“Now.”
CHAPTER 44
CALLYN
Nora and Sinna are chasing each other through the lush gardens in the sunlight, but I can’t stop shivering. The sound of soldiers training on the fields is a dull roar in my ears. The king is probably out there somewhere, but I don’t care. I can’t stop thinking about everything that happened. Just a few hours ago I was sitting with Lord Alek in the grass, hearing him tell me he wasproudof me. I was feeling the weight of him on top of me, letting myself feel loved and cherished for the first time in . . . ?well, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that way.
And now I’ve ruined it—in a way that’s not even my fault.
A lump forms in my throat. Part of me wants to tear off this pendant and throw it under one of the flowered bushes.
Why did he let me go? Why did he send me back here? He kept that sword in his hand, and he looked ready to kill me—until his men showed up.
Will he use me against the queen?
I saved his life. With magic.
The thought is quick and sudden, and it jolts me in the spine, chasing away some of my panic and dismay.
It’s quickly followed by another thought.
Ungrateful prick.
I hold on to that one, and it feels good.
Sinna comes sprinting between the bushes, Nora breathlessly trailing her. Sinna tackles me around the waist, giggling. Their happy energy makes me smile.
But then the little princess says, “Can we go inside? It’s cold.”
Nora shivers, hugging her arms to her body. “Itiscold.”
I frown at them, because I’ve been shivering for the last ten minutes, but I thought it was my panic. As I look between them, I realize our breaths are clouding.
The instant I notice it, my heart stumbles in my chest.
Just as a screech echoes overhead.
The girls gasp, whirling to look up. High above, coming from all directions, and so distant they could be birds of prey, winged creatures seem to be gathering in the sky over the training fields. A blast of frigid wind blows across the gardens, lifting my hair and making the girls shiver again.
“Cally-cal?” says Nora. “What’s happening?”
Before I can answer, words carry on the wind.—We know the magesmiths are here.
I think I’m the only one who can hear it, but little Sinna gasps. “magesmiths!” she cries. “Do they want Da?”
“They helped us in Briarlock,” Nora says brightly, no fear in her tone. “Maybe they’re here to help your da with something—”
Another screech cuts off the rest of her sentence. The soldiers are reorganizing, training drills turning into a response to a threat.
They aren’t fast enough. One of the scravers dives out of the sky torip its claws through a soldier, tearing his arm right off his body. Another one fires an arrow, and a scraver slashes through his face.
I grab the princess and tuck her against my chest before she can see any more of this.
I don’t think I’m quick enough, because she’s screaming.
—Find the magesmith!
Nora grabs my hand and tugs,hard. “Come on.”
