The funeral for the King was this morning. It was held inside the ballroom in the palace, and it was standing room only with people spilling out into the street. People turned out from other Kanin communities, but Queen Mina wouldn’t let them in. She said that they could be spies for Viktor’s army, so they had to wait outside the gates of Doldastam listening to the bells toll.

She wouldn’t even invite any of the royalty from the other kingdoms, because she claims she can’t trust them. She says that we can’t trust anybody. During the funeral, the Queen spent most of the time swearing vengeance.

The worst part is that everyone ate it up. They were all cheering when she promised bloodshed to Evert’s enemies. Not that I blame them entirely. Somebody in our midst murdered our King.

At the funeral, Ridley stood in the back by himself. When everyone started cheering, I looked back and saw him sneak out. I hope nobody else noticed because that won’t look good for him.

I’m training harder with Delilah. We have to prepare for what’s coming. I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s something dark and something big. And I can’t let her get hurt.

I know this is terrible timing, but I can’t help it. I’m falling head over heels for Delilah. I feel so guilty, since our whole world is falling apart, but my heart doesn’t give a damn about time or place. All that matters is how we feel about each other.

But she has given me so much strength through all of this. I feel like I can do anything for her, and I will. I’ll do whatever I must to keep her safe when this war finally begins

Can I tell you an awful truth? I’m looking forward to this war. The tension and the waiting is maddening, especially when paranoia is running rampant.

I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but by the time you get this, hopefully everything will be all over, and you’ll want to know about it. Even if it hurts to hear.

Astrid Eckwell tried to accuse your father of poisoning the King. It was right after the funeral, when everyone was milling about. She just stood up and pointed to him and said it was him. She was hysterical, and the guards eventually dragged her away.

Queen Mina silenced the crowd, reminding them that the Högdragen had already investigated your father. But that was all she said, so people kept giving your parents these awful glares until they finally slunk out. Well, they didn’t slink exactly. You know your mother. She keeps her head held high no matter what anybody throws at her.

They should leave Doldastam, but I don’t think the Queen will let them. No one can go in or out. Tilda has talked about making a break for it, but I don’t know if she will. I don’t blame her, though. I can’t imagine having a baby here, even though she’s not due for a few months.

You’re so lucky that you’re not here. I don’t know if you’re safe. I don’t know if you’ll ever be safe again. But I still think you’re the lucky one.

Your friend (no matter what),

Ember

TWENTY-ONE

asylum

It was the look in her eyes that caught me off guard. In the corridor, right before we reached the throne room, there had been a massive painting of Elora Dahl, the Trylle’s most recent Queen before Wendy. Jet-black hair, flawless olive skin, dark piercing gaze—she was as beautiful as she was imposing.

But it was that look from the painting. Somehow, even in a rendering on canvas, Elora made me feel like I was two inches tall. And it was that exact look that Queen Wendy now shared with her mother.

I wanted to falter under her gaze, but I stood tall, with my shoulders back.

“I have been falsely accused,” I told her coolly, and that caused King Loki to cock an eyebrow.

“That seems a bit like a convenient excuse, doesn’t it?” Queen Wendy asked, unmoved.

“I was working in Storvatten, under direction of my kingdom,” I explained. “The Queen there felt unsafe, and I, along with my comrade Kasper Abbott, was sent to find out the cause of her unease.

“Upon returning to Doldastam, I discovered information that tied the problems in Storvatten to the Prince, Kennet Biâelse,” I went on. “When I tried to bring this to King Evert, Queen Mina blocked my attempts. Kasper and I explained the situation to her, and she accused us of treason and had us sent to the dungeon.”

“What did you say that made her allege treason?” Queen Wendy tilted her head, appearing interested.

“She said that simply making any claim against an ally was treasonous,” I answered.

Wendy sat up straighter and exchanged a look with her Chancellor, Bain. Then she looked back at me. “Go on.”

“I was afraid that we’d be locked away in the dungeon, so Kasper and I escaped in order to clear our names,” I said. “We went to Kennet’s room, since he was staying in the Doldastam palace. He admitted to his involvement in the attempts on both Queen Linnea and King Mikko’s lives in Storvatten.”

Loki let out a surprised whistle, causing Finn to cast a harsh look at him. For their parts, Wendy and Bain appeared unfazed.

“An altercation ensued between Kennet, Kasper, and myself,” I went on. “Kennet killed Kasper, and I began to fight with Kennet. During the struggle, Kennet fell out the window and died.”

Bain leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “So you think Kennet was behind everything in Storvatten? What about when you arrested Konstantin Black and Bent Stum for the crimes against the Skojare kingdom?”

“Kennet admitted to hiring them to do his dirty work,” I said, lying a little. “He wanted to be King himself, instead of his brother.”

Kennet had confirmed that he’d hired someone—he just never talked to Konstantin himself. Mina had been the intermediary, but I thought if I accused Mina of anything without substantial evidence, Queen Wendy would question everything I was saying.

I didn’t thinking aligning myself with Konstantin right now would help my case, and he was the only way I had been able to put all the pieces together. That meant that I had to leave out a few things and twist a few facts.

“But why wouldn’t Queen Mina hear you out?” Wendy asked.

“Her reasons were never made clear to me, Your Highness,” I said. “You’d have to ask her that yourself.”

Wendy leaned back in her throne and exhaled. “I don’t know what I should do with you.” She considered for a moment. “I know the Kanin would want me to return you to them so they could devise a punishment for themselves.”

“With all due respect, My Queen, if you send Bryn back to the Kanin, they will execute her,” Finn interjected. “Do you really think anything she’s done deserves execution?”

“And you have granted amnesty before,” Loki said with a sly smile, and Wendy cast him a look.

“Those were under vastly different circumstances,” she said, almost whispering.

“I am inclined to agree with Finn,” Bain said. He’d settled back in his seat and crossed his leg over his knee. “I worked with Bryn in Storvatten, and she seemed intent on serving her kingdom, not destroying it.”

“Since both Finn and the Chancellor are vouching for you, and my husband seems to think it’s a good idea, then we will grant you amnesty. For now,” Wendy said, emphasizing the fact that it could be revoked if she decided it should be. “Under one condition.”

“And what’s that?” I asked, feeling so relieved that I would’ve agreed to nearly anything at that point.

“Finn must keep an eye on you as long as you reside within the Kingdom of the Trylle.” She turned her hard gaze to him. “Any trouble that Bryn gets herself into falls on you.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

The Queen looked back at me. “The King, the Chancellor, and I will continue discussing these matters. But for the time being, you are safe and you’re free to stay here.” She smiled. “Welcome to Förening, Bryn.”

TWENTY-TWO

domestic

As soon as Finn opened the door to his squat cottage tucked away inside the bluffs, children dove at him—two squealing balls of delight with mops of curly hair. Both of them had mud smeared on their clothes, probably from a day spent out in the yard on the warm spring day.

Finn scooped up both of the kids with ease, holding one in each arm. I’d met them before, at Ember’s house, since Finn tried to visit his family whenever he had a chance. Hanna, the little girl, was about five years old, and she was babbling excitedly about the adventures she’d had that day with her mom and her brother.

The younger boy, on the other hand, was much more observant than his older sister. Liam couldn’t have been more than two, with chubby cheeks and dark brown eyes the size of saucers. He stared back at me over his dad’s shoulder, studying me intently.

Finn’s wife Mia came out from a back bedroom, shaking her head and making her ponytail bob. The long sundress she wore fell over the rapidly growing belly. It had only been a little over a month since I’d last seen her at Ember’s birthday party, but by the way she looked now, it seemed like the baby must be due soon.