the main staircase that led to the royal quarters.
IletThevindo most of the talking.
Myuncle listened, glancing at me in concern occasionally and following us back down to the empty throne room.
Mavrynstirred and was heaving himself up to a sitting position, gripping the side of his head.
“Youare forthwith stripped of duty in theRunner’sarmy,” my uncle called, waving an orange flamed hand toward him. “Atfull dark, you will walk into theBlightLinewhere we leave you to your fate, or you will be escorted toDremstonewhere you will spend the next two years working the mines.”
Mavrynspit blood onto the tiled floor, tilting his head back against the wall. “Andher punishment for the thousands of lives she has ended?”Helaughed bitterly, adding, “Hidingaway in her forest while good people were shattered beyond recognition?Whatjudgment do you place on your niece, wise king?OrshouldIask what judgement you place on your sister?”
