Page 136 of A Blightress of Wrath
Iwaited a moment, wondering ifIwas ready to hear the answer to whatI’dwanted to ask next. “Doyou think this will work?TheDimming,Imean.Arewe ready to face her?”
“Yes.”Shedidn’t hesitate.Noteven a moment of doubt sounded from her voice.
“Alrightthen.”Ileaned into her shoulder and she put her arm around me. “Let’send this and bring my father home.”
* * *
TheLadyLamoralwas dead,andLannawas missing.
Wordwas received three days later of theLadyof theSpire’spassing, followed the next day by a letter from theViceroy, explaining that no one had seenLannasince her usual morning swim in theHatchery.Shewas to report back to theBlightLinethat afternoon.
Itried not to worry and tried harder to convinceThevinthat they would find her and ease his own panic.TheFourand commanders were gathered in the throne room, myself included in the conversation because of my role to play in the upcomingDimming.
Ithad been planned that uponLanna’sarrival back to theBlightLine, we would descend upon theBlightress’slands, beginning our trek to the east and then north.There,Iwould use as much of my power asIcould manage through theSimulairSolumspell and, hopefully, lure theBlightressto us.Butwith news spreading ofLanna’ssudden disappearance, unrest began to flood through the soldiers in distant whispers and colder nights coming from theBlightLine.Ourarmies were at unease as theDimmingloomed ahead.
“Wesaid we’d wait for her, so we should wait.”Thevin, who usually remained silent and reserved at any gatherings, had been persistent and vocal in this one.
Myuncle replied, “Oursoldiers are restless.There’sonly so much training we can do before we must attempt this end once and for all.”TheHandlessKing’swords were difficult to hear, but true, andThevinknew it.
“Lannahas trained all her life for this.”Thevininsisted, stepping further into the circle where we all stood. “Wecannot just give up on her after one day.Shewouldn’t miss this for anything.”
“Exactly,”MadameZoreyahstepped in. “Whichmeans something more sinister is at play here.Wecannot afford to waste more time than we already have gathering all of our forces.Imotion we move into ranks tomorrow and leave for theDimmingthe following day.”
“Sothat’s it?”Thevinscoffed. “You’reall just willing to let this go?Sheis a missingRunnerCommanderand now officially one of theFour.Whatmore could she be before you look for her?”
Mymother chimed in, “Weare looking for her.Ispoke to theViceroydirectly today as soon asIheard.Theyare sending all the guards they can manage to find the heir to theSpire.Weneed to let them do this their own way.AndZoreyahis right.Wecannot wait for long.”Hermouth set into a frown. “Imove to send our forces through theBlightLinein two days hence.”
“Second,”Zoreyahadded.
Theyall looked toKingPhilius.Helowered his head asThevinstared at him across the open space. “Third.”
“Itis done then,” theMadamesaid, turning to the rest of the commandment. “Sendword through your ranks.Gatherneeded provisions and begin packing up the camp.Weleave at dawn the day after next.”
Amurmur filtered through the hall, andThevinturned in a silent calmIknew was just a cover at the surface.
Ishouted his name, rushing to get through the crowd and reach him.
Agruff voice behind me said, “Lethim walk it off.It’swhat he usually does.”
Ispun around, recognizing theRunnerI’dmet on my first day at the city ruins.
Hesheathed the dagger he was using to clean his fingernails and smirked. “Figuredyou’d know that by now.”
“Mavryn, right?”Iasked, remembering his name, but deciding to irritate him anyway.
Hisolive skin had darkened while training in the sun, and his dark eyes glinted as he stepped closer in a casual gait while the room cleared.
Ididn’t fear him.
Ididn’t fear losing whatever bullshit game he wanted to play, either.
“Andyou areSaelyn.OurSavior.TheDaughterof theGreatBaronofFelgren.Thegirl who has come to end the war she stepped her dainty toes into at the last hour.”
Mytemper flared.Ihad no patience for this. “Thinkwhat you want.Youcan go back to whatever life you had before in two days, andI’llnever have to lay eyes on you again.”
Hisarm shot out to grab me asIturned to leave, and he pulled me to the shadowy corner of the hall.Ihadn’t realized how quickly it had emptied, andIdug my nails into his hand as hard asIcould, yanking it from my shirt.
“Nevertouch me again,”Ispat.
