Crown of Cinders (Imdalind #7)(39)

Risha smiled, her eyes both delighted and frightening as she leaned toward my sister.

My focus was still drilled right into her.

“Well,” Risha began, clapping her hands together, and both Míra and I jumped in turn.

My sister turned toward Risha at the sound, a movement that I wasn’t convinced was voluntary.

“This may not be the death pits, but seeing as Ryland hasn’t gotten back yet …” With a smile, she pushed the marbles toward us, a pile for each. “Who is ready for another game?”

“I’m telling you that it’s boring, and it’s not going to help to train anyone, especially Jaromir. Especially with what’s coming.”

“Aren’t you cute?” Risha cooed, the normal joy in her voice coming back ten-fold. She smiled wide before patting Míra on the head the same way she did me. “You’re like a pit bull puppy.”

Maybe she thought everyone was a dog. It looked even more like she was petting a dog from this side.

“Keep barking kid, but until you tell me what’s coming, it’s not going to get you what you want. Sit down, Jaromir.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

I sunk to the floor with the speed of a bullet, plopping down and crossing my legs. I probably shouldn’t have gone so fast, because now my bum hurt. It didn’t matter, though. I had a game to win.

Smiling, I pulled my marbles toward me, ready to play. My mind kept buzzing with what Míra had said just now, with what she had told me before.

So much killing. Thinking of her doing it was making me uncomfortable. She had always hated that stuff. She would always hide if anyone died in movies. And now she wanted to watch.

And death pits? What were those?

Nothing made sense.

“Hey, Jaromir,” Míra snapped, her hand strong as she pushed into my shoulder and popped my thoughts like a bubblegum bubble. “It’s your turn. I thought you were going to win this time.”

“What?” I asked stupidly, pulling myself back into reality. “Oh, yeah.”

Leaning over the board, I prepared my magic, determined to knock at least three marbles off course, only to stop in place as the loud booms of Ryland’s voice echoed across the dark and silent hospital.

“There you are!”

Loud shushing followed him as he ran up the rows of beds to us, several of the patients disturbed by his arrival.

Risha laughed at him, the sound so happy I laughed with her, letting it chase out all the sadness like Momma had always told me to do.

Míra looked like she was about to explode.

“We are right where we told you we would be,” Risha said, continuing to laugh as more and more of the other inhabitants joined in on the chorus of hushes. They sounded like snakes. “Playing marbles. Míra is winning.”

“That doesn’t surprise me one bit. That girl is good!”

I was positive he meant it as a compliment, but Míra scowled more.

The smile on Ryland’s face dimmed a bit, a fear I hadn’t seen before shining through.

“You have no idea,” Míra growled in code, and my spine tingled in fear.

I knew she was going to say something creepy again, and I doubted I wanted to know what.

“Just wait …”

“Míra, don’t!” I yelled, forgetting to code my words.

The hushing fell silent at my panic, and Míra moved so close I expected her hand to slap over my mouth.

“You don’t have to—”

“Stop it, Jaromir,” Míra cut me off before I said too much, her coded words ricocheting throughout the now silent hall. “You can’t convince me. I’m out of time, and I don’t want them thinking I’m good. It’ll only hurt them more. I’m not good.”

“Míra …” I pleaded, but she ignored me, standing to face Ryland, who towered over her like a burly prison guard.

The man I had always looked up to turned into a giant as he puffed up.

“You are a powerful kid, Míra,” he rumbled from above her. “But don’t push it. I like you in one piece, and I am pretty sure your brother does, too.”

Míra finally flinched, the stranger deflating a bit and leaving my scared little sister behind.

“Yeah, I do,” I added, shuffling to my feet and pulling her away from him. “I really do.”

“Good,” Ryland said, his voice kind yet the hulk remaining. “So, one piece it is! But for now, bed time. Ilyan’s orders. He wants you rested before he comes and plays capture the flag with us tomorrow.”

“Ilyan’s coming here?” I jumped, I didn’t know if I should be excited or scared. I had heard enough stories about what he could do, although the few times I had seen him had been terrifying. He was more of an angry giant than Ryland was at times.

“Yep,” Ryland said, obviously proud of himself, yet he seemed almost as scared as I was for some reason. “I told him about our game, and he wants to come.”

“I’m sure,” Míra grumbled, plopping herself down on her bed with a loud squeak of springs and metal.

“It’ll be fun!” Ryland was really pushing this, but looking at Míra’s reaction had me worried.

He wasn’t the person she was supposed to kill, was he? I didn’t want him to die. I didn’t want her to die.