Give the Dark My Love(98)

The news sheets had mocked the Emperor’s cowardice, true, but no one had been surprised by it. No one expected him to care about the dying poor.

“You’re from the north,” the governor pressed. “You know firsthand how unfair life is in the villages. I couldn’t stop that as governor. I want to help every citizen of Lunar Island. But the laws are twisted and unfair, tipped to balance in the Emperor’s favor. The rich stay rich. And your people . . .”

“Stay poor,” I said, finishing the sentence in a whisper.

“You see, don’t you?” Governor Adelaide said.

Maybe in the past, I would have believed what she wanted me to believe. But my eyes saw more now. My eyes saw the golden glow of my family’s souls imbued within the metal of the crucible in my palm. My eyes saw the shell of my sister, fighting to protect me even now, even after she had died.

My eyes saw right through the governor. This wasn’t about Lunar Island being a free nation. This was about her taking the Emperor’s place.

She must have realized she was losing me. “Please,” she said, her voice cracking.

“I have heard that word so many times in the last year,” I snarled. “Mothers holding babies dead from the plague. Fathers watching their families wither to nothing but black and twisted limbs. Lovers pleading with Death. I am done with please.”

“If you stand with me,” Governor Adelaide said, “we would be unstoppable. I can give you this island’s freedom. I can give you the whole Empire.”

“You’ll give me nothing,” I spat. “I’ll take what I want.”

Something slammed into me from the back, making me hit the ground so forcefully that the breath was knocked out of me. Metal clanged against wood. I turned as Ernesta threw away the pieces of chair that Master Ostrum had splintered under the force of his sword after she had knocked me out of his range. She stopped the next blow with her shoulder, a sickening squelch filling the room as steel met flesh. I clutched my crucible, and white light stitched the gaping wound back together again as I healed Ernesta as quickly as I could. It drained me to use necromancy for healing, and I feared the moment she would be too far gone to save.

I turned to Governor Adelaide as she backed away from me. Her eyes tracked the battle; she relished in it. Master Ostrum and Nessie were both revenants, and while my sister was stronger, Master Ostrum was armed.

Master Ostrum lunged—not at Nessie, but at me. I scrambled back as Ernesta jumped between us.

If Governor Adelaide could not convince me to join her in her revolution, she would simply kill me and take my crucible—strong and powerful—for herself.





SIXTY-SEVEN


    Grey



Master Ostrum and Ernesta battled, but Master Ostrum’s focus was on killing Nedra, putting him in the more powerful offensive position. Ernesta could only defend.

Horror washed over Nedra’s face as she realized the governor’s plan. Master Ostrum had been more than just Nedra’s teacher; he had been her mentor. Her friend. And now he was trying to plunge a sword through her heart.

The governor stood with her back to the Emperor and me. There was no escape from the small room, thanks to the undead guards. Governor Adelaide clearly believed the Emperor was nothing more than a weak child—and I couldn’t much argue with that now—but she underestimated me.

I looked around me for a weapon, turning my back to her as I ran my fingers along the dark floor, hoping for a rock or something sharp. Before I could uncover anything, though, I felt the cold, sharp edge of a blade against my neck. I swallowed, my Adam’s apple brushing against the knife, my skin scraped raw. Governor Adelaide yanked me up, forcing me around without removing the knife from my throat.

“Choose, girl!” the governor shouted. “Will you raise this boy after I kill him? Will it be the same to you?”

Nedra’s eyes grew wide with terror. And Ernesta—whose actions were tied to Nedra’s will—hesitated in her battle against Ostrum.

Master Ostrum struck immediately, swiping his sword against Nedra’s back. Ernesta spun around, knocking the blade away. Nedra fell, cascades of blood soaking through her ripped tunic, but the cut had been superficial, thanks to Ernesta.

The knife bit into my skin. I was afraid to swallow, afraid to move at all.

Nedra watched us both as Governor Adelaide raised her arm, holding up Wellebourne’s crucible. I marveled that such a tiny bead had caused so much death and war.

I felt Governor Adelaide suck in a breath—she was going to offer Nedra one last chance to join her or she was going to order Master Ostrum and the Emperor’s guards to kill us both. But before she could speak—before I could think—I yanked my arm up and knocked my hand against the governor’s wrist.

The iron bead flew into the air.

Cursing, Governor Adelaide shoved me aside, the knife sliding across my throat up to my jaw, thankfully avoiding my arteries. I clutched my neck and watched as Wellebourne’s crucible soared into the air. Nedra stretched up her residual limb, as if she could catch the iron bead with the hand that wasn’t there.





SIXTY-EIGHT


    Nedra



My shadow arm could touch nothing but blood iron and souls. Fortunately, that was exactly what Governor Adelaide’s crucible was made of. I snatched it from the air and wrapped my incorporeal fingers around the cold metal.