“If that’s what it takes.”
“Would you like to sleep?” Taavin asked, touching her arm lightly and summoning her attention to him alone. “I can take first watch.”
“No, you go ahead, I don’t mind. You sleep less than the rest of us anyway.” Vi smiled. He looked surprised, as if he hadn’t realized she’d noticed. His expression softened a corner of her heart.
How could I not notice?she wanted to ask. She noticed, just as she noticed he ate less than the rest of them but could go the longest without tiring. She’d cataloged every little thing about him—from the way he ran his hands through his hair when he was deep in thought, to how he tapped his foot when he drank alcohol. She’d visually traced his figure like lines of a map so that she’d never forget how to get him back again if the world took him from her.
“All right, wake me if you feel tired.”
“I will.” Vi squeezed his hand and leaned in to plant a soft goodnight kiss on his mouth.
He settled down on his palette and held her gaze for a good while. They stared at each other through the firelight, as though communicating telepathically. Though Vi was left wondering what, exactly, he was thinking.
And when his eyes closed, she was left with nothing to do but peer into the dark void of the forest around them.
The night passed uneventfully. Vi sat with her back against a tree, scanning the woods. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually her eyelids began to feel heavy. They dipped closed, staying shut for a little longer each time.
A rustling sound came from behind her and Vi’s eyes shot open.
She stood, whirling in place to find herself face to face with a spear pointed at her throat. Behind the blade were the steely gray eyes of a young girl with two golden buns behind each of her ears.
“State your business, Lightspinners,” she demanded. Skeptical, forceful, though not outright brutal. This was not the same harshness that Arwin had greeted her with in Vi’s world.
Deneya and Taavin were on their feet, but Vi held out a hand, both silencing them and stopping their movements. She leveled her eyes with the girl and gave her a smile.
“Hello, Arwin.” Arwin’s eyes went wide at Vi’s use of her name. Then they narrowed as she thrust the spear forward threateningly. The girl opened her mouth to no doubt question, but Vi spoke over her. “Please take us to your father. We have business with King Noct.”
* * *
Vi was fairly certain that she and Noct were the only comfortable people in the throne room.
Arwin had been eying them sideways since they first met and she reluctantly agreed to take them to the Twilight Kingdom. Taavin was understandably uncomfortable in this place. Even if he knew this was a different Twilight Kingdom than the one they had last interacted with, it was hard to forget old conditioning. Deneya looked fascinated, but was very clearly aware that she was an outsider in this world of glittering twilight.
But Vi stood easily. She’d been here before, in this very room, standing in front of this very man. Though he’d admittedly looked somewhat older then. The beard had been thinner in her world. That must be what it was.
This time there were no children playing in the courtyard to consume his attention. He’d stood when they entered and regarded them as a monarch would. Then, he settled himself on the throne.
“It is not common for Lightspinners to come demanding me.” He shifted. “Are you from the Queen?”
“No, we’re not,” Vi said, not so much as glancing at Deneya. The king didn’t need to know there was a member of the Order of Shadows in his throne room. Deneya’s business wasn’t to spy on the Twilight Kingdom, anyway. “We’ve come from the Dark Isle.”
“The Dark Isle?” Noct tilted his head to the side. “Two elfin and a human, all Lightspinners, from theDark Isle?”
Vi had anticipated this skepticism. She’d encountered it before. But this time she knew exactly how to handle it.
“I am Yargen’s Champion,” Vi said confidently. “I have come from very far to collect that which is my birthright. I know that, deep within your palace, you hold a crystal scythe. It was bestowed on your family to keep safe until the Champion came seeking it.”
“H-how?” Arwin stuttered, taking a step back.
“How, indeed.” Noct smiled, his eyes shining. “How could you have come across that information?”
“I told you, I am the Champion.” Vi put on the air of mystery she used when giving advice or fortune to those on the Dark Isle. Her voice was a deep whisper, her words shrouded in an air of knowing beyond that which mortal minds could comprehend. At least, that was how she hoped it sounded. “I have seen across time and space. I know Yargen’s will and have heard her voice. I have witnessed the red lightning that heralds the end of days. Before this world is torn asunder, you must give me what I seek.”
“All very impressive.” Noct was unfazed. It’d take more than some lofty words to impress those on Meru, who were accustomed to more fantastical magics existing around them. “But your long-eared friends here could’ve known the truth from ages ago and told you.”
“Elfin live long lives, but not that long,” Taavin countered for her. “Give her the scythe and you will see that she speaks true.”
Noct still looked unconvinced.
