Page 175 of Sands of Atonement

I was ready.

A woman I recognized, dressed in a deep crimson tunic, stood by the large open doors. “What can I do for—” she stopped, her jaw dropped, and her face blanched. “Eshe.”

Plastering a smile on my face, I said, “Kala. I’m here for my brother. Is he here?”

Kala’s eyes darted to Ezra before they widened for a moment. “Qahl Ezra,” she stammered and lowered her head even further. She lifted herself up after a moment to answer my question. “He’s here. Let me show you the way.”

She looked back as we followed her, almost as if she couldn’t quite believe it was me. The skin on her face had almost lost all of its tan color. We walked down the hallway where my father used to have his cup of kava and business meetings, made our way up a few floors, and found Kavid exactly where I thought he would be.

In my father’s study, Kavid was planted where my father’s desk used to be. He was seated against the left wall, near the windows that displayed the city of Crahst. To the right were all of my father’s old books tucked into floor-to-ceiling shelves. Memories crossed my mind of a time when I used to hide in closets just to read them all without being told I had to do something more suitable for my gender. But I couldn’t stop learning. I inhaled education, and the books I read became my religion.

I turned back toward Kavid, and that must have been when he sensed people in his study. My eyes met my brother’s, and his face paled. He immediately met Ezra’s next to me, and the tension between them was so taut I could drag a dull knife through it if I wanted to.

“Kavid,” I greeted him with a brow raised.

“Sister.” Kavid cleared his throat, seemingly reminding himself who was here, and raised himself from his leather seat. He stepped toward me with his hands wide open. “I’ve—how—how are you here?” He searched my eyes. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Ezra stepped between us.

Kavid’s head pulled back, and a flash of pain crossed his face.

“What is this, Eshe?” He didn’t look at me, though. Kavid kept his hard gaze on Ezra. “Don’t tell me now that you were the one who found my sister out in the desert dunes by those Atrovians that she’s yours. She’ll never be yours.”

Ezra tilted his head but kept silent. Probably laughing hard inside his mind.

“Is that what happened? I knew those fucking bastards were the ones to attack my camp and take Eshe.” He shook his head.

I crossed my arms, already over this conversation. “I know who Salazar is,” I said slowly.

Kavid's eyes barely fluttered a moment my way. “What is this really about, Ezra?”

I lifted my spine as Ezra stood motionless. “I said I know who he is. I know that he was my father, and I know that you tried to kill me,” I repeated myself.

He finally slid his eyes back to me. Now I had his attention.

I felt the back of my eyes sting, but I didn’t allow my emotions to show—not here, not now. I had to be strong for the little girl who suffered all those years ago. For the girl who was afraid of baths ever since. For the weakness that fell upon me because of him.

“Eshe. Why don’t I ask the maids to prepare your chambers now that you’re home and you can step out and let us talk?” His eyes darted to Ezra, his full focus leaving me. “I appreciate you for finding and bringing my sister. We can resume the wedding celebrations⁠—”

I took a step forward. “I could never talk to you again… I would choose your next words wisely.”

Kavid flinched at my words. “What did you say?”

I continued, “I finally found out who killed our family.”

He kept his gaze on me.

A moment passed. And another one.

Silence spread in the room, and the tension only intensified, leaving me almost breathless. But the spiraling sickness inside my core was stronger and demanded to be let out.

His head dropped in defeat, and his lips pursed. “I’m sorry, Eshe. When I saw you again, I didn’t want to say anything about it… It was better kept in the past if Salazar were no longer in the picture. I just wanted to take you back home, to protect you⁠—”

“Don’t pretend like you care,” I spat and took another step forward. I felt my body trembling. Ezra matched my move.

“I told you years ago that it was an accident!” His palms opened before him. “I thought we were past this.”

“An accident?! You don’t say an attempted murder is an accident, Kavid! Salazar confirmed you tried to kill me, his daughter.”