Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1)(62)

Constantino slips away, back to the stage behind the throne.

“First my son’s victory, and now this.” He snaps his fingers in the air. The two guards who had vanished return. A man in chains is dragged out. People crane their necks to have a better look. “The Father of Worlds has continued to bless this kingdom.”

The prisoner wears a fine silk blouse and an embroidered doublet covered in muck. I don’t recognize the house sigil on his breast pocket—a briar rose whose stem crosses with a sword. When he looks at me, his face pales with fear.

Don’t you know what people see when they look at you? Margo shouted at me once when she was angry because Dez chose me instead of her for a mission.

I shake off the start of that memory the Ventári shook loose. I concentrate on this man because I know what he sees.

He’s dragged before my feet. Pushed to submission, his lips inches away from the heeled shoes pinching my feet.

“Put yourself to use, Robári.” The king stands tall and addresses his court. “This man has broken faith with his crown and country. This man has betrayed me.”

I watch the courtiers react. Fans flap like dragonfly wings.

“His betrayal was discovered last night on one of his vessels. Instead of casks of aguadulce and the fine wine Lord Las Rosas has built his family name on, there were Moria scum. The vandals who set fire to the village of Esmeraldas and attacked our capital were among them.”

This isn’t right. He’s putting the blame on Lynx Unit because he has no one else to blame. But I can’t speak out. I focus on Leo. I stare at the seal on his jacket. Looking at this is the only thing keeping me from screaming. It would be too far for Lynx Unit to have made it to the coast in time. But what about Illan and the others? The worst part about King Fernando is that he makes me doubt myself. What if he’s telling the truth? What if Sayida and the others caught up to the ship and snuck on board?

“The vessel was on its way to Empirio Luzou,” King Fernando says gravely. He towers over Lord Rosas, eyes black as tar. “I can’t think of a better punishment than to have a taste of the Moria power you thought was worth betraying your country for.”

The nobleman weeps through the gag in his mouth. He shakes his head, and I’d bet my life that if he were free to speak, he’d claim innocence. I know the king is lying, but I don’t feel anything for Lord Las Rosas weeping at my feet. Should I? Nobles like this were the first to turn out the Moria from their homes and lands and onto the streets—their friends, attendants, soldiers, their own sons and sisters and fathers if they were suspected of having magics, even if it was false.

Justice Méndez places a hand on my back, gently pushing me forward. This is what I was brought here to do, once again. A piece to complete a set. Power only the king is allowed to wield. It is the cost for being at the palace. But I made a promise long ago never to create another Hollow. I will keep that promise.

“Of course, my justice,” I say breathlessly. I hold my hand out and flex my fingers. My face is practiced discipline.

Lord Las Rosas tries to move his head back, and I know that I can’t do this. His wheat-gold hair is dark with sweat. I summon my magics, and the light of power moves through the burn marks on my palm. The court watches, a single breath held as I reach for the man’s mind.

Then I let out a cry and throw myself on my knees in front of Justice Méndez. He grips me by my elbows, careful not to injure my right hand any more than it is. I hate that his grasp on me is gentle, careful. I am like the glass ornaments on my vanity—fragile, delicate, breakable. I cradle my hands to my chest.

“Renata, what is it?” Justice Méndez asks.

“What happened?” King Fernando says impatiently.

I contort my face into a wince and hold my hands out. “My justice, I can’t.”

I hold them out so he can see the damage once again. I move the lines of light and power and let them flicker. Méndez doesn’t know the tricks I’ve learned without him.

“She’s broken,” the king spits at Justice Méndez. “What good is a weapon I can’t use?”

Weapon. The word rings in my ears.

“She’s hurt,” the justice counters. He is perhaps the only man in the kingdom who can. He wraps an arm around me. “Lozar did this to her when he discovered who she was. She killed him for it.”

“Lozar,” King Fernando says. After hearing the old Ventári’s story of being on the king’s council, I wonder if he’ll show remorse. But what comes out is anything but. “I thought he’d perished long ago.”

I bite down on my tongue to stop from spewing obscenities. Instead, I let out a muffled moan.

“Her hands are the key to her magics,” Justice Méndez says. With both of them crowding me, my mouth fills with both of their scents. My blood races through me and I freeze because if I don’t, I know my body will overtake me and I will run. “She is the only Robári we’ve found since—”

“I am well aware,” King Fernando cuts him off.

I wonder who they’re referring to. I wonder what they did to them. I wonder what they will do to me if I cannot get out of here. If I fail. “Forgive me, Your Highness. Leonardo and I will see to her wounds, and she will recuperate quickly.”

King Fernando walks away toward his throne. Queen Josephine twists her pale blue dress in her hands. She looks like she’s holding her breath as he approaches her. The entire court is. He is the sun in the room, and everyone else is a weed leaning toward him every way he turns. The alman stone is a white shock against his dark clothes. I find myself wanting to reach for it. Though it isn’t pulsing with the light of memories, I wonder if there is something buried inside.