“Something’s happened,” I announced. “This is not how it’s supposed to be.”
“I think you misunderstand, Tessana. Something ishappening. But not just to Elysia. This, whatever this is, is overtaking the entire realm. It looks as though you’ve arrived just in time.”
A weight descended over me. “I think you’re right.”
Just then, a raven landed on the top of the nearest building. I jumped when it cawed. I felt its beady-eyed stare follow us down the road, even though I knew it couldn’t see me through the distorted, hazy glass.
“Have you noticed all the birds along the way?” I asked Oliver when I was sure he would hear me.
“Mmm,” he grunted. “There have been a few. And all of the same breed.” He had been leaning back with arms folded over his chest, but now he pressed into the window to watch another few ravens hopping from rooftop to rooftop. “Heprin didn’t seem to be overrun with them. Are they mountain birds?”
I hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t know. I suppose they could be. But I remember them from Tenovia and Soravale as well.”
“Are they crows?”
“Ravens, I think.”
He looked at me. “What’s the difference between a crow and a raven?”
I shrugged as the carriage rolled to a stop. “I have no idea. But I know these are ravens.”
“How do you know?”
I sighed impatiently. “I don’t know how I know. I just do. I’ve dreamt about them. And in my dreams, I always know they’re ravens.”
Oliver’s gaze narrowed. “How scientific of you.”
I stuck out my tongue at him and that was the precise moment the carriage door opened.
The footman, unamused, cleared his throat. “The Palace Extentia,” he announced.
It was my turn to clear my throat. “Thank you,” I answered primly.
I straightened my traveling gown and pressed shaking hands to my hair. I wished for time to change, freshen my face, and gather my wits. But there was none.
I shared one last look with Oliver, knowing this would be the last time I spoke with him for a while. He would not be allowed to see Tyrn, and so he had to stay with Taelon’s people until I could summon him.
I hated leaving him. I hated even more that he’d come all this way only to have to wait outside like a servant.
“Be smart,” he whispered as I stood. “Only take the heads of those who most deserve it.”
I smiled. “I’ll try,” I promised. “But you know how I like collecting heads.”
He winked at me one last time. I descended the stairs, feeling marginally more confident. Taelon waited for me on the ground. His cheeks were wind-whipped and tanned and his hair tumbled over his head in wild waves. His clothing was much like mine, dirty from travel, slightly askew, and not nearly proper enough to enter court. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.
He held his hand out to me and we entered the castle proper. Servants lined the carpet leading inside and down the hallway as a different footman led Taelon and me into the foyer with Haemon and a handful of guards trailing in our wake.
Memories flooded my mind and made each step harder to take.
I remembered running these halls as a child, chasing my older brothers as they teased me about my wild hair. I remembered holding my mama’s hand as she walked me from one task to the other. She was always smiling, always gracious with the servants.
“Give them your best, Tessana,” she would whisper in my ear. “And they shall give you theirs.”
I remembered playing dollies with my little sister and making beds out of the drawers of chests. Sometimes we would steal flowers from the vases dotting the corridors and make our dollies hair wreaths. Sometimes we would braid them into our own hair.
And sometimes we would leave them for our mother to find.
I remembered my father’s heavy footsteps as he strode down the halls. I imagined them right now, walking toward us, ready to greet his distinguished guests.
