Page 131 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

26

Awake

20 years before

River ended up telling Ciara everything, and at least she believed him. She sat on his bed, as he hadn’t left his room since Forest had claimed the staff as his discovery.

Her eyes were kind when she stared at him. “But it makes no difference. What you did will save us.”

River shrugged. “I guess.”

“You wanted the recognition.”

He shook his head. “That would be silly. With everything going on, why care about that? What we need to do is save ourselves, right? Still, it’s not fair that Forest gets all the credit, gets everything…”

“He’s been working hard. You should put your differences behind you.”

“Hmm. And he can lie. How can he lie? Can you lie? Nevermind. It’s not a question anyone can answer in a satisfying way.”

“You got brown hair and late horns, maybe he got the lying skill.”

Late horns. They still looked ridiculous, like a 13-year-old’s. “He shouldn’t use it against me.”

“Maybe he thought it would be easier, I don’t know. Or maybe he didn’t lie, he just twisted words.”

“Great. Now you’re defending him.”

“No,” Ciara said. “I just don’t want to see you angry.”

“And you think destroying a city is right? You think it makes sense?”

She paused. “Maybe he didn’t destroy it.”

“Doesn’t change the fact everyone was dancing, celebrating thousands of deaths. What’s wrong with you?”

“I wasn’t dancing, River. But everyone feared the Umbraar king. You have to understand what his death means to us.”

“It’s still wrong.”

“War brings the worst in everyone.”

River sighed. “Does it have to?”

Someone knocked at his door. River opened and saw Forest, then pushed the door to try to close it, but his brother pushed it back.

“River, listen. I told the truth to our father. I told him it was you who got the staff. At first I let him think it was me just to help, just so he’d trust it was real.”

“Great. Deal with it, then.”

“No. It has to be you. You have to use it.”

River snorted. “That’s why you’re calling me.”

“I was always planning to say it was you. You should trust me more.”

“You’re a liar.”

Forest frowned. “I never lied. Don’t you want this war to end? Don’t you want to use the staff? Come on, this is your chance to be our hero, to carve your name among the greatest Ancients.”

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