“We’re leaving,”Vi announced as she entered the shared room she, Deneya, and Taavin had been using as their base of operations while in the palace.
“You found it.” Taavin didn’t mince words.
“I did.” Vi looked at her palm. “The power is already in me.”
“Where was it?” Deneya asked.
“Baldair hid it in a vault in the cellars.” Vi held up the iron key. “That’s what this was for.”
“A miracle he kept it hidden and safe.” Taavin sounded genuinely impressed. Vi was forced to agree.
“We’re going to take the shifted crown and place it in a treasure vault or storeroom somewhere.” Vi went to the back of the room, retrieving the fake crown from the sack where they kept it.
“Not return it to Baldair’s hiding place?” Deneya asked.
“No, if we put it back in Baldair’s hiding place, we risk Victor raising the prince’s suspicions when he finally moves to take the fake crown. If Baldair has reason to think it’s gone, he might raise the alarm and prompt everyone to look for the crown.”
“Which would likely involve going to his father,” Taavin murmured.
“Exactly.” If the Emperor thought he had a crystal Weapon before the War in the North was over, it could change things dramatically. “Furthermore, the last thing we want is Victor to feel rushed to inspect the crown, or take it to the caverns when we’re not ready, and risk him finding out its fake.” No matter how good the shift looked and felt, Vi still feared Victor would somehow see right through it.
“So how do you propose we orchestrate Victor finding the fake crown without Baldair realizing his hiding spot was compromised?” Taavin stood from the chair he’d been sitting in. It was positioned opposite the sofa where Deneya sat, a now-forgotten carcivi board on the table between them.
“Before we leave, I’ll sneak into Baldair’s room and return the key to its previous hiding spot. Baldair has already checked on the crown once and believes it secure. If we don’t give him a reason to, he shouldn’t check again,” Vi postulated. “Deneya, you take the crown and hide it in a vault somewhere. Falsify some records with the guard that will leave just enough of a trail for Victor to follow over the coming months. Let’s not let him find it too quickly.”
“You got it.” Deneya stood and crossed to Vi, taking the crown from her.
“And I assume I’ll give Victor his first breadcrumb?” Taavin asked.
“That was my thought as well.”
“I approve of this plan,” Taavin murmured. “It keeps things tidy. No need for Baldair to go making waves. And Victor stays on track with the crown.”
“We’re glad you approve. You know how important it is to both of us.” Deneya shot him a playful look and Taavin rolled his eyes.
“I’ll go take care of this.” Deneya held up the bag with the crown. “And let you know what trail I can set up.”
“Then tonight, I’ll sneak into the Tower,” Taavin said.
“And I’ll sneak into Baldair’s room at the same time.” Vi remembered the servants’ passage she discovered. With her glyphs, she could slip into his closet unheard and unseen. “We can start for the North tomorrow and get the axe.”
“There’s a stop we’ll make first in the Crossroads.”
“For what?” Vi asked, not able to spare her voice from exasperation at the idea of another delay.
“I’m going to let you two talk that over. Be back!” Deneya fled hastily.
“Vhalla will head there with the army, and that’s where you must read her fortune. In doing so, she’ll charge the watch with her essence and link it to us and Yargen. That’s the key to ensuring the—”
“Birth of a new Champion,” she finished for him. Vi stepped forward, looming over the chair in which he sat. “There won’t be another Champion.”
“Vi, let’s not do this.” He sighed.
“There won’t be,” she said softly. “I’ve seen it, Taavin. The crown showed me.”
She could almost hear the echo of his heart racing. His eyes widened a fraction, their pupils dilating. The air around him thrummed with anxious energy. Her fingers twitched, begging to reach forward and take the power of the Caverns from within him.
Return it to me.
