Chapter 63 Brother's Message

Chapter 63 Brother's Message
Varian placed the letter on the table between them like it might explode.

"Isleen had it sewn into the lining of her cloak," he said. "Took us three hours to find it, but she finally told us where to look."

Thessaly stared at the wax seal. Malachi's mark. The stag and oak tree of House Ashenheart, stamped in deep blue wax that had cracked during travel.

Her brother's handwriting on the front. Just her name. Thessaly.

"Have you read it?" Davorin asked Varian.

"No. Seemed personal." Varian's expression was carefully neutral. "But Isleen says it's bad. Says that's why she tried to stop the assassination. Whatever's in there made her change her mind about helping him."

Thessaly's hands were shaking. She pressed them flat against the table to make them stop.

"Do you want privacy?" Davorin asked quietly.

She should say yes. Should read her brother's words alone, without the Shadow King watching. But the thought of being by herself right now made her chest tight.

"Stay," she said. "Please."

Davorin nodded. Varian left, closing the door behind him.

Thessaly picked up the letter. The paper felt heavier than it should, like Malachi had poured all his anger into the ink and it gained physical weight. Her fingers found the edge of the seal.

"You don't have to read it now," Davorin said.

"Yes I do." Because putting it off would only make it worse. Would give her time to imagine terrible things that might be better or worse than reality.

She broke the seal.

Malachi's handwriting sprawled across the page, more jagged than she remembered. Like he'd been furious while writing, pressing too hard, the letters sharp and angry.

Thessaly,

If you're reading this, Isleen made it to you. Good. That means you're still alive, which is better than I expected given you're living with the monster who murdered our father.

Thessaly's throat closed up. She forced herself to keep reading.

I don't know what he's told you. What lies he's fed you to make you complicit in your own captivity. But I need you to remember who you are. You're an Ashenheart. Daughter of King Aldric. Sister to the rightful king of Lumenvale.

You're not his pet. Not his trophy. Not whatever he's convinced you that you are.

The words blurred. Thessaly blinked hard.

I'm coming for you. I have allies. Resources. A plan that will end the Shadow King's reign and free you from that cursed palace. But I need your help.

Here it comes, Thessaly thought. The real reason for the letter.

There's a servant entrance on the east wall. Old access tunnel that the palace maps don't show anymore. Isleen will tell you where. On the night of the new moon, leave it unguarded. Unlocked. That's all I need from you.

Just one door, Thess. One small act of loyalty to your family, and this nightmare ends.

Her hands were shaking worse now. She gripped the paper tighter.

I know you're scared. I know he's probably convinced you he's not the villain, that the war was someone else's fault, that he's just a victim too. Don't believe him. He destroyed our kingdom. Killed our father. Took everything from us.

And now I'm going to take everything from him.

After we kill the Shadow King, you'll come home. Mother's waiting. She wants to see you. Wants to apologize for how she treated you before. Everything will be different, I promise.

Thessaly's laugh came out broken. Different. Like murdering Davorin would fix their family. Like her mother's apologies meant anything after nineteen years of treating her like a mistake.

You have a choice to make, little sister. Family or the enemy. Us or him. There's no middle ground here.

I've enclosed the details with Isleen. Memorize them. Burn this letter. And on the new moon, unlock that door.

Don't make me come through the front gate instead. A lot more people will die that way. Including you.

Your brother,
Malachi

Thessaly read it twice. Then a third time, looking for something she'd missed. Some hint that her brother understood how impossible this was. That he knew what he was asking her to do.

But there was nothing. Just rage and expectations and the assumption that she'd betray Davorin without hesitation because they shared blood.

"What does it say?" Davorin asked.

Thessaly's voice came out flat. "He wants me to unlock a door during the new moon. Let his forces in. Help him kill you."

Silence.

"And if you don't?" Davorin's tone was carefully controlled.

"He attacks anyway. Says more people will die, including me, if I don't cooperate." She set the letter down. "He thinks I'm your prisoner. That you've lied to me. That I'll jump at the chance to help him."

"Will you?"

The question should have hurt. Should have made her angry. But Davorin asked it like he genuinely didn't know the answer, and that somehow made it worse.

"I don't know," Thessaly said honestly. "A month ago? Yes. Absolutely. I would have unlocked every door in this palace and handed you over myself."

"And now?"