Page 46 of Of Blood and Banes
“Ummm…” I glance back up at the map, caught off guard that he’s expecting me to weigh in on the plan. “I guess through Ashfall, if it’s faster?”
He nods. “Very well. In that case, prepare your squad. We leave in two nights.”
CHAPTER 16
THE SECOND RING
After I leave Sethan’s office and head toward my room, I spot Marge hobbling across the cobblestone street a few blocks to my north and struggle to keep myself from breaking into an overeager pace toward her. She slips down an alley out of my view.
As soon as I’m close enough, I rest a hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking. “I need to talk to you.”
I whisk her further away from Midkeep and into the forest, away from any potential listening ears.
As soon as we are outside of town, I turn to her. “Why the hells didn’t you tell me about this ring linking me to the King?”
Irritation flickers in her narrowed gaze as soon as I use profanity, remaining when I finish my sentence. “He told you?”
“He did.”
She mutters something inaudible under her breath.
I lower my hand to my side. “When were you planning on sharing that information with me?”
She grumbles, “You weren’t quite ready to know that bit yet.”
“But you felt like you could trust Cole over me?”
“That wasn’t my intention, and you know it. But I knew out of everyone here, he can be trusted the most to protect you.”
“And so you told my brother?—”
“He’s not your brother. So, let’s stop pretending he is.”
“W-what?”
“Everyone is so busy looking at you, they don’t see howhelooks at you. How he speaks about you, whether or not you’re in the room. Let’s cut the facade.”
I take a step back. “But…you never said anything?”
Even after she knew Cole was engaged to Celeste. To King Aaric’s granddaughter. It’s enough to convince me of her loyalty to me. After all this time, she could have easily ratted me out.
She shrugs, turning her attention back to Midkeep. “I’ve learned not to stick my nose in affairs that don’t involve me. It’s none of my business. Besides, I see the way you watch him, too. The way you speak of him. You love him.”
Or…maybe loved. I’m not so sure anymore, and if I let myself think about it for too long, it’ll only open a world of pain. I shove it aside.
She must notice the turmoil in my expression, because she quickly averts her eyes and scans the forest. “I didn’t want it to scare you. And I didn’t want you to make any rash decisions. Cole understood that. Why he suddenly had a change of heart and mind is beyond me.”
“Stop dallying, Marge. What else aren’t you telling me because you don’t feel like I’m ready for it? This ring links me to the King. You want me to hide it, and I know it’s powerful. But what else?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying! For someone who loves to tell everyone else how much she trusts me, you have yet to share everything.”
Finally, she turns to me with a sigh. “Do you remember what I told you back in Arterias? How there used to be an old, ancient language, forgotten after Aaric came to power?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what the first word was in the common tongue?”
