"I'm not even sure I'll be able to get through to her. Ursulette without Rhain is just..."
"She'll survive," Renee says sharply. "She was somebody before him, somebody with him, and she'll be somebody without him. But she needs her friends right now to help guide her back. Finding Rhain—like this? Anyone would become unhinged for a time."
Taking his cue, Caz gestures to the disturbed earth and scattered leaves.
“Judging from the tracks, it looks like two people did it. I think they were gone by the time Ursulette found him though, or there would likely be two more bodies here. The effort and time it would've taken to do that to him...she wouldn't have just stood by and watched. But she either saw them finish him off, or suddenly learned how to track better and is chasing after them. Either way, there's about to be bloodshed, which could be bad for the Hunt—" before I can glower too hard at him for having his priorities out of line, he adds emphatically— “and therefore bad for the realm. I know your father’s rule is questionable, but he keeps the noctis in line. If they start to question his leadership…there could be anarchy, another rebellion, even.”
I almost laugh. He has no idea how close to chaos we already are. Which is when I remember that neither of them knows what my aunt told me.
"I'm afraid we have bigger problems."
Caz shoots me a look that says he's both a little scared and kind of intrigued.
Renee steps closer."Worse than Ursulette disobeying the king during the most sacred event of the year?"
I nod. "Whoever did this, it wasn't an accident. And it wasn't some frightened prisoner trying to fight back. This person had strength. They bested Rhain, a member of the Crimson Guard, and then bashed his skull in until he was unrecognizable."
“You...think his death was done…professionally?" Renee asks. "By who?"
I rub my eyes, dreading what I have to say next, the implication it has on me and my involvement in Rhain's death. But they need to know what's out there. They need to know we're not the only dangerous ones in this forest.
"When I released my aunt, she didn’t confirm this, but I think she was returning to the Shadow Crusade. My father received intel that they’ve been seen about the realm again, and Fox made it seem like they were somewhere in the forest, ensuring that she had safe passage to regroup to wherever it is that they’re posted."
It's silent for a long moment. Then Renee punches me in both shoulders.
"And you just let her go?"
"I had no choice!" I argue, stumbling backward, almost tripping over Rhain's cold carcass. When Renee aims to strike me again, I catch her wrists and shove her back. "They would've killed me—or worse, taken me prisoner and used me as a bargaining chip to blackmail my father. Neither of those options are preferable, if you ask me, so I came to find you two instead."
A haughty, viperous laugh escapes her. "Right. Ustwo."
While we bicker, Caz is left reeling. "Just...hang on a second, guys. Can we go back to the part where the Shadow Crusade is reforming? For all that’s wicked in the realm, they've been disbanded for...for...who knows how long! I'm not sure I've heard mention of them outside of historical context since I was seven. Didn't they all die?"
"Apparently not," Renee chirps.
"Maybe most of them did," I say. "Or maybe they went into hiding after the last battle."
"What are they planning?" Renee asks. "They must be here now because of the Hunt. Are they going to attack the castle while we're all out here? Make an assassination attempt on the king?"
Feeling the heat of her demanding and borderline accusatory tone, I feel the need to defend myself. "I know as much as you."
"Oh I doubt that," she says, fangs glistening behind a smile as cold as ice. "I haven’t been buddied up to an aunt who's working with them for the last few months.”
“Renee, cool it,” Caz tries interjecting.
“No, I think I won’t! We're just supposed to believe that this wasn't part of his plan all along? We're just supposed to believe that he’s on our side and here to protect us?"
Caz’s voice becomes deadly. "Yes.”
It's not enough for her though.
It’s not enough for me either. For all our strife, Renee is still family. It niggles at me that she feels like she can't trust me anymore after what she witnessed earlier.
"Renee," I say softly, gently, trying to shrink down from my oftentimes threatening size. I start to reach out my hand, but at the scalding look she flashes me, I let it drop back to my side. "The only reason I released my aunt today was because she's family and we were holding her and her sons—my nephews—for no reason other than torture."
"So? They're humans. What does it matter to you if humans are tortured?"
Disappointment inches into my heart, but I try one last effort to get her to understand. "They'refamily. I don't know about you, but that's not how I treat mine, and that's not how I'll rule—"
