The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga #3)(78)
“Whisper to me whenever you come. I will escape the manor to see you.”
There was a moment’s hesitation when Cvareh rightfully feared she was about to refuse him. But Arianna merely said, “Very well.”
“When you return, I will be Oji,” he swore. “And I will free them.”
Arianna’s expression looked as surprised as he felt in that moment. Cvareh had never said anything so bold, never uttered the slightest treason. Furthermore, it was faster than he’d first promised, originally saying he’d keep that vow when he was Dono.
But it felt right.
Right enough for him to know that he had to act on it before the day was done, before he risked losing his resolve.
“You will kill Finnyr?”
“I must.” He knew her, and he knew where her mind was.
“I’ll consider the lungs a trade for the kill that should be mine.” Arianna gave him a stern look, as if warning him not to argue. He wouldn’t have anyway. And he would have given her whatever she asked without a trade.
“I will end him,” Cvareh vowed.
“Make it terrible. If you let me down in this, I will never forgive you.”
Cvareh had never felt more motivated.
The feeling stayed with him the entire ride home. Cvareh knew he would be seen approaching the manor, and word would get back to Finnyr. He made a direct approach for Cain’s balcony. It was smaller than his own, and Cvareh ended up making the short leap from his bird as it perched on the ledge before swooping back to the sky.
“The prodigal son returns.” Cain opened the doors leading out to the balcony.
“I need you to do something.” Cvareh wasted no time. The idea of challenging Finnyr, of assuming the role of Oji, of putting his house knowingly in harm’s way by outright starting war against House Rok, was already planting uneasiness in his stomach. If he didn’t do this now and seal it in blood, he risked losing his nerve.
“What is it?”
“I need you to find Fae, and keep her from Finnyr and me.” Cvareh somehow managed to keep his voice level despite the fear and apprehension that wanted to seep out with every word.
“Cvareh, does this mean—”
“I’m going to challenge him, Cain.” Cvareh clasped the shoulder of the man who had been like a brother to him. “I am going to take back House Xin from Rok. But I wish to do it by the laws of the gods. Even if Rok fights with shadows and deceit, I will challenge my brother in a forum befitting the title he claims to hold.”
“Then I will distract Fae. I will challenge her if I must.” The conviction was unsurprising, but also unwelcome.
“That is the one thing I must ask you not to do. I need you alive, Cain. I need you as my right hand, as my Ryu, should all this come to pass.”
He wasn’t prepared for the mix of surprise and emotion that crossed his friend’s face. But what did Cain think would happen? There was no other choice, as far as Cvareh was concerned, and he wouldn’t have chosen another under other less dire circumstances.
“I will do as my Oji commands.”
Coletta
Fae had returned, and Yveun had indulged in his dark delights.
There was an easiness that settled over the estate when the king was pleased, not unlike the afterglow of the man himself. It was a collective sigh of relief for them all, none more than Coletta. Yveun wanted results. But he didn’t want the practical kind that careful planning and hard work yielded. He wanted fanfare and the kind of victories that would have minstrels singing for centuries to come.
Coletta merely wanted to see their longevity secured.
Fae’s arrival set in motion a series of carefully planned steps on Coletta’s part. Yveun knew he had his time with the woman. Ulia knew to wait and observe until the Dono was finished with his conquest, and then spirit Fae away to the Gray Room—the room in which Coletta now waited with an Alchemist and a long, glistening tongue centered on a tray like some new delicacy.
“My queen,” Ulia announced as she entered the room, Fae trailing behind. The green-skinned woman did little to demonstrate reverence to the Ryu, and Ulia could not contain a disdainful little side-eye. Coletta had the time to deal with neither, so she permitted both.
“Thank you for bringing Fae here. You may leave.” Coletta had yet to allow Ulia to watch any of the experiments that went on in the room, and it was an intentional play.
She wanted the youngest flower to fantasize about the possibilities and mull over the potential horrors of the procedure. Even though Ulia would never utter secrets, Coletta knew no one was perfectly tight-lipped. And she wanted just enough truth to seep into the bedrock of Lysip to know that something of a great and terrible nature was happening at the Rok Estate.
“Do you know what is about to happen?” Coletta did not want to mince words with Fae.
“I have some vague idea.” The emerald woman combed through her hair, still a nest from Yveun’s hands.
“We will begin with your tongue.”
“My tongue?”
“I do not believe you have magic there?”
Fae shook her head and sauntered over to the operating table as though she was doing little more than sitting down for a meal. Coletta admired the total lack of self-preserving instinct. It made the woman an ideal warrior to have in her arsenal.