Defy the Sun (Beware the Night #2) - Jessika Fleck Page 0,108

to turn my head toward the market where I see the High Regent.

He’s perched front and center on his stage. Addressing his people.

But his eyes are on Veda and me.

CHAPTER 28

VEDA

Hand in hand, Nico and I march toward the High Regent.

Raevald’s speaking to a crowd.

Everyone is mixed together—Dogio, Basso, Imperi soldiers, and the Night are his captive audience.

There’s a volcano erupting over his island, fire spreading, yet he’s speaking to a crowd, voice calm and cool like he’s residing over an Offering.

But as we get closer …

“Don’t you see?” I swear he’s searching for friendly faces—Dogio and Imperi—in the crowd, but he’s having a hard time pinning any down. “This is blasphemy!” He points at the postings I now see scattered all over the market. “The Sun would never punish me—the Sun chose me!” He shakes his head. “No … you’ve got it all wrong.” He leans forward. “Don’t you see? This is how they control you. The Night claws under your skin and gets in your head. They make you doubt. Question what you know in your heart is truth.”

As I look around at the crowd, I see a few Dogio and Imperi officials glancing back and forth among one another. The majority of people, though, stare in disgust at the High Regent.

Still, he continues. “Did we not just witness the Night having to crawl out of their tunnels like rats from a flooding sewer? Look there—” He directs everyone toward the direction of the Crag. “A dormant volcano erupted. And who was punished? Whose home is in complete ruins?” He raises his eyebrows. “That’s right … the Night. They are being punished by the Sun. Not me.” Raevald sets his sights on us. “The Sun punishes them!” He slams his fist against the podium. “He who defies the Sun will pay!” The High Regent points at the growing fires surrounding the volcano. He intentionally fails to mention the fires also raging up in the Dogio village, and I’m certain I’m not the only one who takes notice.

Though—I glance up the Hill—Imperi Palace appears as pristine as ever.

He’s got a few people believing him. Several shout their approval and agreement. Demand Nico and I be arrested. That the Night be captured.

But it’s the Basso who stand strong. It’s the Basso who outnumber the Imperi and Dogio combined and who bombard Raevald with questions about lost loved ones and lies about the Night he can’t begin to answer.

Soon, many others join in.

Raevald backs away. “Lies!” is all he can say. “Lies—all of it!”

Hand in hand, Nico and I quickly make our way toward the front of the crowd near where his mother stands. But as soon as we’re standing right behind her she moves closer. Addresses the High Regent.

“And these?” Lady Denali says. She’s holding a handful of medallions.

All eyes go to her.

Raevald ignores her. “Salazar!” He shouts into the crowd. “Explain this to them!” He motions toward the medallions, assumes Salazar will somehow get him out of this one.

Salazar also makes his way up to the platform, stopping next to Nico and me. He’s carrying a large bag.

“Forgive me, but I was going to ask you to explain this, my lord.” Salazar holds up the bag for everyone to see but places it in my arms. The thing is so heavy, my legs almost buckle but not before I empty the bag upside down. Piles and piles of Offering medallions spill all over the wood, fall to the ground with an endless series of horrible clinks and clanks.

“My Sun!” Nico says. “We’re all so confused, my lord.”

Then, from the crowd, as beautifully as if they’d rehearsed it, five, six, seven more Dogio ladies approach the High Regent.

“And these?”

“What of these, my lord?”

“I don’t understand, High Regent.”

Each one drops a handful on the stage at Raevald’s feet.

Nico’s mother did well.

Very well.

Not that I expected any less.

Lady Denali steps back so she’s standing next to me. Our eyes meet, and while she’s incredibly strong and stoic, her eyes are brimming with tears. She takes my hand, gives it a gentle squeeze. I smile.

It’s then the Basso begin to approach, all holding fistfuls of Offering medallions.

The High Regent’s head of the house staff.

Dorian’s uncle, the glassmaker.

The bait stand owner.

The girl who sells fresh sunrise flowers at the market.

A little boy I don’t know who can hardly reach the platform to set his single medallion upon it.

Raevald is speechless. Finally out of lies and excuses. He knows there’s absolutely nothing he can say