Mirella shrugs. “I thought you had figured it out.”
I take a deep breath. “We think so, sure, but are we right? Is there something we’re missing? Benda’s library is older than three hundred years. Whatever information the Crystal Court had about the Witch King, was removed, hidden. By Zorwal, certainly. So the Misty Court library is our best bet.”
“Are you sure she’ll help you?” Mirella asks. “She’ll want something in exchange for giving you access to her books.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
Ziven finishes writing, then says, “I have an important question. Where did you get the horses?”
“There’s always a royal stable near the castle. Since many guards returned, I figured they would have brought some horses.” I grin. “And I was right.”
“So you just stole them?” Ziven asks.
“Took them,” I clarify. “And nobody stopped me. Now, we’ll have to leave them behind, as they might draw too much attention. But when I took them, all I wanted was to gain some distance from the castle.”
Tarlia pushes her bowl. “I’m done. Let’s go.”
No smile on her face, and I don’t know if she’s upset we’re traveling, still in distress because of Zorwal, or angry at me. Once we get to Benda’s castle, hopefully I’ll have some time to talk to her and figure it out. I also hope to find out what my vicious stepsister wants. And if we can uncover some more information about the Witch King’s anchors, it will be great.
At least if Lidiane reads Ziven’s note, they’ll be aware that they also need to kill Otavio, so that’s helpful.
Onward we go.
16
AZUR
The white in my hands has taken one third of my palm, even though I’ve been doing the incantation Astra told me to do. She’s been gone for a while now, and I can’t help but fear that something went terribly wrong.
And then Renel and Ziven haven’t written.
Dread and anguish have been my grim companions in the last few days, and even then, now it feels as if they’re stretching out their chilly hands to strangle me.
I’m sitting with Lidiane in the strangely empty kitchen, watching her as she sips cold brew tea and glances at the transcending note from time to time.
“I should go there and check,” she finally says.
“If I tell you it’s unwise, will you listen to me? Or are you going to say I should be dead, therefore my opinion doesn’t count?”
She sets the note on the table and gives me a stunning smile. “I always listen, Azur. If I didn’t, how would I disagree with you?” Her expression changes. “They must be at the circle, waiting for me. Maybe the note didn’t work or was stolen or?—”
“They were caught. You know that as well as I do.”
She purses her lips, the way she does when she’s thinking, then says, “I’ll go to the circle and check. If they’re not there, I’ll come back right away.”
Dread settles in my chest. At the same time, I know that sitting here idly is probably gnawing at her patience.
“Right away? You won’t go exploring, trying to find them?”
“I’m not reckless.”
I’m not so sure I agree, but I don’t want to argue. My heart’s thumping hard in my chest. “Be fast,” I say. “If something goes wrong, I don’t know if I’ll be able to reach you.”
She nods, then looks at the note again. “No. Wait.”
Light brown letters appear on the paper, and I crane myself to see it. At least one of the knots in my chest unties in relief.
We’re fine, but Zorwal saw us. I froze him, but I don’t know if it killed him. Tarlia is with us and she’s fine. Mirella is with us too, saying she wants to see Marlak. Renel is suspicious, and we’re going north to the Misty Court.
