Page 86 of Reign

As Finn stared at the sands, I noticed the light in his eyes had dimmed. He looked as tired as Mother always did—dark circles shadowed his under eyes.

“I know,” I whispered.

Finn turned sharply toward me, brows pinched in disbelief. “You already knew?” His gaze searched mine for answers.

Tears blurred my vision as I nodded. “I saw the Black Shuck kill her. Her screams…” My voice faltered as the memory clawed its way back. I clutched my ears, but the ghostly echoes played on. “When Adder was—when he tried to—” I stopped, unable to finish.

Finn gave my knee a supportive squeeze, silently telling me he understood without me having to say it.

“The Black Shuck appeared,” I continued. “Adder thought I’d summoned the dog to stop him and claimed I was a witch. I’d no choice but to run.”

Finn surveyed our somber surroundings, looking beyond the black sands at the lingering tendrils of inland fog. “Of all the places in the kingdom, you fled to Cambas?”

I shook my head. “I went to the Walled City and, by accident, got conscripted.”

“Was it as grand as Avice claimed?”

I simply shook my head again.

A tear trickled down Finn’s cheek. He quickly wiped it away with his sleeve. “The final time I saw her…” he murmured, clutching his chest as if fearing his heart might stop. “She was wearing the ribbon.”

I rested a hand atop his, though I knew it wouldn’t soothe his suffering.

Finn drew a deep, shaky breath, held it briefly, then exhaled slowly. “If Avice and I had eloped, we wouldn’t have made it far before getting caught,” he said. “The Lord’s been relentless in his search for you—a villager. He’d have left no stone unturned across the kingdom if Avice had vanished.”

My heart thrummed as I recalled what I’d overheard the knight telling Jane in the brothel—how the Lord intended to torture me until I gave the confession he wanted.

“What makes you say that?” I asked, hoping the knight had been mistaken, and the Lord’s true intentions weren’t as ruthless.

“The days after Avice’s death were bleaker than midwinter. In his anguish, the Lord ordered his knights to ransack every cottage and interrogate every villager in the Wetlands. Anyone who resisted paid the price. Old Todd was beaten until his face resembled a plum. When his questioning led nowhere, the Lord became obsessed with hunting you down, convinced you held the answers to Avice’s death.

“When the knights interrogated Mother and me, I thought they believed you were a witch—that they blamed you for Avice’s death. But when Father returned from Cambas, he managed to calm the storm. He assured the Lord that we weren’t a magical family, and his word was taken as truth. The Lord trusts Father implicitly.”

I opened my mouth, searching for words to apologize for my role in this tragedy—but none came. Mother was right: I could never return home. Even if magic were embraced someday, I’d forever be held accountable for Avice’s death.

Finn exhaled sharply. “The knights still haven’t found the beast. I’ve never seen a creature so strong.”

I nearly snorted at the fear in his eyes over Dog, knowing he’d have fainted had he seen the ogres that had swarmed this very beach.

“There are beasts more terrifying in Regina’s army—more frightening than that worm,” I countered, looking across the beach to where the soldiers were struggling to hack off the creature’s head. “No mortal man can defeat them. I pray that wizards find the courage to defend us.”

My gaze flicked to Finn’s, watching his reaction closely, trying to gauge his view on witchcraft.

“They’d be hanged,” Finn replied flatly.

“I’d defend them,” I declared with conviction.

Finn offered a half smile. “With what muscle?” he teased, giving my scrawny arm a squeeze.

I sighed. “If I’m honest, part of me questions whether magic’s really as evil as the King claims.”

“Truthfully?” Finn asked quietly.

I nodded. “I’d happily share Lyonesse with wizards and witches—all I want is harmony among all living things.”

Finn exhaled. “Niamh—”

“Sh!” I hissed, glancing over my shoulder to check no one was in earshot. “You cannot call me that. You have no idea how hard it’s been keeping this secret.”