Page 185 of Burn Her They Said
Varic releases a breath. “It could also be different rebel groups performing each attack. Or a combination of lands and tactics, making it harder to surmise since they all have different approaches, along with access to spells, potions, and other forms of magic.”
Fray straightens. “But much to Cirrin’s point, if they want her alive, why would they send a bomb through her window?”
Varic shakes his head, and my fingers twitch as I hold back the urge to close the space between us again. But I cannot risk Drusilla finding us locked in an embrace, so I send him a tendril of calm, hoping it helps staunch his fears.
His eyes flick over to mine beneath the deep lines creasing his forehead until the magic I sent helps to soften his expression. He nods to me before contributing, “They may have been prepared to take her from various locations should we retreat. You weren’t there, Fray, so you didn’t notice how delayed the activation had been set.”
“We heard when it went off and were just as perplexed at how delayed it seemed,” Fray says. “A bomb like that garners notice, and with the amount of flying and speed sorcerers in our Imperial Army and Guard, it would need to go off quickly if the intent is to maim. Do you think there were insiders meant to grab her in the halls had we tried to take her into the mountain?”
Varic nods. “Possibly. I don’t know why there weren’t other flying sorcerers waiting in the sky should you be the one to take her.”
“They probably never considered we’d allow her to only be protected by one Guard for such an extended period of time,” Cirrin says.
“That makes sense.” Fray nods at Cirrin. “Since she either has us or five interim Guards with her.”
“Fuck,” Varic says, dropping his head to brace it within his open palm. “That’s it. Whoever planned the attack must have studied Hendry’s methods. They would have had no way to anticipate me ordering you to take her to the sky and keep her there after we so publicly vowed to be with her at all times. Had it been Hendry, he may have instructed you to take her to the dens. Where the enemy may have been waiting in that Godsdamned forest, expecting Fray to drop down with her any second. They could have easily ambushed us while we were all distracted. Who knows how many of them could have been hiding in the forest.”
“But how would they survive when we know there are beings in there none of us ever want to encounter?” Lars asks.
Varic shakes his head. “I don’t know, but those initial firebombs we saw on the balcony had to have been launched from within the trees, meaning someone has figured out how to exist in there among the beasts.”
Malin raises a finger in the air for emphasis. “Temporarily, at least. We do not have evidence to suggest anyone survived past lighting the bombs.”
“And Fray can fly faster, higher, and farther than any average flying sorcerer,” Cirrin says. “Had they sent others, even if they took off the moment they saw Fray leave through her window, he could have easily lost them the second they broke through the heavy cloud cover.”
Lars scrubs his hand over the back of his neck. “I do not like the picture we’re painting. It is all precarious, and we cannot trust the Annovian government to be neutral—and especially not when our Emperor could be stirring up reasons for them to declare a war with us any second.”
Varic shifts his gaze from Lars to me. “I reported abnormalities in Minacia’s attack strategy. They’ve been pulling back longer than usual, only to return with more force than we’ve known them to possess.”
Tears well along my lash line. “Do you think they’re trying to infiltrate our land to capture me?”
“No.” Varic’s tone is grave. “Minacia is too far from the Palace. It wouldn’t be the point of entry they would use if the goal were to access you.”
Blood leaves my upper body as I stare back at him.
“I reported what we were noticing and spoke with other commanders to find patterns in what they’re experiencing?—”
I nod and cut him off. “That was months ago.”
“I failed.” Varic sighs. “I had intelligence I thought credible?—”
His distress draws me in, and he pauses when my chest meets his own. Then I reach up and take his face in my hands. “You spoke up then, and you are protecting me now. You are far more capable of keeping me safe here, by my side, than if you had convinced the Emperor of the threat you detected.” I do not add that I can do the same in return, now that he is no longer protecting the border where they may have been planning to abduct him for ransom. Or worse. He doesn’t need the guilt.
“And by being here, I have inadvertently brought one more reason for the increase in attacks. Because you and I, Tasch, we’re just two targets to them.”
“Hey!” Fray cries in mock offense.
“Six targets.” Malin lifts his chin for emphasis.
“Exactly, six targets.” Fray points around the room. “Each the strongest in their form of magic, and in Tasch’s case more than one form, probably.”
I scoff with a smile tugging at the corners of my lips, despite the gravity of the situation—including our lack of opportunity to learn if the ability I have been using most of my life is a form of force magic or not.
Varic gives in and folds his arms around me. Warmth spreads through my chest as he pulls in a deep breath, and his muscles settle into my own, breathing me in to help calm himself from the stress of the day. Then sparks scatter down my skin as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“We’re going to figure this out, Tasch.”
I nod, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat as he steps away, ensuring our proximity appears more appropriate.
