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“I don’t,” I rasped, heart panging. “But it’s important.”
“I understand and I’ll do as you ask. I’m sure they’re still living in the same place. No one makes it out of the Galley.”
I peered at him over the horse’s muzzle. “May I ask you something? What are you doing here? You have a Lyrican accent, so your home wasn’t overtaken by the curse. You chose to be here,” I stated. “Why?”
He shrugged, smiling. “I never wanted to join the army, but my parents needed the money, so they sold me. Can you imagine? Selling your child to the battlefield to fill your own bellies.” Riordan tossed his head. “Anyway, I woke up in a hot and stinking tent one day, surrounded by hot, tired, and hungry soldiers, and I decided it was enough.
“Enough of war, death, and pain. Right then, I packed up my stuff, walked out of the tent, and set off for the kingdom of Wind and Wild,” he said. “I resolved to find the heart amid this frozen hell, stab it through, and end it once and for all.”
“And then?” I breathed, rapt. “What happened?”
He sighed. “And then... I discovered this place. I realized Wind and Wild wasn’t some frozen hell filled with filthy, bloodthirsty beasts. They’re just people, my queen. Peoplesuffering under a terrible curse. A curse that they want to be freed from just as much as the rest of Elva. They just don’t want to be slaughtered before they are.
“What happened is I saw the truth of what we—the summer fae—have done. It was us who started this war. Us who keep attacking and invading. Us who refuse to end the fighting. All the faeriken have done is defend themselves.”
“We had to go to war,” I blurted. “The curse is spreading. Eventually, all of Elva will be a land of winter and ice. A land forgotten by the sun and stars.”
Riordan nodded. “It’s true. Even if the faeriken aren’t invading Rajadom, Quatassa, Sarabai, or Lyrica, the curse most certainly is. Obviously, we can’t sit by while the curse kills the land and turns us all into mindless beasts. But that’s reason for us to workwiththe faeriken to end the curse. It’s not a reason to turn victims into enemies.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. I found a brush and joined him, preening the coat of my new friend. “I see that now. The faeriken are no less fae than us. They’re normal, regular people like us. They deserve help to break their curse, not a death sentence. But how will they ever get such help when the man who holds the cursed heart refuses to free them, or us, from its punishment?”
His smile remained. “Well, that’s where you come in, isn’t it?”
“Me?” I pulled a face. “Is that the answer? Is that why the villagers are so excited that Shadowsoul didn’t let me be crushed to death? They think I’m getting close enough to him that he’ll tell me where the cursed heart is, and let me destroy it?”
Riordan laughed. “That is always the answer, my queen. Beautiful women such as you are the weakness of every man’s heart.”
I’ll tell Emiana you said so the next I see the rotted bitch.
“My lady?”
I whipped around, landing on a shifting shadow outside the stable door.
“My lady, what are you doing in there?” Eadaoin asked.
I swallowed a curse. Alisdair’s marking would be the death of me. It was a beacon telling him, and everyone with a heightened sense of smell, where I was.
“Be ready for tonight,” I told Riordan. Reaching into the folds of my gown, I handed him a small pouch. “No excuses. No delays.”
“Yes, my queen.”
Eadaoin burst in. “Lady Ana?” Her eyes narrowed on Riordan. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing’s going on. I simply wanted to see the horses.” I brushed past her going outside. “Come now. Let’s not keep the villagers waiting.”
I STOOD ON THE TRAININGfield, shivering in my calfskin boots.
I had the first enjoyable morning since entering Lumenfell. Villager after villager paid me tribute in fruits, vegetables, berries, and more. The best part, I got into long, fascinating conversations with nearly all of them about how to grow such in bitter, chilling weather. At some point, a group of us were gathered in the square—laughing, drinking ale, and trading tips.
It was truly fun... so, of course, my blessed husband would see to its end.
“You look ridiculous.”
I threw a furious look at the kakka.
“Truly moronic.”
Growling, I swung the bow and arrow on Alisdair.
