Wow.
I glanced at Varga in confusion, but he was staring at the boy as if he were about to punch his lights out.
“How dare you!” roared his father, standing up from the table.
“Memenion—” the queen tried to interject, but he ignored her.
“Go to your room! You will starve if you won’t learn manners. You bring this family nothing but shame!”
The boy gave me one last filthy look, and then spun on his heel and marched out of the room.
“Ruby, I’m so sorry,” mumbled the queen, clearly humiliated. “He’s young…confused, I think. I just don’t know what’s gotten into him lately—he’s out all hours, we never know where he is—you know, he really used to be such a lovely boy.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly. I didn’t know what the boy’s problem was, but I’d seen my fair share of teenage tantrums. He was obviously just an odd individual. More than anything I felt sorry for his parents.
After that, the king and queen returned the conversation to matters of their own kingdom, avoiding mentioning Hellswan or quizzing me on Earth. I was glad. I felt awkward: I knew I didn’t belong there anyway, but the prince’s outburst had just highlighted that, and I was massively relieved when the dinner came to an end.
Varga turned to me after I’d said my goodnights to the hosts. “I’ll escort you back to your room.”
I nodded, and followed him out.
“What the heck was that about?” I asked as soon as we were out of earshot.
“I honestly don’t know,” Varga replied. “Humans are a new thing to some sentries—kidnapping them from another dimension was not practiced widely until the emperor believed it would be a good idea for his sons in the trials. Ronojoy is young. He might just be reacting to the unknown, perhaps seeing you as some sort of threat.”
I nodded. It seemed a fair assumption, though I couldn’t help but feel there was more to it than that. His viciousness seemed so real, like I’d personally done something to him.
“Would you like to look out from the tower? We can see if the fire is dying.” Varga gestured to a small door that led off the hallway to my room.
“Do you think it will be safe to leave tomorrow?” I asked as I followed him up winding stone steps. “I should really get back.”
“As should I,” he muttered. “Before the next disaster hits.”
We entered the top of the tower, the cold air hitting us immediately. I shivered in my robe, and looked out toward Hellswan. The ice fires were still roaring, lighting up the forests so fiercely it was almost painful to look directly at them.
“I hope everyone’s okay, did you see the carriage driver get out?” I asked.
“I did,” Varga replied shortly.
I turned my gaze in the direction of Queen Trina’s kingdom, relieved to find it untouched. “I’m glad Ash isn’t there.”
“Ashbik?” Varga asked. “He’s assisting Queen Trina now, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he’s one of the ministers assisting her at the Imperial Trials.”
He nodded.
“She is a powerful woman,” Varga mused. “But a dangerous one.”
“What do you mean?” I asked sharply. I was so tired of people telling me that she was dangerous or untrustworthy without giving me any solid reasons why. I had my own suspicions, but other than the nymphs in her castle, had failed to come up with any real evidence as to why she was such a threat—and why Ash should keep his distance.
“All I mean is that you should stay out of her way.”
“Okay, but why exactly?” I asked again.
“I am not at liberty to say more, Ruby. Please just trust me that you shouldn’t go near that woman—and if Ashbik had an ounce of sense in him, he wouldn’t either.”
“Well, it’s too late for that,” I replied, my heart sinking. I knew Ash wouldn’t be coming back to Hellswan any time soon. Without evidence to support my suspicions, I had nothing left to persuade him with.
“Can you just tell me if he’s in immediate danger?” I begged, not willing to let the subject drop.
“I’m sure he’s not,” Varga replied, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. Frustrated and angry, I turned away from him, looking back toward the Hellswan kingdom engulfed in flames.
Is there anywhere the least bit safe in this damn dimension?
I thought about Benedict and Julian lost in Nevertide. Hazel would either be going out of her mind with worry in the castle, or be in a similar position to me—waiting out the inferno.
But at least she’d be with Tejus.