Kingdom of Ashes

*Kieran*

Blanca stares at me as if she can’t comprehend what I’ve just said. I don’t blame her; I’m not sure I can comprehend it myself.

But then, I’ve said it, and I mean it.

“Kill your father?” she repeats.

I nod. “That’s right. We need to kill him. Of course, it would be nice to hear him confess to all of his crimes first, but that can come after.”

Blanca, who is still sitting on my lap, both of us naked, binks a few times. It’s hard to see her in the darkness. The sun has completely gone down, and very little moonlight reaches us through the cave entryway, even though there are no bushes there this time. I’m not sure what I expect her to say, but since she’s saying nothing, I continue.

“Everything he’s ever taught me is a lie. He’s mentioned time and again how he defeated all of these kingdoms around us where people were being mistreated by the royals, but none of that is true. It’s just what he told himself and others in order to get his leaders on board with all of the horrible