I shook my head. "No one is well now. We're about to be a city under siege."
"But not everyone is losing their minds."
I looked her squarely in the eyes. "I'm not mad. Not yet. Believe it or not, I've thought this through. It's the only way I can get what we need. The only way I can help Oedija, and all of you."
Jaxas' door opened again, but this time, it was the Despot himself who stepped out. Jaxas walked with renewed vigor these days, ever since he'd overthrown the Conclave and seized power for the Laurel Palace. Though all the cares of the realm weighed on his thin shoulders, though the circles under his eyes darkened with every night, he'd never seemed so vigorous. As if this were what he'd been meant to do.
I wished I felt as equal to my own tasks.
He nodded in greeting to us, and we gave deep bows in return. I wondered if we ought to kneel, as had been the custom of old, but Jaxas — or, more to the point, Nikias — hadn't yet demanded it.
The Despot's gaze found me. "Airene. Do you still mean to do this?"
I hesitated, but there was little point in denying it. I nodded. "I must."
His eyes flickered to my friends. "And will anyone accompany you?"
"No," I said firmly before Xaron or Nomusa could speak.
"We'll see about that," Xaron amended with a rebellious look.
"No, First Warden Xaron. I agree with Airene. This is not your task. There is a war that I need you for." The Despot's eyes returned to me. "Airene walks a different path."
I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. If anyone knew the path I walked now, it was Jaxas.
"But don't go alone," he continued. "Find that Guilder friend of yours — Talan Wraithsbane. From what I have heard, he sounds like just the man for the job."
I winced at the name. "He is.” He was, I thought. I wondered if he would be now.
Xaron and Nomusa didn't hide their own doubts.
Jaxas nodded. "Then it's settled. Thae's blessings to you, Airene. Our hopes go with you." Then he and his ever-present shadow of Nikias walked past us.
Nomusa waited until they were out of earshot before speaking. "The Manifest aren't supposed to be your concern, Airene. Not even Oedija can be. No matter what Jaxas charged you with."
"You're a Seed of Famine, right?" Xaron said, eyes nervously darting around to make sure no one was near enough to overhear. "Just you and Linos. You two are the only ones who can stop Famine. And at the moment, I don't think your brother is up to it."
"Not stop him," I said softly. "Repress him. And only for a little while."
They exchanged glances. All of us knew what that meant for me, if it came to that.
"Still" — there was a shake to Nomusa's voice — "still, you can't throw your life away on some pyr hunt. The Manifest can be sorted out another way."
I shook my head. "It's not about that. It's Seda."
"Vusu's honor?" Xaron's eyebrows rose.
"As I told you before, Vusu said just before he died that she would be able to tell me everything he knew. Seda might help me not repeat his mistakes." I didn't give voice my deepest hope: that, somehow, I might find a way to stop Famine without sacrificing my own life.
But I could tell from their exchanged look that they knew.
Nomusa sighed. "Fine. I see your point. But at least do as Jaxas asked. Bring Talan."
A bitter laugh escaped me. "I doubt he'll want to go with me right now."
"Try. He might surprise you."
Xaron snorted. "I wouldn't go that far. But even if he's an ass, he's loyal and competent."
I looked down the staircase. "Even after the Silvencrest?”
An awkward silence, punctuated by the bustling steps of honors hurrying past, fell between us.
"It was a panicked decision," Nomusa finally said. "And you've been busy since then, understandably so. He can't expect you to make time for a dalliance."
“Even if you have," Xaron said with a sly look her way. "Many times."
"Not the time, Xaron,” she snapped. "Airene, he's a grown man. He'll understand if you just go talk to him."
"Maybe," I muttered. "Maybe not.”
Either way, I knew I didn’t have much of a choice. Without Talan, this excursion stood an even smaller chance of success, and there hadn’t been much hope to begin with.
But, despite my wishes otherwise, I didn’t know that the Talan I needed was still with us.
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Books by J.D.L. Rosell
The Famine Cycle
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Secret Seller (Prequel)
The Phantom Heist (Novella)
1. City of Whispers
2. Realm of Ashes
3. World of Bones (unreleased)
The Everlands
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1. Absalom's Fate
2. Absalom's Trials
3. Absalom's Heretic (unreleased)
Acknowledgments
Thank you to…
Kaitlyn — my partner, first reader, and voice of reason.
My friends — for your constant support.
And, of course, you, dear reader.
About the Author
J.D.L. Rosell is the author of The Famine Cycle and The Everlands. He lives, writes, reads, and hikes in Fort Collins, Colorado.
www.jdlrosell.com
[email protected]
Realm of Ashes Page 41
