Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2) by Emma Hamm (best e ink reader for manga .txt) 📕

with Sigrid that she might… might protect the land she came from in the off chance that something like this will affect your people as well.”

“But she’s not here.” The words scraped through her throat like a knife she’d swallowed down. The truth wanted to claw its way out of her body. To scream that Sigrid could still be found, maybe, that she could come back and end all this when they needed her most.

“I thought he would see reason,” Hallmar continued, his voice hoarse with anger and rage. “I thought the boy could see reason. That perhaps after all this time he had grown.”

“He does see reason,” Camilla replied. “If there was one thing I learned while being there, it’s that the sultan is a far more intelligent man than any of us give him credit for. He knows what he’s doing, and now that he’s taken back the kingdom as his own… he’s unpredictable. At best.”

“Unpredictable doesn’t mean unreasonable.”

“Well, he’s that too. But for reasons that neither of us could likely understand. He wants to see his kingdom prosper, and he’s willing to do anything to ensure that.” she cleared her throat, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “Even letting go of someone who is very dear to him.”

Hallmar frowned. “Sigrid?”

“They grew… close. Probably closer than either you or I could have imagined. Yet, when it came down to it, they both chose their own people and countries over each other.”

“The battle.”

“More. Their story is not a good one, Hallmar. I don’t know what to tell you. She’s still broken, far worse than I’ve ever seen her with anyone else. Leaving him was like leaving a part of herself in that desolate place.”

His eyes narrowed and she realized what she’d said at the same time he did. “Still?”

Camilla scrambled, knowing that she’d already been caught in the lie but not able to say anything other than what Sigrid had begged of her. “My apologies, Highness. I still forget sometimes that she’s gone.”

“Hmm.” His grunt was little more than a realization.

She’d seen that look on his face many times. Hallmar was a highly intelligent person. He knew how to play the political game better than anyone she’d ever met. Likely why he was king of the Earthen folk and no one else had taken his throne yet. They used to be a warring people before he’d come into power. Now, no one had a chance to even think past his suspicions.

Finally, Hallmar cleared his throat and shifted his weight onto the opposite foot. “If Sigrid were still alive—”

“She’s not.”

“But if she were.” He held up a hand so she couldn’t interrupt him again. “Then I would tell you to find her as soon as possible. This war is going to destroy Wildewyn. Not the humans, not just the peasants and royals, but everyone. The Beastkin here will be drawn into the fight, they won’t have a choice. But if someone were to intervene, perhaps speak with the sultan so he might see some kind of reason… we would have the time we need to prepare.”

Camilla licked her lips. “She’s gone, Hallmar. There’s no way anyone can speak with the dead.” In her mind, she prayed he’d understand the words underneath the ones she had said. There was so much she wished she could tell him.

Sigrid was gone, far beyond her reach. No one could find the ancients unless they wanted to be found. Even Sigrid could be dead on a mountain somewhere, failed in her quest to find the help they all needed.

He shrugged. “There’s always a way. I’m certain the Beastkin know a ceremony which can find someone dear to them. Or perhaps, that someone might be able to fly ahead and scout for the person we’re all seeking.”

“It’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. That’s a word we all made up so we wouldn’t feel guilty stopping ourselves from reaching greatness.” He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders one more time. Pressing a kiss to her hairline, he whispered, “Go and find her, Camilla. For all our sakes.”

As Hallmar faded into the darkness, making his way back to whatever army waited for him or group of assassins, Camilla realized she really didn’t have a choice.

Sigrid needed to return, whether she was ready to or not. She waited heartbeats until she was certain Hallmar wouldn’t see her. Then, she burst into the change and flew on silent wings toward the mountains beyond.

16

Sigrid

She slid down the steep slope of the mountain, bow in hand. Eyes trained on the stag straight ahead of her, she made certain her movements were quiet. The beast could hear even the slightest twig snap. Thankfully, the leaves underneath her were still wet and heavy with snow. They didn’t crunch as she shifted her grip on the wrapped helve.

Sigrid let out a quiet, long breath as she drew back the bowstring. Each heartbeat was counted as she watched the animal move. It lifted its head for a moment, eyes seemingly finding her in the brush, but then it dropped back down to eat the acorns it had found.

I’m sorry, she thought, as she always did while hunting. The fletching stroked her fingertips as she released the arrow. It sang through the air, striking straight and true through the heart of the stag.

The beast stumbled only once, then fell to the ground.

Her heart clenched at the life taken. Though she knew it was necessary so the other Beastkin in this clan could eat, it still somehow felt wrong. Animals felt too close to killing her own people. Was it cannibalism for a deer shifter to eat deer?

She’d never had thoughts like this before coming here. Sigrid had simply eaten what was put in front of her, knowing that it was well prepared and safe to eat.

Now, she wondered where it came from. Why it was there, and heaven forbid who had killed it.

One of the male Beastkin from the enclave slid down into