The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Five
Overview
Royo and Aeri retreat to their guarded room after political turmoil; Royo learns Rune aims to keep King Joon on the throne. Heightened paranoia underscores their danger, even from poisoned clothes. Royo reflects on Aeri’s life-costly use of the Sands and her potential marriage to Rune. He fails to confess his feelings, choosing rest and regret.
Summary
After a fraught breakfast in Rahway, Royo and Aeri return to their room. Royo reels from politics, especially the revelation that Count Rune intends to keep King Joon on the throne. He secures the room, checks traps, and notes Sora’s warning that even their new clothes might be poisoned, reinforcing that they are not safe.
Royo paces while Aeri urges him to rest. He compares his vigilance to Euyn’s, deciding Euyn’s paranoia was survival. Aeri closes the drapes, lights a candle, and reads a book Royo suspects she lifted from Rune’s study, while Royo wrestles with exhaustion and desire, having forgiven Aeri but wary of being hurt again.
As he lies down, Royo reflects on how Aeri used the Sands to save him on the Sol, sacrificing pieces of her own life. He recognizes she would abandon even the amarth egg or marry Rune if it would protect their friends, a thought that churns jealousy and fear that he would lose her forever.
Royo nearly asks Aeri not to marry Rune but cannot voice it, believing she deserves a life of comfort he cannot offer. Instead, he asks her to wake him in a few bells. Aeri agrees lightly, and Royo turns away, aware he will regret letting the moment pass.
Who Appears
- RoyoPOV; secures the room, processes Rune’s plan, grapples with Aeri’s sacrifices and possible marriage, withholds a confession.
- AeriUrges Royo to rest, inspects clothes, quietly reads; her Sands use and potential marriage to Rune weigh on Royo.
- Count RuneOff-page; intends to keep King Joon on the throne and is a potential suitor for Aeri.
- SoraOff-page; warns that clothes might be poisoned and plans to check them.
- EuynDeceased; Royo reflects that Euyn’s paranoia was justified by constant danger.
- King JoonOff-page; Rune’s plan is to keep him on the throne, shaping political stakes.