The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

for me to learn how to lead an army and kill.”
“And to defend,” I’d amended softly, tracing small
circles on his chest. “You learned how to defend your people
and those you care about.”
“True.”
“Did you want to be that?” I’d asked. “A commander?”
“The commander,” he’d corrected with a teasing kiss.
“It was the only skill I really knew, and I wanted to be able
to serve my brother when he took the throne someday. I
didn’t really question it.”
“At all?”
He’d fallen quiet for few minutes and then laughed.
“Actually, that is not entirely true. I was fascinated with the
science behind farming as a child—how the farmers grew to
learn what time of year was best to plant certain crops, how
they set up their irrigation systems. And there was
something about seeing all that hard work come to fruition
when it came time to harvest.”
A farmer.
Part of me hadn’t expected that, but then I thought of
what he’d claimed his father did when I spoke with him in
the Red Pearl. I’d grinned as I kissed him, and he then
proved that fighting hadn’t been the only skill he’d learned.
Another night, when his body was curled around mine
and after a long day of meetings, he’d asked, “There’s
something I’ve been wondering and keep forgetting to ask.
When we entered Iliseeum, and you saw the skeleton
soldiers, you said they were hers. What did you mean?”
I’d realized then that I hadn’t shared that image with
him. I’d told him what I saw when I was in the Chambers of
Nyktos. “I saw her again when I was sleeping after the
attack—after you saved me. It felt like a dream…but not.
Anyway, I saw her touch the ground, and I saw bone hands
digging their way out.” I’d looked over my shoulder at him.
“Who do you think she could be? If she is or was real?”
“I don’t know. You said she had silver hair?”