There’s a tone of desperation in her voice that surprises me. In the library, Renel and Tarlia stare at us, their eyes wide.
“Ghouls,” Mirella says.
Renel’s expression is incredulous. “Here?”
“We saw them,” I say. “They were climbing the hill.”
“Does the queen know that?” he asks.
“We came straight down,” I explain. “But she must have sentinels. I hope.”
“Let’s check.” He heads to the door.
“Renel!” Mirella extends her hands, palms up. “My magic. Please!”
I understand now why she ran here. Somehow, I had thought that deep down, she cared for her stepbrother, but I was wrong. I don’t know why I’m disappointed.
Renel looks Mirela up and down, as if measuring her, considering, then places his hands on top of hers. “Per mutual wish and agreement, we undo the deal, and you can use your magic now.”
She sighs as if relieved, but then frowns. “It’s not working.”
He pulls the fancy dagger Astra lent him and makes an x in the air. “I undo the deal with Mirella, and allow her to use her magic.”
“Still not working!” Mirella waves her hands in the air.
“We can try again later,” Renel says. “Now I need to make sure that the queen has set up her defenses, or else we’re finished.”
He takes Tarlia’s hand, heads to the door, and we follow.
Mirella yells, “Renel, please! I can blow them away from the hill with my air.”
“I did what I could,” he yells back. “I don’t know why you still can’t use your magic.”
“He can try again later,” I tell her softly, and she huffs, frustrated.
I understand her frustration, but I doubt Renel is lying, and he’s right that it’s imperative to check if Queen Berta is aware of the attack.
The queenshouldknow about it. But then, why haven’t we heard any bell? Any movement of guards?
We climb up to the entrance hall, and don’t come across a single guard, then we finally find her in the mezzanine, lying on a high bed while two attendants massage her back.
Renel lets go of Tarlia’s hand and approaches the queen in fast steps. “Your Majesty. Apologies for disturbing you, but Ziven and Mirella saw ghouls climbing this hill.”
She raises a hand and the attendants step away from her. “Ghouls?” Her expression is disbelief, obviously.
“Yes,” Mirella says. “I saw some fifty of them coming up, then heard even more at the base.”
The queen sits up without even covering herself and yells, “Guards! Raise the defenses!”
The attendants and most of her guard leave the mezzanine, probably to get reinforcements.
The queen then scowls at us. “Did you bring them here?”
“No,” Renel says. “We don’t have anything to do with these ghouls. I don’t even know how they crossed the Charmed River and came all the way here.”
“Hebrought them,” she says slowly. “And transcended here.”
She walks to a window and looks down, her countenance calm, collected. All her haughtiness is gone, replaced by worry, I think.
