Lark didn’t seem offended by my distrust. Instead, she actually grinned. “I thought you might ask.” She swiftly moved behind her desk and, using the candle to illuminate her drawers, pulled out a stack of parchment tied with twine.
“Letters,” she said, setting them on top of her desk. “From your uncle.” When I made no move to grab them, she gestured toward me. “Please, read them. I have nothing to hide from you.”
My eyes slowly fell from her to the papers as I stepped closer tosee the fading ink by the glow of the firelight. The pile was large, indicating months and months of correspondence, if not years.
The slanted letters, the way the words bled into the next sentence as if the writer’s thoughts were moving quicker than his fingers…it was my uncle’s handwriting. There was no doubt. I would recognize it anywhere.
I grabbed the bundle and flipped through the pages, seeing his scribbled signature at the bottom of each. They even smelled faintly of Feywood—crumpled leaves and spice. I paused to read a couple, my forehead creasing with each paragraph. One simply spoke of the weather and how Ragnar wished for the balmy seasons of the capital. Another talked about recipes for a new potion he was trying.
“Is this all some sort of code?” I asked, glancing back up at Lark.
She smirked. “We couldn’t very well spill our secrets on paper for inquiring minds to read.”
“But you’re trying to get rid of the curse. That’s agoodthing. Why do you have to hide it?”
Her lips fell into a thin line. She took her time answering, thinking through her words. “There are very few people in this world I trust anymore, Miss Wolff.”
“If that’s true, then I don’t understand why you’re tellingmeany of this.”
“Because in the years I’ve known him, your uncle has only ever inspired the highest confidence in you. Becausehetrusts you. And I trust him.” Her voice softened, and she paused. It was strange, seeing how this person I’d never met in my life was so affected by my uncle’s condition. I could tell she trulyhadknown him. Truly had cared about him. It made my exasperation fade ever so slightly.
Lark cleared her throat. “And because Feywood is now in need of a challenger. Someone who can follow in his footsteps.”
Someone who can take on this task, was what she didn’t say.
“I understand Feywood needs someone to compete. But whydo you need achallengerfor this…this mission? Why was my uncle involved at all?” I held out a hand to her. “You seem more than capable all on your own.”
Lark ran her tongue along her teeth. I could tell there were things she was trying to keep private, only certain parts of her plan she was ready to convey. But if she was expecting me to risk myself for this cause, I needed to understand.
“There are…liberties I am granted in this empire, yes,” she said slowly. “To remain here in a position of power in order to help others, however, there are places I cannot go. People I cannot cross. I want to tell you more, I truly do—but you can still walk away from this. I haven’t divulged enough yet to put youormyself in any danger. Once you cross that line, once you agree, there’s no going back. So I’m giving you a choice, Rose.” She let out a deep breath. “I know it’s not fair after everything that’s happened to you in the last hours. But we are running out of time.”
I rubbed at my temple. This was ludicrous. So completely out of the realm of possibility. Icouldn’t compete. I couldn’t stop this curse. I wasn’t…
What? Whatwasn’tI?
I wasn’tunskilled, I supposed. Not nearly as powerful as Ragnar, but my bloodline was strong, even though it had been dampening over the past years with our weaker magic. I’d learned many useful lessons from my uncle and my parents’ Grimoires. Strike where it hurts. Observe everything. Be merciless when you can, and merciful when it’s hardest.
And…I wasn’tfrightened. Not of this tournament or what the other challengers could do to me, at least. I was used to defending myself. But Ragnar’s true purpose was different. What would be required of me? Would I even be able to find the original caster and figure out how to reverse the curse? Because failure…thatfrightened me.
In the end, so much was at stake. Not just the magic of my people, but also the chance to save thousands of lives. To end this plight that had taken over my empire.
I was desperate. And perhaps a bit prideful. The image of me in the tournament, proving to those Drakorum bastards and everyone else that Feywood was not to be overlooked, breaking the curse and bringing back everyone who had suffered…it steeled something within me.
My heart pounded in my chest, its beat ringing through my ears. Fates, I didn’t know what I was doing, but I feared I was in too deep to stop now.
“I’ll do it.”
Those three little words hung heavy in the air, sealing my fate. I wasn’t even sure they’d come from my lips. Was I really ready to do this?
Did I have a choice? This could changeeverything.
She smiled, and the shadows around us seemed to swirl in excitement. She took a step toward me. “Excellent. Because we have no time to waste. I need you to do something for me.” The darkness tightened, and her tone gave me the foreboding sense that I had barely scratched the surface of this mission. “I need you to get close to the man who cast the Somnivae curse. Uncoverhowhe cast it, and what we need to reverse it.”
Unease gripped my insides. The only way I’d be able to do that was by finding the Grimoire of the Alchemist in question, and that was nearly impossible. Grimoires were the most valuable item an Alchemist possessed—I couldn’t simply waltz into someone’s house and take a quick peek. Most, like myself, had a plethora of defensive charms in place around theirs, only accessible by those they trusted.
“Who?” I asked curtly, trying to hide my worries.
Lark’s eyes flashed as she backed away. “That’s the main reason we needed Ragnar in the tournament. The reason we needyou. As a challenger, you are afforded more freedoms both in the city and the palace. You’ll have eyes upon you, yes, but not eyes of suspicion. They’ll never suspect someone like you. It will be much easier for you to get closer this way.”
