"We had brides waiting for us back in our hometown,” Conval said. “We were both engaged to be married. A double wedding. The Legion changed that. They said they would wait for us.”
“But we doubt they will,” Conven said.
Thor thought about it, and realized that he didn't miss anyone or anything from his hometown. The Legion was his life, completely his life. And he could see in the eyes of the others that it was their life, too. They had become more than friends—they had become true brothers. They were all that each other had.
"I don't speak to my family anymore," Elden said.
"Nor do I," said O'Connor.
"We are each other's family now," said Reece.
Thor realized it was true.
There came a sudden sound patter on the roof, like hail. It grew louder, and Thor and the others looked to the ceiling with alarm, sounding as if it would cave in. The old man and the boy woke and looked up, too.
"The rains," the old man remarked.
The sound was terrifying, all-consuming; it sounded as if the sky were raining small rocks. Making matters worse, the sound was accompanied by a horrific, squealing noise of thousands of insects. It sounded as if the animals were chewing on the roof and trying to get in. Thor looked up and was grateful for the barrier protecting them from the outside, so grateful that this man had not let them stay the night in the jungle.
After what felt like hours, finally, the noise stopped, and the hissing faded. The boy jumped to his feet, crossed the cottage, opened the door and looked out.
"It's safe now," he said.
They all jumped up as one, hurried to the door and looked out.
In the distance, Thor could see thousands of huge black insects crawling away from them, heading into the jungle.
"The moonlight is safe now, too,” the boy said. “You see—it’s the second moon. You can tell by the purple light.”
Thor walked outside, breathing the cold, night air, the jungle filled with soft night noises, and he searched the blackness in wonder.
"It’s safe for now, but don't stay out long," said the boy.
Reece came out and joined Thor, as the boy hurried back inside and closed the cottage door behind them. The two of them stood out there, looking up into the sky, at the large purple moon, at the twinkling red stars. This place was even more fantastical than Thor had imagined.
"We might die tomorrow," Reece said, looking up at the sky.
"I know," Thor said. He had been thinking the same exact thing. The odds against them seemed impossible.
“If we do, I want you to know that you're my brother," Reece said to him. "My true brother.”
Reece looked at him meaningfully, and Thor reached out and clasped his forearm.
"As you are mine," Thor said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hafold hurried through the Queen’s chamber, preparing her morning meal, as she had done every day during her thirty five years in the Queen’s service. Hafold was a precise woman, and she stuck to her schedule like clockwork, crossing the stone chamber as she prepared the queen’s porridge.
On this day, though, she walked twice as fast. For the first time in all her years of service, she was late. She had tossed and turned all night with obscure, ominous dreams, the first nightmares of her life. She had seen King's Court rise up in flames, people burned alive, screaming all around her.
By the time she had awakened, the first sun was already high in the sky, and Hafold had leapt from her bed, embarrassed. She felt awful at the thought of having made the Queen wait, at arriving at such a late hour. Typically Hafold arrived first, followed by the Queen’s second maidservant, who brought the late morning tea. Now Hafold would have the shame of arriving at the time of the second server. Hafold did not suffer incompetence in others, and she detested it in herself.
Hafold tucked her head, doubled her pace, and held the tray firmly in her trembling hands, hoping the Queen would not be upset with her. Of course, given the Queen’s catatonic state, she was hardly capable of expressing pleasure or displeasure. But Hafold could sense the Queen’s smallest movements. After so many years, the Queen was like a mother and a sister and a daughter to her, all rolled in one. She felt more protective of her than anyone in King's Court—than anyone in her own family.
Hafold turned the corner, thinking of ways she could make it up to the Queen, and as she raised her head she caught sight of her in the distance, sitting in her chair by the window, staring out with blank eyes as she had for weeks now. There, beside her, stood her second maidservant, tea in hand, right on time; she was a young girl, new to King's Court, and she poured her tea meticulously into a shining gold cup.
Hafold did not want to disturb them, and so she walked quietly, creeping up behind them without a sound, her soft socks lining her noise on the stone floor. As she neared, prepared to announce herself, she suddenly stopped. Something was wrong.
Hafold watched the maidservant reach quickly into her vest, extract a small sack, spill a white powder into the queen’s tea, then stow it back inside her pocket. She then handed the cup to the Queen, holding it in her limp hand and guiding her to drink it, as she always had.
Hafold’s heart flooded with terror; she dropped her silver platter, the delicate plates crashing to the floor, and raced for the Queen. She reached up and smacked the cup away from her lips. Just in time, she sent the delicate china shattering to the floor.
The serving girl jumped back, looking at Hafold with eyes three times as wide, and Hafold pounced on her, grabbing her roughly by her shirt, yanking open her vest, and pulling out the sack filled with powder. She smelled it, touched the tip of her finger to it and tasted it. She snarled at the girl, who looked absolutely terrified.
"Niamroot," Hafold said knowingly. "Why are you feeding this to the Queen? Do you know what this does to a person?”
The girl stared back dumbly, trembling.
Hafold’s fury deepened. This was a toxic poison, one designed to kill the brain slowly. Why was this maidservant giving it to her? Looking at how young and stupid she looked, Hafold realized someone else was behind it.
"Who put you up to this?" Hafold pressed, grabbing her more tightly. "Who made you poison our queen? How long has this been going on? ANSWER ME!" she shrieked, reaching back and smacking the girl all her might.
The girl cried out, her body shaking, and between sobs, she said, "The King! The King made me do it! He threatened me. They are his orders. I'm sorry!”