Simon’s eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t quite read. Sadness, maybe. At least, that’s how he sounded when he said, “I would die for the Infidante, because I took an oath once to do so. I would die for Kestra Dallisor, because without her, there is no meaning to my life anyway. But I cannot sacrifice myself for a corruption that will eventually take over this land.”
My temper flared. “You call it corruption, but it’s only a word. It could as easily be called power or progress, or evolution, for any of those are better descriptions.”
“I describe it as rot, as decay, as an acid inside you. Look around, Kes, and see how it’s changed you! We’re in the dead of winter, and you don’t even have a simple cloak for protection. Does it make sense that you’re not even shivering?”
I wasn’t shivering, but he must not have noticed my trembling. Whether from anger or from whatever feelings I still had for Simon, I didn’t know. But he was right about one thing: In any other circumstance, I should have been frostbitten by now.
Simon took another step toward me, more cautious this time. “Please let me help. Before it’s too late.”
My fists clenched. He just needed to understand what had become obvious to me. “If you’d seen the forest, seen what I did for Loelle’s people, you’d feel differently. I’ve taken the curse from the land, so they can leave now. And when I have the strength for it, I’ll take the curse from them. Your people were there too, Simon. Thousands of Halderians were trapped by Endrick’s curse and are able to leave now.” I stepped closer to him and watched him counter with a step back. With a tilt of my head, I added, “If you think that is a bad thing, then perhaps the true corruption is in you.”
He frowned. “I think we have to remember the larger purpose in Antora.”
“I am that larger purpose! Kings and queens will come and go, but if Antora is to continue to exist, then we need someone on that Scarlet Throne to preserve the peace.”
“Like Endrick did?”
My spine stiffened. “I am the Infidante and the Infidante is magic. If there is corruption too, then it’s who I am now. So if necessary, would you die for me or not?”
He wouldn’t answer. “There must be a way to heal you—”
“Why should I? Magic is leading me toward a throne to which I am the rightful heir. You are not that heir, but you want it for the Halderians, King Simon.”
“You know that’s not true. You also know that your parents—your true parents—gave their lives to fight the very thing you are now embracing.”
Simon didn’t know that Darrow was alive, but it didn’t matter. My true mother was not. Tears filled my eyes. “Don’t speak of my parents.”
“I know that Darrow loved you. Your mother—”
The first tear fell. “Stop this.”
I lifted a hand and felt the coldness inside me, the corruption. For the first time, I was frightened by its presence.
Maybe Simon didn’t realize how his words were affecting me, but if he cared at all for me, he would stop. Instead, he pushed further. “Your parents must have suspected what lay ahead for you, if you were ever discovered. If there were a way to return to who you were, what would they want you to do?”
“What would you want me to do?” My voice became as serious as it had ever been. “Before leaving the forest, I saw your sister. She’s an Ironheart and probably somewhere here in Highwyn now. If I see her again, and if I can get close enough to restore her, shall I pull in her curse too? Save your sister, and lose more of myself?”
Until that moment, Simon had been moving steadily closer, but he was frozen now, the only movement a stiff rise and fall of his chest as he took that in.
“You saw Rosaleen?” When I kept my gaze steady on him, he said, “We’ll find a way to save you both. We’ll—”
“Kestra!”
Hearing Joth’s alarmed voice, I backed away from Simon, whose widened eyes looked as confused as I felt.
“The Coracks are coming,” Joth said. “We’ve got to leave!”
The Coracks? Angry, I turned to Simon, who was already shaking his head. “I swear I didn’t know—”
“You tricked me!”
“Kes, don’t go.” Simon reached for me, but I took his hand and instantly pulled enough strength from his body that he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
As soon as Simon fell, I heard the screech of his dragon, which took to the air. It was coming to protect its master, which meant my mother’s grave was accessible.
By the time I returned there, Joth was already digging a hole, beneath what looked like a fresher area of dirt than the rest of the grave. I knelt beside him to help, and within seconds, my hand touched a canvas bag.
The Olden Blade.