“I know, and I’ll be careful.” Vi was growing weary of Taavin’s well-intentioned reminders. She’d been spoiled by fourteen years when he didn’t feel the need to press the issue nearly every day.
“Your eyes say something different.” His touch was feather-light, but Vi was as immobile as if he’d snared her.
“I’ll be careful,” she repeated, softer, gentler. Vi leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips, releasing her hold onnarro hathbefore opening her eyes.
“It’s a cruel existence,” Deneya said faintly, looking at where Taavin had stood just moments before.
“It is for all of us, don’t you think?” Vi shrugged and left before Deneya could answer.
She would take the sword and present it to Egmun now. It was only two weeks before the coming-of-age ceremony and Aldrik would be busy for at least one of those weeks. If she pressured Egmun hard enough, in the right ways, he’d spill about the incident with the Knights and from there—
“By the Mother.” A gasp interrupted her frantic planning. Vi looked up. Egmun was there, staring up at her with a mixture of awe and, to her surprise, horror. “You look like Fiera reborn.”
“So I’ve been told.” Vi lifted the sword, pointing its tip at him. The subtle threat was intentional. “You wanted the sword. I want the prince. Tonight, let’s put an end—”
“I had a meeting with the Knights of Jadar,” he interrupted her a second time.
Vi lowered the weapon. She didn’t even have to feign annoyance and irritation, just surprise. “Youwhat?”
“I had my doubts,” he began. “Perfectly rational… When we first met, you spoke of Fiera’s death with confidence. My research shows that the only people there when she died were the Knights. Then, after the fake sword, after I thought you had help from a Waterrunner—conspirators… Well, what would you have thought in my position?”
He took a breath to continue, but it was Vi’s turn to interrupt him. She stepped forward, lifted the sword once more, and put it under his chin.
“I would’ve known when I looked upon an entity greater than myself. I would’ve known not to question,” Vi said, dangerously quiet. Even though he was held at sword point, Egmun didn’t look the slightest bit scared. His eyes were wide with anticipation, thrill, and a shameful lust for the immense magic contained within the crystal. “Can you feel it? The power this sword holds? Does it make you shiver and shake and yearn for more?”
He swallowed, the lump in his neck nearly scraping against the sword point.
“There’s more of this magic to be had, much more.” Vi slowly lowered the weapon and his eyes followed. “We’ve wasted too much time. We go to the Caverns tonight.”
“Tonight, there’s no—”
“Let’s step into your office.” Vi glanced over her shoulder. Deneya would be coming down any moment with supplies to load before departing. She looked down the hall as well to avoid appearing suspicious. Egmun obliged her suggestion and Vi continued the moment the door was closed. “Soon Aldrik will be too focused on preparations for his coming-of-age ceremony. We should go now and break down the barrier. We can sort the rest later if needed. I can secure the prince. You go secure the horses necessary for our flight.”
“Youwill secure the prince?” Egmun arched his eyebrows. “Don’t you think I should?”
“I know where he is at this time of night.” She’d run into him in the library more than once when she skulked around the Tower in the dead of night. Like Vi, he had a tendency to take books and not return them with any speed, so she hadn’t put together a clear picture of everything the prince was researching so faithfully. “I know how to make him bend to our will.”
“If you’re confident, then.” Egmun nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips. “I’ll meet you down at the stables.”
“Very good.” Vi sheathed the sword and emerged into the Tower hall once more. Just ahead, a Tower apprentice carried two bags slung over her shoulders.
Deneya. Good, she got out without suspicion.
Vi descended the spiraling walkway of the Tower. For a short stretch, Egmun’s footsteps followed her. But he soon veered off, departing through one of the doors that connected Tower and palace. Vi continued on, straight for the library.
A man was seated by the lit hearth. Blessedly alone.
Aldrik’s head bobbed as he fought off sleep. He didn’t notice her approaching. His chin had met his chest when her feet came to a stop right before him.
Vi watched the boy for just a moment. He was fourteen, barely a man. A slip of a thing still in transition to the Emperor that would someday lead a united Solaris Empire. So much of the world’s future rested on his shoulders. All Vi could do was guide him in the right direction. When it came down to it, the actions had to belong to him, and Vhalla, and all the other mortals confined to time.
“Wake up,” Vi said gently, kneeling down and shaking his shoulder lightly. “Your highness, wake up.”
“What?” He blinked sleep from his eyes. His tone became sharper as his eyes focused on her. “Vivian… Is this a dream?”
“No, it is not. Though you might wish it were come the dawn.”More like a nightmare. “I need you to listen to me, there’s precious little time.” She couldn’t keep Egmun waiting—he’d start to wonder. “Tonight, we must go to the Crystal Caverns.”
“The Crystal Caverns, why?”
