“Or believed to be ended in favor of the summoner if the Primal is killed,” Nyktos tacked on, his voice deceptively level.
“And that,” Ezra said. “That, too.”
I turned to Nyktos, my eyes narrowed.
His brows lifted. “What?”
“Just so you know, I was never a fan of the deal,” Ezra continued.
“Because it wouldn’t be wise to attempt to kill a Primal?” Nyktos surmised.
“Yes, but mainly because it was unfair to Sera.”
That wasn’t news to me, but it was still good to hear that.
Nyktos said nothing, but he eyed Ezra a tad less intensely than before.
Taking another breath, I faced Ezra again. Her brows were furrowed into thin slashes as she looked between us. “There would’ve been changes when the deal was fulfilled. The climate would return to what it was before, less temperate, as I believe it already has.” That explained the hotter, longer summers full of drought and the vicious storms. “The ground wouldn’t be as fertile as it once was, thanks to the deal, but Lasania would’ve returned to how it was meant to be, which didn’t include the Rot.”
Ezra leaned back, and I could practically see her turning the information over in her head. “Then what is the Rot?” she asked.
“You believe her? That easily?” Nyktos demanded before I could answer. “Didn’t you and your families—her ancestors—believe the deal was the cause of the Rot?”
“I believe her,” Ezra said, her chin lifting.
“Because I am here?”
“Well, your presence may have a little to do with it.”
His head cocked. “A little.”
“Just a bit,” she said. “But I know how important saving Lasania was for Sera. She would not lie about something, knowing what it meant for her kingdom.”
Her kingdom.
I briefly closed my eyes. “Lasania was never mine.”
“That’s not true. You should’ve been Queen, Sera. Not me. If I can acknowledge that, you should be able to.”
Curling my fingers around my knees, I said, “But you are Queen, and that’s what matters now. You’ll be able to handle what I’m about to tell you, unlike my—” I cut myself off, took a moment, then continued. “The Rot was caused by something else entirely. Something much more complicated than a deal.”
Ezra was quiet for a moment. “And whatever it is, you cannot tell me?”
“No,” I said quietly.
“Then…” Her shoulders stiffened. “Then there is no stopping the Rot?”
“We’re going to do our damnedest to stop it. I swear,” I promised. “But nothing is guaranteed. There is a chance—”
“Barely,” Nyktos growled.
“A small chance,” I amended, “that we could fail. That’s why I came today. I wanted to warn you so you could prepare.” I thought about what Holland had told me and the people outside with their baskets and bushels. “But I think you’ve already begun to do that.”
“Yes. I have,” she said, her grip easing on the arm of the chair. “You know how I’ve felt about how the Rot was handled. I felt that we should be doing everything we could to build the pantries of the people, not just our own.”
“The people we saw on the way in?” Nyktos said, asking his first non-antagonistic question.
“We’ve started a bit of a food bank where people can come on certain days, at certain times, if they have need,” she explained. “I’ve also been in talks with the King and Queen of Terra, in hopes of strengthening their faith in Lasania. I believe I am being successful in such talks.” A small smile appeared. “I believe we simply needed to prove that an alliance with us is beneficial. Something my father, gods rest his soul, was never that great in relaying.”
I managed to fight back a cringe. Ezra loved her father, and I… My stare shifted to what would’ve been his throne.
“And how are you succeeding at that?” Nyktos asked.
I sucked in a soft breath, blinking. I didn’t think Nyktos was all that curious about what Ezra was doing. He might have simply been preventing me from blurting out what I’d caused.
Which I likely would have.
And Ezra didn’t need to know that.
“They have many fertile fields primed for crops, unlike us,” she said. “But we have one thing in abundance that Terra does not. Labor. Paid labor, involving those who wish to relocate to Terra—at least for part of the year. Our talks are going well.”
That was very smart.
“But if the Rot continues to spread…” She trailed off.
I nodded. “Has it spread?”
“A bit more. We’ve lost a few more farms, but it hasn’t sped up or anything like that,” she confirmed. I thought of the Masseys, knowing that their farm had to be one of those lost. “It is good to know this—what you’ve shared. It gives me, well, I don’t know how else to say it, but it gives me hope.”
My brows rose. “You didn’t think I’d succeed at killing him?”
“I wasn’t quite sure you’d succeed at the whole making-him-fall-in-love part,” she corrected.
“Wow,” I muttered.
“You are a bit…temperamental. And those around you do have a tendency to end up stabbed,” she began with a sheepish grin. “I figured you’d probably get yourself killed by growing impatient and just stabbing him.”
Nyktos barked out a short laugh. “Now, that was incredibly astute.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
Ezra opened her mouth, closed it, and then appeared to try again. “I am very…confused by you.”
Nyktos stared down at her. “You are?”
She nodded. “You are Death.”
“I am.”
“You are not very Death-like.”
His head tilted. “And how is one…Death-like?”
“We cannot stay much longer,” I cut in, half-afraid of whatever Ezra might say.
“Must you leave?” Ezra asked. “Mari is currently with her father, but she should be arriving soon.”
“I really would love to see her, but we cannot.” I glanced at the doors. “Where is—?” I stopped myself from asking. I didn’t need to know where my mother was. I didn’t care. “How is your Consort?”
“Perfect.” A bright smile appeared, lighting up her entire face. That was what more looked like. “She is utterly perfect.”
“Good. I’m happy to hear that.”
Her eyes searched mine, and I could tell she had much she wanted to ask. Wanted to say. “I…after everything happened here, I sent a missive to the Vodina Isles to check on Sir Holland, but I have not heard anything in return.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “I believe he’s fine.”
“You do?” Her gaze sharpened.
“It’s time.” Nyktos swooped in, nipping the string of questions Ezra surely had in the bud.
It was hard, but I stood in agreement.
“Will I see you again?” Ezra asked, the same as I had asked of Holland.
I gave her a far more hopeful answer. “I believe so.”
“I hope so, too. I really do.” Her voice thickened. “I miss you.”
The breath I exhaled was ragged. “I miss you, too.” I turned, hurrying to join Nyktos at the steps as the burn in my throat increased.
“Sera?” Ezra rose, stopping me. “Remember what you said about the lands tainted by the Rot? And why couldn’t they be used to build homes for those in Croft’s Cross living in the most cramped conditions?”
My brows knitted. “Yes?”
“That’s where Mari and her father are. At the ruined lands. They’re going to build homes. Nothing extravagant, but I discovered stores of lumber—at least enough to start with,” she told me. “It was your idea. I thought you should know.”