Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
I’m beginning to see where his thoughts are heading. “Because Aoife poisoned the land.”
“The fates have done it before. The proof is in that book.” He nods to the journal in my hand.
If Aminadav used the earth against Neilina … “Aoife’s element is water,” I think out loud. “So she contaminated the water that feeds the land. The rivers, maybe?”
“Maybe. The only way to find out would be to go to Kier to ask the king himself.” This time when he blinks, his eyelids settle for a few seconds.
“We could, you know. Go and see this King Cheral.”
“You just want to witness my brother in chains.”
“Call that a bonus.” I smirk. But I know Zander thinks of him often. I can sense it.
He sighs. “Let us sort things out here first. But something tells me Aoife has been scheming for as long as Malachi to return.” His eyes shutter again.
And yet she isn’t here. So where is she? I stroke a stray hair off his forehead but keep my thoughts to myself. He needs sleep.
Through the window, a dark shadow cuts across the pastel sky, its wings stretching out on either side of its beastly form as it patrols from above.
Sliding off the bed, I rush to the windowsill. And smile. She’s returned in the morning, like I asked her to. “Caindra.” It’s not a yell. It’s barely above a whisper.
Her massive body pivots in the air, angling toward Argon.
I throw up an arm and wave, hoping she might spot the motion in the window, so she knows where I am, knows that I’m safe.
She answers with a layered screech that sets the hairs on the back of my neck on end and stirs shouts of alarm from down below.
“I probably should have warned the guards about her, huh?” When I don’t get a response, I glance over my shoulder.
Zander is fast asleep.
Less than thirty seconds later, Caindra lands on a spire, her claws raking for purchase. Precious jewels of Argon’s famed castle roof rain down.
Master Healer Brigitta is waiting for us when we arrive in the infirmary an hour later, sparing a guarded look for Zander and the legionaries. The bags under her eyes are heavy, the whites of them bloodshot. All signs of a healer who depleted their affinity helping another.
“Where is Allegra?” Zaleria is asleep in one of the beds, but the Second is nowhere to be found.
“She is awake and with the other Second in a room down the hall,” Brigitta confirms. “She will make a full recovery.”
I sigh with relief. All our plans around Mordain have hinged on Allegra surviving this. “What about the scribe?”
She leads us over to the still form tucked under blankets. “I fear there is nothing more we can do for Caster Zaleria.”
“What if I try?”
Her smile is gentle. “That is kind of you, but it is not so simple as healing tissue and bone, Your Highness.”
I study the still caster. Her eyes are shut. “What did the Prime do to them?”
“She picked through their minds, thread by thread, searching for information. Allegra was strong enough to resist, but Zaleria’s mind has been … shredded, for lack of a better word. It is more fractured than that of a seer now, and those minds cannot be healed, even by a key caster.”
“I had no idea casters could do that.”
Brigitta pats Zaleria’s forearm. “It is a special skill that one with an affinity to Aoife can master, if they so choose. Most of us spend our efforts learning how to heal with our gift, not destroy. The Prime saw value in the latter.”
My shoulders sink. “This is going to crush Agatha.”
Zander smooths a comforting hand over my back. “You have done all that you can. This is beyond your control. We must look ahead.”
Brigitta watches us. “So, it is true, then. Ybaris has allied with Islor.”
“I don’t think you’ve officially met.” I gesture between the two of them. “Master Healer Brigitta, this is King Zander.”
“Your Highness.” She dips her head in greeting. “I must say, an Islorian king dressed as a Shadow was almost as shocking as a Ybarisan queen masquerading as an old scribe.”
“And you did not attempt to strike me dead in the skiff on the way over. I will consider that progress,” he muses.
“I am not a fool.” She hesitates. “I heard an interesting story from Caster Serenis. She is an elemental and one of our most proficient healers.”
“Red hair. I met her at the rift. She crossed to our side to heal the injured soldiers. She was working on someone very important to us,” Zander says with a frown, likely wondering where this is going, as am I.
“Yes, well, she has plum rooms in the caster tower here, one with a large window that overlooks the royal wing. It grants a view into His Highness’s chambers when the curtains are not drawn. Such was an occasion on the night of Hudem’s moon, when king and peasant alike observe the silver light. Serenis was perched on her windowsill when she heard a scuffle. Queen Neilina and the commander were in the king’s chamber. Serenis saw the queen plunge the dagger into King Barris’s chest while Caedmon Tiberius held him down.”