A Crumble of Walls (The Kin of Kings Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t you do it? Why didn’t you…kill her?”
    Cleve could easily summon the image of Sanya bloody and dying. He often thought of it when trying to sleep, but it never brought him the comfort he sought.
    “Is it only because Reela told you not to?” Effie asked quietly. “I need to know.”
    “Why?”
    “Come on, Cleve. Tell me. Please.”
    “Are you looking for someone to blame for Sanya still being alive?”
    Effie looked down. “Reela told me what happened, and I don’t agree with her.” The mage gazed up into Cleve’s eyes. “I want to know what you plan to do the next time we see her.”
    Cleve couldn’t believe he was about to tell this to Effie. “Killing her won’t accomplish anything, except it will keep her from assisting our side in this war.”
    Effie’s mouth twisted in disappointment. “Why do you still defend Reela even though you two aren’t…?”
    “Aren’t what? What did she tell you?”
    “She didn’t tell me anything, Cleve, but I’m not stupid. I can see what’s going on between you. And what isn’t.”
    The two women told each other everything. Reela had to have said something, even if Effie could figure it out on her own.
    Someone behind them cleared his throat. Cleve turned to find Basen standing close enough to have overheard.
    “Sorry,” Basen said, wearing a guilty look. “I should’ve left or said something earlier, but…I couldn’t.”
    “I’m going to the medical building to visit my sister,” Effie announced, then left without waiting to see if anyone wished to go with her.
    “Is Gabby all right?” Basen asked Cleve.
    “Yes. She’s not hurt, just a chemist helping the injured there.”
    Cleve crossed his arms for warmth as an awkward moment of silence passed.
    “Do you know how many casualties we took?”
    “None were killed,” Cleve said. “And most of the injured came from our group.”
    There was another pause before Cleve asked, “Why did you follow us here?”
    “I apologize for that. I suppose I wanted a moment with friends before retiring to my room for the night.”
    Cleve knew he should force a smile and say something supportive, but it seemed easier to fight another battle than that.
    “Good night, Basen,” he said with a nod.
    Cleve traveled home slowly, not wanting to see Reela. Every time he missed Alex, his thoughts turned to Sanya for a moment of anger before eventually shifting to Reela. It was Reela who made him worry the most, because his strife with Sanya would end once she was put down like the savage animal she was. With Reela, however, he saw no way to recapture what they’d lost.
    He wondered what Sanya had done to put her mother and Alex to rest somewhere within that black hallway in the castle depths. Cleve got the sense that Sanya had barely escaped with her life, and he wouldn’t have fared any better.
    He was glad he hadn’t killed Sanya while she was weak, for he didn’t want her murder on his conscience. Capturing her would’ve been a good start toward justice, but Reela was right that Kyrro’s Allies would’ve torn her apart as soon as Cleve got her out of the castle.
    None of this changed the fact that he still wanted to see her punished for her crimes. It wasn’t enough that her terrible choices had led her to misery. Repentance wasn’t justice for murder.
    However, Reela did have a point that Sanya has been helping their side in this war. Truly the only reason I didn’t go against Reela and kill Sanya.
    Eventually Cleve arrived back at his student home. He walked down the hallway to find Reela standing in the doorway of the room they’d been sharing. He knew what she wanted.
    “Have you been waiting long?” he asked.
    “Yes, but it’s fine.”
    It didn’t sound fine by the tone of her voice. Not wanting to risk brushing against her, Cleve waited until she stepped aside to enter the room. He could move everything out of here in a minute, as all he had were a heavy weapons chest and clothing.
    He