And Elora found herself standing at the edge of a crossroads. One where she could hold on to her sense of vengeance, of justice, where she could let the anger and pain of her past fuel her every action and fester within her until she became as broken as they had wanted her to become.
Or she could accept this olive branch. Find a way to make peace—or at least, something close to it.
“In the short time I have known her, Kestrel has shown me that she doesn’t need me to look after her. But I can promise you, I will be by her side for as long as I am able. As long as she will have me.”
When Elora glanced to Kestrel, she found her soft lips tilted upwards, as if to say that she felt the same. It sent shivers skittering up Elora’s spine. But she had already felt too vulnerable for one day, so she shook the feeling off.
“We really must be going now.”
Kestrel nodded.
Darius said, “Of course. Thank you again. And, Kestrel, if things get hairy, I want you to leave me. Don’t put yourself in danger for my life. I’ve done and lived plenty, and it’s time for you to do the same. So if anything does happen…leave these parts. Keep searching for your mother. I know she’s out there somewhere…she has to be.”
Elora’s ears perked at that. It seemed to have the same effect on Kestrel, which meant she was likely hearing this for the first time as well.
Sure, there were many throughout Grimtol who believed the Corrupt Queen survived her own curse. But after two decades of searching for her, Elora assumed that rumor was nothing but false hope for those seeking justice. Magic thatpowerful tended to have a high cost, so it made sense to Elora that it had claimed the queen’s life in the process.
But Darius had been there. He had seen the queen unleash her power. And now it sounded as if he was suggesting that he had seen her survive it as well.
Elora had a dozen questions. So did Kestrel, she guessed. But they really were running out of time, and they didn’t need Queen Signe to know they had come down here.
“Come on,” Elora forced herself to say. “Let’s go.”
At first, she wasn’t certain Kestrel would allow herself to be pulled away, but she seemed to remember they had other important matters to attend to.
“I will make this right, Darius. You’ll see. Give it another day or two, and you’ll be walking out of this place a free man.” Kestrel’s reassuring smile was illuminating in a grim place like this. And Darius tried to muster one in return.
But Elora couldn’t do it. She shielded her face from both of them and started walking back the way they had come, for she knew how unlikely it was for the queen to release him.
Chapter 34
An Army
KESTREL
They exited the dungeon in silence, each deep in thought for their own reasons.
Nodding to the guard, Kestrel only barely realized it was the same one who had permitted them to enter. Her mind was elsewhere. Reeling from everything she and Thom had talked about—or, she supposed she should call him Darius now. The moniker of Thom had served its purpose. They no longer needed to hide.
This time, Darius had been honest with her. Now that all of his secrets had been exposed, Kestrel supposed he had nothing left to hide.
If he had just been willing to speak so freely last time, she wondered where they would be now. Certainly not in Irongate, not with him trapped behind bars and her preparing to blunder headfirst into one of the most frightening places she had ever heard about.
But it was news of her mother that set her mind ablaze. Darius believed she was still alive, after all this time. His frequent disappearances made much more sense now; he’d been out searching for her, for the woman he loved. For hermother. She could hardly fault him for that, even if she wished he had just told her from the beginning.
But that didn’t matter now.
After they returned from the Hollows, after Kestrel dismantled the curse, she would convince the queen to set Darius free so that the two of them could continue his search, together.
Or at least, that’s what Kestrel had wanted a week ago.
Now, the thought of leaving Irongate, and more importantly Elora, made her stomach tighten. They were just starting to get to know each other. Kestrel didn’t want to give up on that so soon.
Then again, perhaps that would be for the best. Elora was going to marry Leighton in a matter of days. Soon she would become queen. And what role would Kestrel play in her life then?
As the two of them crossed the open field and headed toward the gardens, Kestrel snuck a glance at the quiet princess marching beside of her. There had been revelations for her back in that dungeon as well, and although Kestrel wanted so desperately to hear every thought that was now tumbling through that pensive skull of Elora’s, she knew better than to prod just yet.
The silence, however, was killing her.
