Echoes of Silence (37 page)

I knew in that moment, that single moment with Castillo touching me and my emotions spiking with worry over Cris, that I was truly in love.

With my husband.

I couldn’t erase the smile that sprang to my lips at my realization. I knew Castillo and I could be bonds without being lovers. I glanced at him and found him looking at me, too. He raised one eyebrow, but I shook my head. Focusing ahead again, I saw a fallen form. I cried out, pushed away from Castillo, and ran to Cris.

“Cris.” I smoothed his hair off his forehead. His skin felt waxy and too cold. “Wake up,” I pleaded. “Please wake up.”

His lips were parted and looked much too blue and much too dry. His chest rose and fell in the barest of movements, and everything about him appeared too small.

“What happened to him?” I demanded when Castillo knelt next to me.

“The villagers happened to him,” Castillo whispered. “Remember he was to be the distraction? The reason the High King continues this conflict with Umon?” Castillo’s soft pressure on my arm increased. “Don’t worry. They did only as he instructed, and we can heal him.”

Castillo slid his fingers in between mine. “I’ll start.” He used his free hand to trace Cris’s jawline, and he began the healing spell with his rich baritone.

My magic leaped, yearning to join with his. I waited, listening to his beautiful voice weave life back into Cris’s body. How different Castillo’s magic was from his father’s. His was joyful and light, rather than greedy and dark.

I joined my higher voice with Castillo’s when he began the second spell-song. The notes flowed from my body filled with love. Color rushed back into Cris’s cheeks, and he drew a deep breath.

“Echo,” he gurgled before coughing.

“Don’t speak, dearest,” I said, breaking out of the song for a beat. “We’re trying to heal you.”

Castillo and I worked together, united in purpose, the way bonds should be.

#

“The armies of Umon truly stand at the ready?” I asked, hours later, standing in my suite with Cris, Castillo, and Mari. She’d helped me immensely, first by getting me into the High King’s dinner, and then last night when I was so broken over Olive’s death. Things Cris would’ve done for me previously, things that brought two people together.

Cris closed the distance between us and slid his hands along my waist. “Castillo?” He looked at me but spoke to his brother. He blocked my view of the rest of the room, and I lost myself in the depth of his eyes.

“The armies of Umon are camped two hours away,” Castillo said. “They’re awaiting word regarding the attack.”

“The High King suspects nothing,” Mari reported. “I’ve been his personal maid this last week.”

“Surely he doesn’t say everything in front of his maids,” I argued, stepping next to Cris so I could see her.

“Something of this severity would be up for discussion at all hours,” Mari said, and Castillo nodded his agreement.

“The guards at the gate said Umon’s villagers were in open revolt,” I said. “Why would they know about it and not the High King?”

“I’m crafty with a lie,” Castillo said simply, and I couldn’t argue with him. I simply wondered whom he’d lied to—the guards or his father.

“Does the High King have a bond?” I asked, looking at Castillo.

Cris shook his head. “He’d never rely on someone else like that.”

While being bonded would increase his magic, it meant he had to trust someone else explicitly. Depend on them in dangerous situations. It made sense the High King wouldn’t subject himself to such things.

I waited for Castillo to reveal our secret. I’d told him on the way back to the castle that we’d have to disclose everything to ensure the best chance of overthrowing the High King.

He didn’t speak, but watched me with a slight frown marring his lips. I glared. He’d agreed that we’d tell Cris about our bond.

I opened my mouth—

“Echo and I are bonded,” Castillo said.

Cris’s grip on my hand became painful, and Mari gasped. “True bonds?” she asked.

“Yes.” Castillo tore his angry gaze from mine and focused on his brother. His eyes softened as he said, “And nothing more.”

Cris turned me back toward him. “Nothing more?” His lips hardly moved with the words.

“Truly nothing more.”

He accepted my answer and focused on Castillo again. “Should we tell her of our plans?”

“Yes, you should.” I turned to find Castillo glaring once more. “Castillo, I can simply enter your mind while you sleep tonight.”

“I wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight.”

“Cris,” I said, but it sounded like a whine.

“You won’t like it,” he said. “Which is why Castillo does not wish to tell you.”

“She’s powerful,” Castillo said, as if I were not standing right in front of him. “I’m afraid of her.”

“You are not!”

He quirked a smile. “Still, I’d prefer you find out at a time when you cannot do anything to stop us.”

“It’s that bad?” I tried and failed to imagine what they could have possibly done.

“Well, he traded his mother in an agreement with Heona,” Mari said.

The breath left my body. “You did?” I stepped toward Castillo.

Castillo exhaled angrily and clenched his fists. “There is little I would not do to ensure our victory against my father. Helena understood the risks. She agreed to help.”

Cris cleared his throat. “We’re wasting time. There will be plenty of time for anger and revelations later. Let us focus on the approaching army and what we’ll do when they arrive.”

“So what should we do?” I sifted through the spell-songs I knew for one we could use against someone unbonded like the High King.

“You will do nothing,” Cris said.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Castillo and I can work the magic together.”

“I don’t want you doing anything dangerous,” Cris said.

“That’s ridiculous,” I said. “Everything I do is dangerous, including sneaking through the gates in the dead of night to heal you.”

“She has a point,” Castillo said in barely more than a whisper. “Don’t argue with the girl, Cris. She’ll do what she wants anyway.”

I shot him a daggered look, half-grateful and half-annoyed. “Curse your mouth,” I said, and that caused a chuckle to leak from Cris.

“Fine,” he said. “But you are to stay here and work your magic.”

“I must be with Castillo.” I squeezed Cris’s hand. He looked at me and I begged him with my eyes.
Please,
I thought.
Please don’t deny me this chance to use my voice for good. Please see that this is what your kingdom needs, what you need.

“I must be crazy.” Cris released my gaze and turned to the others. “We’re
all
insane. My father possesses magic we know nothing of.”

“He’s not immortal yet,” I said.

“That we know of,” Castillo amended. My eyes flew to his.

“You will tell Matu the plan?” Cris asked, and Castillo nodded before turning and leaving. Mari followed him, leaving Cris and I alone.

“Castillo told me about Olive. I’m so sorry,” he said, his head as low as his voice. “My father will pay for the crimes he’s committed.”

I didn’t say that it was fine; it wasn’t. But her death didn’t belong to Cris, so I simply pulled his mouth to mine and enjoyed the taste, feel, and heat of him next to me once again.

#

As I watched the sky lighten in varying degrees, I sang a few notes, the beginnings of a spell that would unravel Castillo’s secrets. I stalled on the last note, wondering if I should simply leave him alone. I’d discovered so many things through my songs, things I might not even need to know.

I cut the song into silence and turned my thoughts to my mother. Her love for my father had driven her to leave me behind, a mere baby.

I thought of her combing the Earth to find the magic to bring him back to the living. I thought of the desperation she must have felt. I thought I might’ve tasted a small portion of it when I saw Cris crumpled on the cobbles. I would’ve used any spell to heal him, any song or rhyme to make him whole again.

I sighed at the emptiness of the bed beside me. He had stayed with me, the warmth of his bare skin beside mine welcome, until he thought I’d fallen asleep. Then he’d slipped from bed and disappeared into his private study. I missed him more now that I knew I loved him.

“Echo, breakfast is here.” Mari spoke from the doorway, but by the time I rolled over she was gone. I hurried to pull on the magician robes she’d laid out and joined her in the dining nook.

“Thank you, Mari.” I looked at her with new eyes and found a loyal friend. She hadn’t told anyone about my magic in the compound. She’d helped me here, especially after Olive’s death.

“I’m sorry about my infatuation with the Prince.” She fiddled with her napkin. “I think there were some foul spells at play.”

“What do you mean?” I hoped my voice didn’t give away that I knew of this trickery already.

“I felt . . . compelled toward him.” She shook her head as if dislodging something painful within. “It doesn’t matter. My behavior is inexcusable.”

I blinked and saw her with her shoes pinched between her fingers as she slinked from Cris’s rooms. “I believe you were going to take one of my memories.”

She met my gaze. “I was sent to Umon to spy on Castillo, at the command of the High King,” she whispered. “But I failed. I didn’t know what he was doing, or where he’d gone. I couldn’t heal him. I was so distracted with Cris.”

“Mari,” I said. “Please. It—”

“I intercepted Cris’s invitations meant for you. I’d never felt such jealousy.” She looked out the window, as if the glass replayed her misdeeds in the compound.

I put my hand on her arm to break her from the trance. “Truly, it doesn’t matter; as long as you are with us now.” I narrowed my eyes. “You are with us, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Good.” I smiled. “Now let’s take care of that memory.”

The following morning, the High King stood in the courtyard, barking orders at the assembled magicians. I stopped, only able to stare as my heart battled and raged against my ribcage.

I could only hear the notes of the spell-song that had killed Olive. My fingers curled into fists, and my vision sharpened. Energy flowed from me, causing the High King to turn.

His eyes narrowed as his lips spread into a smile. He folded his arms, and I wanted to fly forward and knock him senseless, perhaps sing a song that would shatter his smile and darken his eyes.

“Not yet,” Castillo hissed as he bumped into my left shoulder. He didn’t say anything else, nor look back at me, as he continued into the courtyard. He bowed his head to his father and took his position among the magicians.

I focused past the High King, where dozens of people waited for the lesson to begin. They all watched me with various expressions. Some wore wonder, some expectation, others confusion.

Matu caught my eyes, his imploring me not to give away too much. I thought of Olive, of her last words to me, of the peace she’d worn on her face as Grandmother welcomed her home.

“I’m ready to begin training.” The words stuck in my throat, and I refused to look directly at the High King as I brushed past him.

He laughed, but it sounded like a cackle. “Your students.” He waved his arm across the group before settling on the steps. I wanted to say many things to his magicians, but I certainly couldn’t teach them a song to sing him into death if he hovered during my lessons.

I caught Castillo’s eye, and he lowered his chin a fraction of an inch. Enough for me to know that he approved of the way I’d schooled my emotions—and that he’d call back the armies until I could properly instruct the magicians to overthrow the High King.

The opportunity didn’t come the next day, nor the next. Frustration boiled inside my veins, making me irritable and tense.

“Patience,” Cris counseled one evening. “He won’t attend lessons every day.”

“But he just loiters there! I don’t understand it. He said he didn’t have time to teach his militia.”

“He has time for what he deems important.”

“And magic is of utmost importance to him.” I sighed. “What should I do? Refuse to teach? Cause an uprising that will draw his attention away from Nyth?”

Cris drew me into an embrace. I breathed in the warmth of him, letting some of the annoyance and helplessness flow out of me. I began a cleansing song, one that would drive the disquiet away, at least for a little while.

I sang into Cris’s chest as he held me close and joined his voice to mine. The timbre to his voice felt like rich honey, and though he possessed little power, it was beautiful and kind. With our voices acting together, my negative emotions and worries about the High King floated away.

I stopped singing then, enjoying the warmth of Cris’s arms around me as we blocked out the world.

“I’ll distract him,” Cris murmured.

#

The next morning, Cris departed before I awoke. Mari helped me ready myself for lessons, as I’d reassigned her to be my maid after Olive’s death. Her quick smile reminded me of Lucia’s quiet strength and unwavering loyalty.

“Thank you, Mari.” I paused near the door as she tossed me a friendly smile.

I slowed my steps as I approached the courtyard, searching the stairs for the High King. He was nowhere to be seen, and I couldn’t feel his magic nearby either.

“Today,” Castillo muttered as I passed him, but I didn’t acknowledge him. My heart crowded my throat.
Today
rang through my head.
Definitely today.

“Come in close, please.” I centered myself in the courtyard. I needed proximity to influence the magicians. As they gathered, I hummed a detection tune to find those most loyal to the High King.

I found thirty or so magicians glowing with a red aura. I asked them to come forward and then I examined them, as if searching for something important. I looked straight into the eyes of the one who’d very nearly broken the circle during Olive’s death ceremony.

My breath hitched, my throat narrowed. I looked away quickly, deemed those with the aura still confused, and sent them away. Dozens of magicians remained in the courtyard, unattached to the High King, and possibly willing to go along with me.