Ruined Fanfic

Prologue: Recap

"Are you ever going to die?" I screamed angrily. As long as Cas was alive, I'd never be able to rule. Cas pressed his lips together to keep in a laugh. We were in my stupid cell. I'd been locked up beneath the castle since the day of the battle, and I'd been hoping he was dead.

"He's immortal," Galo said, stepping off the stairs behind Cas. "I guess you didn't hear." It had been nearly a month since I'd returned to the castle on the day of the battle, and he hadn't improved at all.

. «I'm sending you to the fortress," Cas said, stepping forward and pulling out the key to the cell. "Guards are waiting at the top of the stairs. They'll escort you to a carriage, and then south, to the fortress."She regarded him suspiciously as he pulled the door open.

"And then what?"

«And then you may do whatever you want, in the confines of the fortress. You'll be given a room, not a cell, and you'll have full access to the grounds. But you'll be guarded at all times."

I laughed. It was short and loud, and not at all amusing.

"You're lying. You're going to send me away so you can kill me without getting your hands dirty."

"No, that's what you would have done. The guards have been ordered not to harm you." He swept his arm toward the stairs. "Go. We may come up with a different arrangement in the future, but for now, you will live in the fortress, and I will live here, and with a little luck, we will never see each other again."

I stood slowly, never taking my eyes off him as I walked to the cell door. I stepped out of the cell and darted quickly past Cas and ran up the stairs at full speed.

"No goodbye, then," Galo said as he watched her go,

"I'm heartbroken," Cas said dryly. He walked up the stairs, Galo following behind him, and watched as guards escorted Tovita down the hallway. It was strange that he'd been so scared of her a few months ago that he'd agonized over killing her. Now she just seemed like a sad reminder of the past.

Aren rounded the corner, and Jovita shrank toward one of the guards as soon as she spotted him. He laughed as he came to a stop next to Galo.

"At least I still scare some people," he said. "My reputation has taken a hit recently. No one refers to me as the bad one anymore."

"I'm sure there are still a few people in Olso who call you that," Galo said.

"Thank you. That makes me feel better." Aren bumped his shoulder against Galo's. "Come on. I think most of the Ruined are already waiting." "We have a meeting," Galo explained as he stepped away from Cas. "We have a few things to discuss before the Vallos king arrives tomorrow."

Cas sighed. The new king of Vallos had reached out to start peace talks, and Cas didn't look forward to his visit. The kingdoms of Vallos and Olso had made it clear that they did not support Lera's decision to let Ruined take part in government. He'd yet to hear from August at all on the subject of a peace treaty. Violet said he was probably too embarrassed after them. After their humiliating defeat at Lera Castle. Rumor had it that everyone had heard that Iria, the most notorious traitor in Olso, had been the one to defeat Olivia Flores. There had even been a move. meant to pardon her and let her return home. She told Cas that August would never agree to that, and even if he did, she had no interest in returning to Olso.

"Iria's waiting for you in one of the sparring rooms," Aren said.

"I know, I'm headed up there now," Cas said.

Galo winced. "You're sparring with Iria? Poor girl." Cas laughed.

Aren whacked him on the shoulder as they began walking away from Cas. "Hey."