Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2)(39)

“Oh, Fowler, you need to eat this. Don’t be difficult now. I don’t care if you claim it tastes like horse dung . . . and how you even know that I don’t want to speculate.” Maris paused to giggle. “You need your strength if you’re to leave this bed.”

Fowler’s soft chuckle followed this. The sound was deep and velvet and full of amusement. It was strange to hear him laughing at all, much less laughing with Maris. I had heard that laughter only a few times. Rare as the sound was, I had prized it. My heart clenched to hear him laugh so freely with Maris, even though it had no right to hurt or ache. It was his laughter and not mine to own.

“I can already see how our marriage will be,” Maris teased in a voice full of fondness. “You stubborn but always making me laugh.” A long pause followed these words. I heard nothing but the clink of a spoon in a bowl. “I look forward to our future, Fowler. My only regret is that you took so long to get here.”

I sucked in a pained breath. I waited to hear his response, his denial or acceptance of her words. Neither came. But then, perhaps his silence was an answer in itself. His silence was acceptance. Perhaps his brush with death had led to this? Perhaps his gratitude to Lagonia for saving his life had changed his mind?

Maybe he had forgotten all about his quest to reach Allu.

Maybe he had forgotten about me.

I turned my face in the direction of my chamber. To hell with all this supposition. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t mine. He belonged to Lagonia now. Perhaps I needed to embrace the same fate and belong to Lagonia, too.

At least I would belong somewhere.

There were worse fates. I could spend all day counting them. Prince Chasan . . . Maybe something could grow between us. Listening to Fowler and Maris, it was clear that something had already started to grow between them.

I backed away from the door as if it were something tangible that might leap out and bite me. Fowler’s voice started to speak again, and I quickly turned away. I didn’t want to hear any more. I didn’t need to. I’d heard everything I needed to.





SEVENTEEN


Luna


I WAS HALFWAY asleep when the scream woke me. It was a faint cry, drifting from somewhere deep within the bowels of the castle, but I still heard it. I held myself motionless in the colossal bed, counting softly, hoping to give myself something to fixate on besides the goose bumps feathering my skin and the chill chasing my spine. Closing my eyes, I started to relax until it came again, just a weak thread of sound on the air.

Sitting up, I flung the covers back off the bed. I wasn’t sleeping anymore. Snatching up my robe, I shrugged into it and slipped out of my chamber.

Another scream shook the air. I followed the sound, my ears perking and straining.

I skimmed a palm along the wall, feeling my way, occasionally brushing tapestries and portraits and decorative sconces in my quest to track the scream.

A part of me acknowledged that this was probably not the wisest course of action, but then I reminded myself that the screams I’d heard were human. I knew a dweller’s cry. Someone was in trouble, hurting. I knew the sound of that quite well.

As I continued down the corridor, a low rumble surged on the air. It faded only to surface again moments later. This second surge was smaller, quieter, but this time I had no trouble identifying it for what it was—applause. Cheers.

Someone was terrified, in pain, and people were cheering? I shook my head. It didn’t make sense.

I hesitated before I continued, my pace quickening. Rounding the corner, I almost collided with another individual turning into the same corridor from the opposite direction.

“Oh, forgive me, I didn’t see where I was going.” Soft hands grasped my arms and the smell of dried lavender tickled my nose. I vaguely recalled the scent from one of the ladies at court. The first day I arrived I remembered smelling her sitting beside Gandal, the physician’s son. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m guessing you and I are headed to the same destination, yes?”

“Uh—”

“Of course you are. Who told you about it? Maris? The prince? Never mind. Well, you are in for a rare show indeed. Such a treat, I tell you.”

I decided to venture with honesty. “I heard a scream. I was following the sound.”

“Oh, very bold, are you?” She giggled. Not the reaction I was expecting, but nothing was as I’d expected since arriving here.

“Truly, I heard screams—”

“Of course you did, you ninny. Don’t be afraid. It’s not what you think.”

I wasn’t sure what I thought. “What is it, then?” I asked.

“The king likes to act as though these things are a secret. It’s special invitation only, but I know a way in.” She shared this with a hint of slyness to her tone. “Come on. Follow me. I’ll take you to the best seats in the house.”

She linked her arm through mine, and together we quickly walked down vast corridors, our steps ringing off the stone.

“I don’t think we have officially been introduced. I’m Riana. My father is the ambassador to your own country. . . . I suppose that makes us countrywomen, although I confess I was two years old the last time I set foot on Relhok soil.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” I returned.

“Likewise,” she murmured. “You are quite the hero, unifying two kingdoms that have been on dubious footing for generations. You have managed to do what Papa never has. I suppose that makes my father quite ineffectual and you a marvel.”