17. Belief (Katsa/Po)
As she turns her back on Randa and follows the red carpet to the doors, every muscle tensed to react to a drawn sword or flying arrow, Katsa grits her teeth and battles down the monster in her mind.
It wants to whirl around, grab the nearest soldier's dagger and send it flying into Randa's hateful blue eye. It's howling for his blood, fit to deafen her. It has never been so strong.
But Po believes in her. In his mind-reading, gold-and-silver eyes, she is stronger than this – better than this.
Po believes, and so does she.
Behind her, the doors close.