“A few times.”
My mouth fell open. To attempt such a thing secret with just a few people watching and protecting you? Insanity.
“You should have told us this sooner,” Thyra said.
“I haven’t had success yet.”
“But you’re close, aren’t you? You were talking about getting stronger. Can you . . . feel another world?” Stars, what would that even be like? Suddenly, my magics, both strong and bold, seemed so very small in comparison.
“I think so.”
My stomach twisted at the revelation. Luccan had gone through all of this, put his life on the line in the most extreme way, and I hadn’t a clue.
“Luccan,” I exhaled his name. “I appreciate the effort, but perhaps focus on widening existing gates and keeping them open for longer? The other matter—well, the Shadow King has not yet succeeded in bringing anyone over. Perhaps that will never happen.”
The eldest Riis brother’s stare lingered on me before he gave a single nod. “As you wish.”
I gave him a weak smile, still reeling. “Then we should be going. We have a meeting and will be telling the lords we’re going to use the gateways to move north.”
“I should resume practicing.” Luccan stood.
My twin and I left the library. Though the information we’d acquired had been largely positive, the sense of unease in my belly persisted.
Interlude
PRINCE RHISTEL AABERG, HEIR TO WINTER’S REALM, HOUSE OF THE WHITE BEAR
King Tyra and Rhistel’s father spoke the oaths, binding two kingdoms with a dozen witnesses present.
An hour earlier, Tyra had presented Rhistel with a lineup of over twenty females born to House Odarin. Some had been far too young for his taste. Two were forty turns. He’d nearly chosen one of them for her beauty, but then he’d spotted the ink smudges on Noni of House Odarin’s hands. He’d asked her what they were from, and she’d replied that she was writing a book.
If anyone were to suit him, it would be another intellectual. At the very least, if there was never love between them, he hoped they might have something to talk about. They could find love and lust elsewhere, but to be wed to a stupid female was abhorrent.
He supposed he simply should have been pleased that Noni, born to King Tyra’s third wife, wasn’t one of the fae high ladies his father had been mulling over. None had stirred anything more than superficial lust in him. No one ever had, save for one female, and he could never have her as his wife, anyway.
So he pushed away thoughts of auburn red hair smelling of ink and mint, and smiled at his raven-haired wife.
Dutifully but not wholeheartedly, Noni returned Rhistel’s smile. She, like Rhistel, was under no delusion that this arrangement was anything other than political. Like many other marriages between royals or nobles within Isila. “We’re sailing soon then?”
“Tonight,” he answered lowly as the oaths continued. “We must return to Avaldenn swiftly. The army awaits us there.”
“Father is sending mages he uses on long journeys. They can funnel wind into the sails. I suspect we’ll arrive much faster than you anticipate.”
Fae such as Rhistel could possess air magic, but to help guide a ship for that long? Rhistel did not know any fae who could do such a thing.
The benefit of being able to use enchantments and spells in addition to natural magic,he thought.
The oaths ended, and magic sealed the promises of two kings. The sailors who had been brought in as fae witnesses left, and the mage lords followed suit, until finally only the kings, the princes of Winter’s Realm, Noni, and Thantrel remained.
“Much to be done,” King Magnus said. “We should get back to the ship and prepare.”
“I wanted to speak to your son first.” King Tyra turned his dark gaze onto Rhistel. “Your magic is powerful, and I’ve decided I wish to see it.”
Rhistel shrugged a shoulder in the direction of Vale and Thantrel, standing docile on the other side of the room. Since they had arrived in Kuro, he’d kept them dangling on taut strings.
“You’ve seen the reaches of my power.” Rhistel waved a hand in Thantrel’s direction. “The red-haired one has not been so quiet for even a day in his life, and he’s said nothing but what I’ve permitted since stepping into your home.”
King Tyra chuckled. “I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic. A show of your brother’s strength? Convince me that you’ll be able to use the Warrior Bear to our required ends.”
