Promising Hope (48 page)

Ronu turned his face towards her, his eyebrows drawn
together in concern. “Where will you go?”

“Shyra. Rahuda.” She picked at a thread on her dress.
“If Alastor and Natalia are there.”

“Avialies. Are you sure that’s safe?”

“I have no other home. The castle was my home, but
now that Thomas is dead… I have to think of my child.”

“But why would going to the Avialies be safe for your
child?” he asked, his voice hardened.

She narrowed her eyes. He’d never shown this kind of
worry for her before. “It’s not your place to question where I’m
going or why. I just wanted to let you know.”

Ronu glanced away, pursing his lips. “Yes, m’lady. I
will escort you to Rahuda.”

Sashe’s mouth fell open. “But you’re a royal
guard—”

“My charge is still to protect you, and so I will,”
Ronu said firmly. “Once I’m sure you’re situated in Rahuda safely,
I’ll come back to the castle.” He paused, looking towards the path.
“Lady Grace is here.” He stood up and stepped behind the bench.
Sashe stared at him for a moment before turning away.

Grace came up the path and nodded to both of them.
Sashe could see Grace’s time in the castle was wearing on her. Bags
sat under her eyes, and her smile was forced. She sat down next to
Sashe in silence.

“Good afternoon,” Sashe said. For a moment she
considered asking after Grace’s health, but that would only delay
the inevitable. She might as well get to the point. “I’m leaving
tomorrow night.”

Grace’s shoulders sagged. “Oh, Sashe! I’m going to
miss you.”

Sashe took her hand. “Come with me.”

Grace folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t think it
will be long, but right now, I have to wait. I’m not sure what the
prince will do. I have no idea what to expect from him.”

“You’re still waiting for him to respond to your
proposal from yesterday? I don’t know if that was a good idea.”

“Me neither, but maybe it would work.”

“Could you be happy living like that?”

Grace gazed out at the castle. “I don’t know. My
happiness isn’t what’s important.”

“You and Dar are so alike. You’re both such martyrs.”
Sash smiled softly and squeezed Grace’s hand. “Just don’t expect
much of him. He could turn on you and the Avialies at any
time.”

“I know. But if he was legally obligated…”

“He’d be king. He’s the one who makes the laws.”

“But I’d leave if he changed them.”

Sashe bit her lip. “Trust me, I want to believe this
would work, but the threat of you leaving isn’t enough to keep him
our ally. He thinks he can force you to stay.”

“He can’t,” she said quietly but it didn’t sound like
she believed it herself.

“He’ll try.”

Grace let out a breath, her shoulders sagging even
more. Her voice came out weak. “I’m tired of this. If my father
hadn’t stabbed Dar, I never would have come here. It’s his fault
this happened, and now he’s acting like I should marry the prince
even though a couple weeks ago he was telling me to come home.” She
sniffled and took her hand away from Sashe’s to wipe tears from her
face. She took unsteady breaths, obviously trying to hold her sobs
back.

Sashe hated seeing her like this. She had to convince
her to come with her. She put an arm around her shoulders. “I’m
sorry, Grace. Listen, we’ll figure this out. You, me, the elders.
You don’t need to be the only one protecting the Avialies.”

“But I’m marked—”

“I know, but there’s only so much one person can do.
I don’t think anyone can control William, and the Protectors have
already convinced him that the Avialies are less than people. You
can’t change his mind, and I don’t think you can trick him,
either.”

“But he’s considering my idea,” Grace said. “I could
be the liaison.”

There was so much hope in her voice. Sashe squeezed
her shoulder. “I know he’s considering it, but Kilar… he won’t let
go of Kilar, Grace. You realize that, don’t you?”

Grace let out a sob. She dropped her head into her
hands and leaned her elbows on her knees. “Goodness, I’m so tired
of this.”

“Grace, you tried everything you could.”

“No, I have to wait for his answer,” Grace said. “I
can’t leave until I’m sure he’s not going to do it.”

“You can’t—”

Grace sat up, shrugging Sashe’s arm off of her.
“Don’t.” Her sobs were gone, and her voice was strong again. “As
soon as he refuses me, I’ll leave, but I can’t until then. I have
to try.”

“When do you think he’ll give you an answer?”

“He asked me to dinner tonight. Maybe then.”

“If he doesn’t, you need to ask for an answer.”

“But then he’ll know I’m planning to leave.”

“He’s not stupid, Grace, he probably already knows
that if he doesn’t make you liaison, you’ll leave. He knows you
don’t fear him as much as he wants you to.” Sashe paused. “Just
tell him you want an answer.”

Grace nodded. “Okay.”

Sashe paused, glancing back at the castle. It had
been her home for a year and a half now, and after the first few
months of adjusting to life with the Protectors, it had grown into
a place of comfort and security. “I’ll wait with you, but I don’t
want to be here for long. If we don’t leave tomorrow night, we have
to leave the night after that.”

“Thank you,” Grace whispered. “You being here… it’s
made everything easier.”

“No, thank you,” Sashe said. “After seeing all you
did for them… you gave me strength to start helping the Avialies
again.”

Grace shook her head. “I… I didn’t…”

“You gave up so much,” Sashe said, touching Grace’s
shoulder. “But you’ll be free soon. I promise.”

Grace pulled her into a hug, and Sashe hugged her
tightly as Grace cried softly on her shoulder. After a few minutes,
Grace left, wiping her face hastily. Sashe watched her go, watched
how she straightened her shoulders and strengthened herself again
before walking into the castle.

Sashe let out a sigh before standing and walking back
to the castle through the garden. As she walked, a Zinna form
hovered in the air before her, bringing her to a stop. Lin. “Sashe,
Evan is here with me,” he said. “He wants to know if you’re safe.
Are you alone?”

She glanced around the garden. Ronu stood next to
her, of course, although she trusted him. For now. Servants,
nobles, anyone could be on the other sides of the hedge walls
surrounding her. She shook her head.

“Can you get alone so we can contact you again in
five minutes?”

She nodded.

Five minutes later, Lin contacted her again after she
went back to the bench. “Evan asks if you’re safe. Has Kilar
threatened you at all?”

“No, not yet,” she answered. “I want to leave
tomorrow night, but I may have to wait for Grace.”

Lin was silent for a moment, giving the information
back to Evan. He turned back to Sashe. “Why do you have to wait?
Why not leave as soon as you can?”

Was he with Dar? He wouldn’t like Grace’s idea of
being a liaison, but Sashe explained what Grace was trying to do
for the Avialies. “I don’t think it will work, but Grace wants to
be sure. She’s trying everything she can. She thinks she can
control him, but she can’t.”

As she waited for Lin to speak with Evan again, she
wished she could speak face to face with him. This was such a
strange way to communicate. Ronu stood behind the bench, and she
felt his gaze on her. Her cheeks heated up.

“He wants you to leave sooner,” Lin told Sashe. “Can
you talk her out of it?”

“They have dinner tonight, and she’s going to ask for
an answer. I’ll try to convince her to leave with me tomorrow. Do
you know if Alastor and Natalia are home in Rahuda?”

“Yes, they are,” Lin replied after a moment. “They
returned home after the edict went out. Evan says they can meet you
somewhere in Renaul once you escape.”

“Where?” Sashe asked.

They arranged to meet at an inn where they would stay
when coming to Renaul for Victory Day. If she could, she’d bring
Grace tomorrow night three hours after midnight. Sashe told them
the bodyguard the king had assigned her was still protecting her
and would come along.

Lin would contact her again tonight to get news about
Grace’s dinner and their escape. Sashe wanted to believe she could
leave anytime she wanted, but if she tried to do it publicly, she
wasn’t sure how Kilar might react.

“Evan says be careful,” Lin said, “and stay away from
Kilar.”

“Thanks, Evan, you, too,” she said. Lin’s form faded
from her mind, and she let out a breath. She’d return home soon.
Wherever that was.

* * *

When Grace arrived at William’s chambers, he wasn’t
there. A rich dinner was set out for them on their usual table: a
creamy stew with vegetables and meat. The fragrance almost brought
Grace’s appetite back. She sat down on one of the couches,
smoothing down her dress. She’d dressed nicely again, hoping it
would do something for William’s mood.

Her conversation with Sashe ran through her mind over
and over again. Grace had to try this one last thing, then… then
she had to let go. If nothing would turn William towards the
Avialies rather than against them, then at least she could get out
of this horrible castle. She could fight for them from Shyra, from
Jolen. But what would it mean if William revoked the edict? Would
the elders respond with war? The magical families were certainly
powerful enough to demand rights… is that what they wanted?
Although she’d been under the love potion during the meeting, she
remembered Jeshro’s threats to the Protectors, to William and his
father. They’d tried to avoid war. Grace didn’t want it to be the
only option, but… no, maybe he would work with them. Maybe they
could compromise.

The door opened, and William strode in. He nodded to
her and sat down next to her. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” She inclined her head.
“You look very handsome yourself.”

He half-smiled and touched her knee. His white shirt
stretched over his broad shoulders, and his dark blonde hair was
brushed back to show his clear blue eyes. Sometimes she was struck
by his looks, struck that someone as cruel as he was could look so
stunning.

“Let’s eat,” he said, standing.

She nibbled at her food as William told her about
meetings and royal customs for the king’s burial, which would be
tomorrow.

“That Kaiden Thieran was very helpful,” he said. “I’m
surprised Jeshro sent her.”

“He probably wants to start off right with the future
king,” Grace said, stirring her stew. “He’s hoping you’ll have the
same faith in them that your father did.”

William sipped his wine. He was still on his first
glass, so Grace was assured the dinner wouldn’t go as the one a
couple nights ago had. “Yes, I know. It was a strategic move.”

“He wants to work with you.”

“It’s funny. I remember what he said at that meeting
they all came to. How we hadn’t seen the worst of them. How they’d
come back to Haltar regardless of laws and they wouldn’t be
alone.”

Grace ate a spoonful of her stew and slowly chewed
and swallowed. “If I was a liaison between you and them, things
could be smoother.” She set her spoon down and looked at William
squarely.

The corners of his mouth turned down in a frown. “I
don’t think it would.”

“I could work with both sides,” Grace said. “The
Avialies to make sure they didn’t harm anyone, and you and the rest
of the Protectors to be sure that they were being treated
fairly.”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” he said. “Can’t we
just eat?”

“I’m not hungry.”

William looked at her bowl, half-full of food. His
lips pursed. “Fine. I’ll eat.”

She leaned back in her chair as he took a bite of his
dinner. She crossed her arms. “I need to know if you’d even be
willing to consider it. This could be a good solution for both
sides.”

He said nothing, instead ripping his bread in half
and dipping it into his stew.

“I think the position of queen could work for this
purpose.”

“My mother said that the position of queen was for a
woman who places country first. It’s not given away as a bargaining
chip to gain political power.”

“You told her about my idea?”

He nodded. “Of course, she’s not in favor of it. She
used to like you, you know, until the Avialies. Then she thought I
should just get rid of you and move on to someone like Lady
Rebekah.”

“Why didn’t you? What’s wrong with Lady Rebekah?”
Grace asked.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Nothing’s wrong with her.
But she’s not you. Besides, I don’t pick at another man’s leftovers
more than once.”

Her shoulders stiffened. “Leftovers?”

“What? He’s gone, isn’t he?”

Grace’s heart beat against Dar’s letter. She stood up
and put her hands on the table. “Listen, William, I’m tired of
playing these games with you. Will you let me act as a liaison to
the Avialies once I become queen? Or is my time here at the castle
finished?”

The amused smirk on his face faded, and he threw down
his napkin. He flung back his chair as he stood. “No,” he said,
raising his voice. “You won’t act as liaison, but you will be
queen. You will marry me.”

She slowly shook her head. “Why aren’t you willing to
give the Avialies a chance?”

“After they walked into my castle and killed
Gregorio? After they kidnapped you and brainwashed you? After
they’ve waged war on the Protectors for more than a decade? Why
would I give them a chance?”

She remembered what Sashe said—she couldn’t change
his mind. She couldn’t trick him into being who she wanted him to
be. She couldn’t control him. They were two solid objects waiting
for the other to move, to break, to surrender. It wouldn’t be her,
and she was finally seeing it wouldn’t be him, either.

She stepped back. “Then I’m leaving.”