Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“I’m romantically involved with Cyrus, yes.” Excellent. Short, sweet, and as unembellished as it was true. Now, for the rest. “I did ask Count Folley and others about the mass outbreak of Madness that had just transpired among civilians, but I did it of my volition. As a lady-in-training, I’m eager to learn prevention rather than intervention.” Oops. I’d explained my reasons.
Mr. Vyle’s lips quirked at the corners. “Such a diplomatic answer. Cyrus has coached you well.”
A lump grew in my throat. I couldn’t deny the claim without jumping headfirst into an obvious trap, exactly as the high prince had, well, coached me. I merely offered a fleeting smile.
“Didn’t Cyrus coach her well, Dr. Korey,” Mr. Vyle stated without glancing her way.
“He did, sir,” she replied, bowing her head in deference. Something she hadn’t done even for the high prince.
Mr. Vyle tapped his fingers over his knee. “Let’s get business out of the way. Not too long ago, Cyrus consumed a berry grown only in Theirland. You are the budding horticulturist assigned to map his reaction. How do you think this berry affected him?”
Hold up. “You aren’t here to ask me about Tagin Dolion’s death?”
He arched a brow. “Is there something you’d like to share about Tagin Dolion’s death?”
Okay, so, I’d expounded when I shouldn’t have. “I can only tell you what happened.”
“All right. Please do so.”
Hmm. He’d urged me along a specific route, yet now we were traveling another. Either he’d played me, or I’d played myself. Nothing I could do but forge ahead. “Cyrus and I argued about our relationship. I left. He hunted me down with his father’s help.” As I spoke, I divided my attention between Dr. Korey and Mr. Vyle, gauging their reactions. She grew tenser. He displayed only polite interest. “The three of us headed to the base. In the vehicle, mid-drive, Tagin broke with Madness and killed an entire contingent of soldiers. To save myself and Cyrus, I confiscated one of Cyrus’s weapons and killed Tagin.” There it was, everything and nothing, all rolled into an accurate but misleading story.
Mr. Vyle didn’t take notes or ask a follow-up. He merely adjusted a cuff of his jacket. “Thank you for the information. Now, let’s return to our discussion about the berry.”
I gulped. The fact that the fruit mattered more than a king’s death couldn’t be good. Did Mr. Vyle envision pinning Tagin’s death on Cyrus, courtesy of the little fruit? “I know Cyrus was assigned to bring a berry back to the base. In order to succeed, he was forced to eat it. I’ve since noticed no differences in him. He is the same today as he was before.” Truth.
“Then describe him.”
“Excuse me?”
“If he is the same, describe who he was then and who he is now.”
Sweet goodness, I’d walked myself into a trap, hadn’t I? “He’s . . . honorable.” Another truth.
“A great thing to be,” Mr. Vyle replied, obviously expecting me to say more.
No, thank you. A full minute passed in silence. Toward the end, Dr. Korey huffed with aggravation.
Mr. Vyle cast her a quick frown, nothing more, yet it seared deep pink into her cheeks. She bowed her head and withered, making herself smaller. With a wave in my direction, he continued. “You saw the berry. Describe it to me.”
Easy. “Small, round, and glowing red.”
He nodded and stood. “Thank you for your time, Lady Roosa.”
My eyes widened. That was it?
“That’s it,” he said, as if he’d read my mind. He refastened the button on his jacket. “You may go to class. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you not to discuss this with anyone save Cyrus.”
“Understood, sir.”
“If you recall any other details, inform Archduke Heta or Dr. Korey that you wish to speak with me.” With a graceful pivot, Mr. Vyle motioned for Dr. Korey to leave, which she did after removing the electrodes.
But. Where were the intimidation tactics? The accusations that I must be hiding something? The threats of being punished if I’d uttered a single lie?
“I don’t understand,” I breathed out before I gave my mind permission to speak.
Mr. Vyle stopped in the open doorway and turned just enough to meet my gaze. An almost smile tinged his perfect features. “The only thing you need to understand is this. I’m certain there’s a glower in our midst, playing both sides of the war, and I will stop at nothing to find them.”
Chapter Two
He who knows the end from the beginning need not fear the fires along the path, for My words shall forever stand.
—The Book of Soal 1.23.46.10
In a daze, I trailed an unfamiliar knight through the winding corridors of the base. Thoughts tangled, creating a chaotic mess. Mr. Vyle suspected Cyrus of being a traitor. Probably me too. Okay, definitely me. Why else kick off the interrogation by highlighting my romantic involvement with he who’d once eaten a forbidden berry?