THIRD BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES OF FANTASILIA SERIES
𝘈 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘈 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘺. 𝘈 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳. 𝘈 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴.
Two sides of the same coin are brought to the light...
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How could things escalate this quickly? Xanthy tugged at the chains snaking around her body that tied her arms to her sides and her torso into a chair. Her feet were shackled together. The pain in her back was forgotten, replaced by a different kind gripping her heart.
She had no idea how much time had passed since she was last thrown in a different room after the High Queen pronounced judgement over her and her friends. Was it minutes? Hours? Years? Were her friends already executed by the Death Knight? Just what was going on?
Xanthy glanced at the windows, at the door that remained shut a few steps ahead, but nothing came to her mind except what had happened in the throne room. June's blank face. June turning her over to the High Queen. June walking away.
June. June. June.
How could he do this? The way he looked at her back at the throne room...gods, it's like he didn't even know her, much less loved her. Xanthy blew a breath. Tears welled in her eyes. She shook her head. No. She would not cry. Slow down. Break the problem into small pieces she could swallow. Start from the beginning.
Cardina. She met June. She was purged by the Civil Guards. Were those humans into his secret? What was he doing in Cardina, anyway? He's a half-blood and purges have been running rampant. How come he had lasted long in that city?
Then, earlier in the throne hall, he mentioned he was on a mission to collect the Virtakios. Xanthy's stomach soured at the mere thought. Was that it? Was that why he stuck with her ever since? Xanthy cursed. Her mind raced with memories.
During the Drodham siege, did he talk her out of joining the camp infiltration because he couldn't have her dying? Xanthy mistook that as concern and because June liked her. Was it even that?
What was with this mission anyway? Why did the High Queen need the Virtakios? Unless...
Xanthy's gasp echoed across the hollow cell. The Heiress. The High Queen mentioned the name right before Xanthy was hauled away from her presence. What did the Imperial Queen say? It's time to give the Heiress what she wants.
Xanthy's eyes widened as her breath turned into quick, shallow gasps. No way. Cardovia has the Imperial Palace wrapped around its finger too? How did that happen?
What was June's role into all of this? Was he from Cardovia too? If so, then why hasn't he made a move against Elred when she mentioned Cardovia was evil? Why didn't he murder Elred or at least plot against her life? Why hasn't he done anything Cardovia-like? Xanthy knitted her eyebrows. Why go through the High Queen first? He could have gone straight to Cardovia's headquarters if he already had the Virtakios in his hands.
June. Just who was he? He's the Death Knight, yes. But again, her instincts told her that he's more than a cold-blooded assassin who killed people that spoke against the High Queen. He's had more of his past hidden behind him.
