Page 88 of A Dark and Drowning Tide

One without armor or teeth.

“You mean to stage a coup,” Lorelei said.

“No.” She met her eyes steadily. “As soon as Wilhelm is dead, I intend to return to an independent Ebul. Whoever wishes to squabble over the remains of Brunnestaad may do as they please.”

“Does Heike know?”

“No.” Her expression shuttered. “She never would have agreed with this course of action. It’s too direct. Besides, if I failed, I did not want any of this to touch her.”

“And Ludwig?” she asked bitterly. “Ludwig was a regrettable casualty.” Her mouth was set in a grim line. “The curse is unfortunate, but Johann did what he had to.”

“What he did was monstrous!”

Adelheid’s expression settled back into its usual cool politeness. “Is there anything else you want to know?”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you and I can work together. What I ask is simple. Look the other way. Help me find the Ursprung. Let Sylvia take the fall.”

“If you think I wouldever—”

“Wilhelm is a snake,” Adelheid cut in impatiently. “When his reign is threatened next, do you think he will spare even a moment to give you what you’re due? Do you think he would even hesitate to throw the Yevani to the wolves if he thought it would gain him an ounce of public approval? Trusting Wilhelm to protect you is the greatest mistake you will ever make. I will not see someone else fall prey to his lies.”

She couldn’t deny it. She’d already seen the depths of his ruthlessness when he wrote her that letter.Unity requires sacrifice. Anger rolledthrough her anew. “There’s only one thing I don’t understand. Why me? Sylvia would be a far more valuable ally.”

“Yes,” she conceded, “but Sylvia would never resort to something so underhanded. She’s too idealistic to believe Wilhelm is a lost cause. Besides, I have something you want.”

Lorelei curled her lip. “What do you know about what I want?”

“I will giveyou—andall yourpeople—yourfreedom and your safety in Ebul. Your cooperation is all I ask.”

Lorelei’s breath shuddered out of her. Thatwasall she wanted.

If Wilhelm lost control of Brunnestaad, then there was no telling what would happen to the Yevani ofRuhigburg—orthose in the other Yevanverten across the kingdom. Sylvia had offered to bring Lorelei with her to Albe, but such generosity could not extend to all of them. Her mother’s betrayal would make her position precarious enough. Far safer to throw in her lot with a ruler delivering her people from ruin.

But to allow Sylvia to take the fall? She could not live with herself.

“There has to be someone else. Johann would sacrifice himself for you gladly.”

“And lose Herzin’ssupport—andmy dearest friend? No.”

“Heike, then.”

Adelheid only looked at her pityingly.

On some level, Lorelei had always known it would come to this: her survival or Sylvia’s. Ever since Wilhelm’s letter arrived, she had run from it. She’d thought she could find some way to change her fate, and for a time, Sylvia made her believe she could. Listening to her was like being led by the hand through a dark, enchanted wood.

But she was not so naïve anymore.

Adelheid’s fingers closed around her wrist, as if they were two friends sharing confidence. “This is an easy choice. Make it.”

Beneath the cold stare of the moon, the room glowed with a cold, spectral light. It glinted off the silver handle of Ziegler’s walking stick, leaning against a corner as though waiting for its owner to return. Through the impossible pang of grief, Lorelei could not help thinkingthat betrayal had been an easy choice for Ziegler to make. Even now, she could not escape the reality of just how thoroughly she’d molded herself in her mentor’s image.

For years, she had fought for her own safety and for the safety of her people. And now, she would have it. Any cost was worth that. Sylvia’s life was worth nothing against hundreds. It was worth nothing at all. She could not live only for the dead. She had to live for the people she could still save. That meant herself.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

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