“Yes.” He turns to me, that odd hatred still in his eyes, and takes a paper from his pocket. “Take this. It’s a transcending note. In case you need to communicate with us.” He sounds as if he’s cutting off his hand.
“I… It’s fine. You don’t need to lend me that.” And then, there’s a humiliating reason why it’s pointless. “I have no magic.”
“True.” He sounds oddly disappointed and pulls back the paper.
“What kind of magic?” Ziven asks.
“Faemagic.” Azur raises an eyebrow, looking superior and insufferable. I don’t know how I never noticed what a prick he is.
“Can I try?” The human prince insists. “If it works, it could be helpful.”
Azur passes him the paper, and Ziven asks, “How do I write?”
“Pen, finger, doesn’t matter.” Azur huffs and rolls his eyes.
Ziven points his finger at the transcending note and makes gestures as if he was writing. Lidiane takes a paper from her purse, looks at it, and narrows her eyes.
“Nothing. No. Wait. Hello?”
The human prince grins. “Yes. My magic works.”
Lidiane smiles. “You can write when you get to a circle, and I’ll come pick you up.”
“Ifit’s safe.” Azur shoots us a murderous look.
“Of course!” Ziven says. “We wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger.”
“Then it’s settled,” Azur says, and I feel a current of air under my feet, lifting me to the other side of the river.
Lidiane follows, also pushed by Azur, while Ziven comes on a disk of ice. I suppose we all had forgotten about his water magic. I step into the circle with Lidiane, and she transcends me to the woods near the hills at the Western Domain. I can see the top of the castle and exhale in relief, glad that it hasn’t yet moved. Lidiane disappears, then reappears with Ziven.
“You can put them on now,” she says as she pulls out the capes from her purse. “The magic should last some two to four hours, but it will start to fade after one. For now, you shouldwalk in and out unnoticed. Unnoticed, not invisible. I know you’re planning on using secret passages, but this should help you approach the castle, and in case you need to walk in its corridors.”
Ziven smiles. “It’s… appreciated.”
“It’s for Tarlia,” she says as she passes us the garments, “There’s a third one, for her. Return to this circle, unless you can’t for some reason. Whatever happens, write and let us know.”
“We will,” I say.
She transcends away in the circle, we put on the capes, and I place the extra one in my bag, then we head to the castle.
We’re still far away and there’s no need for silence, so I turn to the human prince and ask, “Why are you here?” I want to gauge what kind of ally or traitor he is.
He widens his eyes. “You mistrust good deeds that much?”
“Is it good, though? I can go to the castle on my own. Before this, you went to the Icy Lands with Marlak. Could have died there. Nobody risks their lives just for fun. And don’t try to pretend it’s for friendship.”
He tilts his head. “Friendships take long, granted. What would you have me do? Stay back like a burden? The Krastel king sent assassins to kill me. It’s not like I can simply go back home.”
“Astra seems to appreciate your company. They can certainly give you a job.”
“If I’m useful. Sure, I could stay on the island and help in the kitchen, but I hate cooking and cleaning.” He chuckles. “This is much nicer.”
So he’s not taking this seriously.
“We don’t know what we’re going to face, prince. Zorwal is dangerous. Mirella is dangerous. I’m ready to give my life if I have to. Why do you even care?”
“I like Tarlia too, you know?”
