Page 3 of Kingdom of Today
“They aren’t difficult now?” I squeaked. Then I muttered, “Leave me, fear.” Watch Arden put one of those expert teachings to work: speaking to fear when it speaks to her and reminding it of who’s boss. Because once again, Cyrus wasn’t wrong. If I didn’t put what I’d learned to work, I would absolutely crumble. “I’m strong and brave, and I can overcome anything.”
“Yes, you are, and you can. Never forget.”
Right. Imustkeep my eyes on the prize: Breaking through mass terror stoked by CURED and proving everything we’d been taught the whole of our lives was a lie. Stopping the purposeful spread of a terrible disease known as the Madness and defeating Astan before his human-animal acolytes wake from their centuries-long slumber and slaughter us all. Talk about treasure upon treasure. And yet, the obstacles.
We were up against a war machine with well-oiled cogs. CURED had an unfathomable number of supporters who believed Soalians like us were a threat to civilization. Once, I’d been among their numbers.
“When I’m king, as I was born to be,” Cyrus said with steel, menace, and relish, “I will dismantle CURED and free every imprisoned Soalian.”
Goose bumps spread over my limbs. “King Cyrus Dolion. I like it.”
“Not as much as you like calling me sugar bear, I hope.” Some of his previous playfulness returned.
I rolled my eyes, but I also smiled. Despite the seriousness of our circumstances, he still showcased a sense of humor reserved for me alone, and I couldn’t help but tease him about it. “You are so into me.”
“I am. I’m all in with you, Arden.” The sudden gravity of his tone affected me as strongly as his nearness. “Whatever happens in the coming days, remember that.”
“I’m all in with you too,” I whispered, taking his wonderful confession and planting it in the Beloved Moments section of my memory garden. Since my childhood, I’d longed to work in agriculture. I’d been forced to join the military instead. Now, I gardened the only way I could—inside my mind. What better way to keep track of my double life?
Less than a minute remained until we arrived.
Doom prickled me, a seed born of mysterious origins, and my stomach curdled. Why feel this way? Inhale, exhale. No reason to discuss it right now, adding to our plate of problems. I’d wait until I’d dug deeper and discovered the source. For the time being, I buried the doom in my least favorite section of the memory garden: Problems for Later.
“I can’t tell you everything that will happen today,” Cyrus said, “but I can tell you this. We’ll be separated. You’ll be shut in a room, tested for Madness, and questioned.”
I swiped my tongue over suddenly dry lips. “Got any hot, new tips for thriving during a CURED interrogation? Something you may have forgotten while we practiced?”
“Just remember what I told you. The interrogator’s comments and questions might seem innocuous, but they are designed to trigger your defenses so that you’ll elaborate and explain why you did certain things, what you thought or intended. Don’t fall into the trap. Answer only what is asked, never elaborate.”
“No elaborating.” I tapped my temple, pretending this was all no big deal and I wasn’t a weak link in our partnership.
He wasn’t done. “Don’t lie or exaggerate. Every word will be used against you at some point.”
“Noted. I’ll take a page from your book and misdirect.”
He might have winced. Since his misdirection had led me to shoot him with a netter gun and flee his presence as if my life depended on it, it wasn’t exactly our preferred topic. “Never deviate from our agreed story.”
“No deviating.” I gave an almost-confident nod. “Is there anything Icando?”
“We’ve already discussed how much you’ll miss me.” Cyrus captured one of my fingers between two of his, gentle, so gentle. A slight touch I felt in the deepest depths of my soul. “For the next few weeks, I’ll be traveling to and from Theirland to meet with the emperor. I won’t have many opportunities to see you.”
I’d thought I wouldn’t see him for a day, maybe two. Now I might have to go weeks?Do not whimper.
“We’ll tackle this one day at a time,” he assured me. “As soon as possible, I’ll establish a mode of communication between us.”
The train slowed before coming to a squealing halt. Once again Cyrus severed all contact. He rolled back his shoulders.
My heart raced as the door opened, revealing the cluster of armed knights and barons awaiting us. As predicted, they immediately oversaw our separation. Most accompanied the future king, marching him one way, while ten soldiers herded me the opposite direction, each keeping a hand on the hilt of a netter.
I struggled to mask my tremors. This was my first time being back at the base since my big change. While I knew I was free of the Madness, the coming test marked my debut screening as an active member of the Tome Society. A.k.a. a Soalian. A.k.a. a glower. Someone CURED touted as the worst of the infected. For people like me, “treatment” wasn’t optional. Or humane.
Breathe in. Out.Taking in the acrid bite of scorched earth and aged leather, I wrinkled my nose. Thanks to my connection to Soal, invisible scales had fallen from my senses. The truth was so clear now. Oozing shadows as thick as paint coated limestone and granite walls. The same gloom coiled around every jewel-studded marble statue we passed. Images of old gods. Giants who were half human, half animal. They produced a low, almost-imperceptible hum, like some kind of machinery worked beneath the surface of the stone. A vibration I felt in my bones. But. Hmm. Their eyes, once lifeless, now seemed to follow us, their gemstone irises catching the light like watchful predators in the dark.
I must be mistaken, my imagination going haywire. Yes, yes. High-stress situations had never brought out the best in me.
Our procession ended at a small, sterile exam room with gray walls, zero windows, and a metal shackle attached to a gurney. I swallowed a denial and clutched my new necklace—my connection to Cyrus—allowing the soldiers to push me onto the stiff mattress and bind me to the bed.Eye on the prize. Long game, long game.
Out went all guards but two, and in came a medic. He didn’t seek permission before pricking my finger with a needle and scanning the chip embedded in my hand. But then, he didn’t need it. CURED controlled all within these walls, even the treatment of my body.
