I gave Sin an incredulous look.

"Why would the King of Luskaine send me to Dahlgesh? And how do you know what he's planning?!"

Sin dipped her chin, and I felt a knowing smile on her face.

"I have my ways."

I closed my eyes, waiting for the world to make sense.

Was it a leak? Did Sin have an informant close to the King?

That would explain how she knew her way in and out of the Keep. And how she knew where I was sleeping.

I shivered, remembering my last dream in Steeltown.

I needed to learn more, and the best way to do that was to throw her off balance.

Luckily, I knew her weakness.

I opened my eyes and shook my head in an exaggerated motion.

"No… No, I don't believe you. You're just trying to push me away again."

I flashed her a bitter smile through split, bloody lips.

"Admit it. You love me."

Sin's left hand whipped out with lightning speed. An iron grip wrapped around my throat, pulling me in. I clawed at her hand, trying to dislodge the thumb pressed against my carotid artery. Over my chokes and gasps, Sin spoke.

"I admit it. It was good while it lasted. I was your mother, and you were the son I never had. But I'm no singer. I can't bend reality around my finger with a word."

She chuckled.

"That was your father. Compared to him, my lies aren't strong enough. Look…"

Sin raised her right fist to my face. Scratches covered the black leather glove from where her knuckles scraped against my teeth.

"This is the truth. I'm a horrible mother! I can't kill you, but I can hurt you."

She laughed.

"Nothing makes me happier. Even now, I'm imagining peeling off strips of your skin, breaking your fingers to hear you scream… Ripping out your throat..."

She pushed me away, her left hand trembling.

I coughed, air filling my lungs and blood rushing back to my brain.

"You're insane!"

Sin laughed.

"You think I don't know that? I am as my creator made me. A tool to fulfill a grand purpose. One day you'll understand. One day you'll be grateful for the killings… and the chaos."

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I rubbed my sore throat.

"Or you can stop… You can change, Sin. People can change."

Sin balled her left hand into a fist and punched the closest merlon. The stone surface cracked, and chunks of brick tumbled to the floor.

"I'm not a person. I am a weapon."

She turned away from me to look over the capital.

"Go to Dahlgesh, Jacob... Before this country burns."

I frowned.

Whatever she was planning put the whole country at risk.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"What I do best," Sin said, her voice distant.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

"Just let me save you one last time. You... And the King's bastard."

My eyes went wide.

"What are you talking about?"

"A new rumour that's spreading faster than my fire. The King has a bastard daughter who's travelling in the company of an elf."

Sin giggled to herself.

"The Sanctifiers must be getting desperate to leak such juicy information."

My blood went cold.

They knew. Everyone knew.

Sin cocked her head, her veiled eyes examining the shock on my face.

"Unbelievable. You told them, didn't you? You gave the Sanctifiers the information."

"I-"

"Does she know?"

"I-"

"She doesn't, does she?"

I sighed.

"No…"

Sin laughed.

"And I thought I was cold. For your sake, Jacob, I hope she doesn't figure it out. A royal mage can be a terrible enemy, even for someone like me."

"I know..."

Sin looked down and cupped her chin with her left hand.

"But to think you two would meet… And to think that was her… I barely recognized little Isla…"

Her head snapped up to stare at me through veiled eyes.

"Do you like each other?"

It was my turn to be off balance.

"W-What?"

"Do you like each other?"

Heat flushed my swollen face.

"Why?! Are you going to kill her, too?"

Sin laughed.

"No, but it would be useful to us if you did."

"No. We don't. She doesn't like me. She's… different."

"A shame. I know how much you like blondes."

My anger flared.

The last thing I wanted from Sin was pity.

"All you talk about is we and us! Who are you people, and why are you killing the King?!"

Sin recoiled.

"Killing the King? Who told you that?"

"Isla."

"That's funny coming from her… Guilt is killing the King, Jacob, not us. We don't have to lift a finger."

I frowned.

Now I didn't know what to believe.

Sin sighed, turning back to the rooftop's edge.

"I should go..."

"Already?"

"You know how it is. Places to go, people to kill. It's been fun, especially the part where I beat the shit out of you. Let's not do that again. Who knows which side the coin might land?"

She stepped between the merlons.

"Wait! Which one of you killed Cynthia?"

Sin paused, looking over her shoulder.

"Haven't you learned? Revenge is for fools."

"You killed my mother."

"That wasn't revenge."

"No, that was jealousy."

Sin tilted her head back and laughed.

"So, you can land a punch… Alright… The man who killed the household staff is called Wulf. He's one of my best. If you fight him, you'll die. He won't pull his punches like I do."

That was her pulling her punches?!

Sin leaned over the edge of the Keep, paused and snapped her fingers.

"I almost forgot!"

She pointed at me.

"You're jacket has a tracker woven into it."

"What?!"

"You should burn it when you get the chance."

She raised her chin to look down at me.

"If you wanted something enchanted, you should have gone to Elmer. Never take a gift from a Sanctifier."

She shook her head.

"Still a nestling…"

Before I could respond, Sin fell off the edge.

My breath caught. I ran to the crenellation and leaned over the side.

My eyes widened at what I saw.

Sin was walking down the Keep's wall like it was a city street.

She raised her index finger, not looking over her shoulder.

"Remember what I said, Jacob. Leave and don't come back. I won't warn you again."

I watched her descend the Keep's wall and disappear around a corner.

Whatever will holding me up melted away. I sagged against the broken merlon, injuries weighing down my swollen head.

Sin was like a summer storm, pouring revelations instead of rain.

The name of Cynthia's murderer. Isla's identity leaked to the public. A plot to destroy Luskaine. A mission to Dahlgesh. The murder of my parents.

It was almost too much for my groggy mind.

As I sorted through our conversation, a realization jolted me upright.

Tomorrow morning, I was meeting the King.

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