Isla froze. The voice echoed even in a whisper, deep and angry.
Oro’svoice.
Another voice responded, too quiet for her to make out the words. But she knew who had spoken them.
Azul.
What were they doing, meeting in such a strange, hidden place?
Isla crept closer to the voices, walking silently, just like Terra had taught her. Tips of her toes, then the sides of her feet, her heels never reaching the floor.
“You will be sentencing thousands to death,” Oro snarled.
She didn’t dare take a breath. There was a pause.
“A realm has to die, Oro,” Azul finally responded.
Isla took a step back, shocked—the heel of her shoe made the slightest noise.
The voices quieted.
A moment later, a door slammed shut, blocking out the rest of the conversation.
That night, they remained on the Mainland. Isla and Oro entered the vast woods to one side of the castle, which stretched all the way to the coast. She felt the familiar prick of fear down her neck. This forest was wilder than the one on Sky Isle. Energy coursed through the air. Branches seemed to curl toward her, as if straining for a closer look. Vines across the floor tightened as she passed, as if making to trip her.
The nature here seemed intrigued by her. Sweat pooled down her chest as she watched it. At least it hadn’t hurt her. Yet.
Panic began to poison her thoughts, so she turned her attention to the king instead, hoping the less she looked at the forest, the less it would stare back. His eyes were squinted and slightly more creased at the edges. He walked more stiffly than usual.
“You haven’t been sleeping at all, have you?”
He said nothing to indicate he had heard her speak.
“You could at least try to sleep during the day if we’re going to work at night.”
Oro continued through the forest, ducking to avoid branches that Isla could barely touch if she reached her arm up.
“Unless you have another ally you’re working with during that time?”
“I don’t have other allies,” he said curtly.
“Really?” she said. “Not even Azul?”
Oro looked bored. “Eavesdropping is lowly, even for a Wildling.”
So, he knew it had been her listening. Good. “What’s his plan?” she demanded. Before she could stop herself, she added, “You promised to protect me from the other rulers. Should I be worried?”
Oro sighed, irritated. He turned to her. “Azul is harmless. You, of all people, have theleastto worry about when it comes to him.”
That didn’t make sense. Azul had talked about ending an entire realm. If he hadn’t been talking about Wildling, which realmwashe talking about? “But—”
His sharp look silenced her. “I will not be revealing any more of our private conversation, so you can save your breath and be grateful you heard anything at all.”
The way he spoke to her ...
Oro wouldn’t tell her any more details about their conversation. But perhaps learning Azul’s story would help her understand his motivations. “Did something ... happen to him?” she said a few moments later. The Skyling was always jovial, but she had caught a haunted look on his face a few times. She was willing to bet there was sadness, or perhaps anger, behind his good-natured mask.
Seconds ticked silently by, and Isla thought he was going to ignore her again. But he finally said, “Azul lost someone. Someone he loved.”
