Did I tell her I was a challenger on a quest for the first trial? It wasn’t technically against the rules, and it wasn’t as if I were asking her to help me solve the riddle or find the artifact. Still, keeping some semblance of anonymity until the world discovered I’d taken Ragnar’s place seemed wiser. The less attention I drew, the less likely another challenger would find me—like Alaric.
“I want to visit these cemeteries,” I answered vaguely, pulling the maps out and showing her the ones to the east and north. “They seem a bit far to get to on foot.”
She hummed. “You’re right, you’d need transportation if you want to see both of them today.” With a kind smile, she asked, “Not from around here, I take it?”
I chuckled. “You could say that.”
“If you know who you’re trying to visit, you could look their name up in the city archives.” She gestured to my maps when I furrowed my brow. “To see which cemetery they were buried in.”
Realization dawned. She thought I was looking to visit someone’s gravesite. “Actually, I’m not sure of the exact name of the person I’m looking for. It’s an…old ancestor I wanted to find. That’s why I was going to try both.”
Her lips twitched. I couldn’t tell if she was buying my story, but she didn’t press the matter. “Well, depending on how old the ancestor is, there’s another place you may want to try, too.” Pulling the book of maps between us, she pointed to a small icon in the west sector. “The Battle of the Dead Lands memorial also has burial grounds for some who fought in the war.”
I leaned forward, interest piquing. “The War of Beginnings?”
She nodded. “How much do you know about it?”
“As much as they’re willing to teach us in Feywood,” I responded dryly. The war occurred three hundred and fifty years ago between the Veridian Empire and the Kingdom of Mysthelm to the southwest. It was a brutal struggle over the ancient magic that lived in the capital, which, at the time, was unoccupied. Magic given by the Fates, free for the taking.
If you were willing to fight.
The two civilizations had coexisted peacefully until the three Fates sent a prophecy saying whoever could conquer the magic would be given power beyond comprehension. That sparked the beginning of the end.
The five-year war concluded with my people overpowering Mysthelm and laying claim to the magic. Mysthelm was left with nothing—a magicless society forced back to their continent.
We hadn’t heard from Mysthelm in three centuries. At least, that uscommonpeople knew of. The idea of an entire kingdom existing beyond our borders fascinated me. It was a land I’d more than likely never get to see, and part of me longed to know what it was like. A world without magic and the obsession it created. How the people lived, how they ran their kingdom, if they were as divided and hostile as we were. I wondered if they resented us for stealing their chance at this ancient power, or if they would ever take up arms again and invade our land for what they’d lost.
But we were taught next to nothing about them, nor about the specifics of the war. I had never even heard of this Battle of the Dead Lands the woman spoke of.
“It was the deadliest, bloodiest battle fought during the war, and it happened right here on Veridia City soil,” she began. “Veridians caught Mysthelm soldiers crossing the Eldertide Ocean to try and get to the island, and they raced to meet them.” Her lips turned down. “Thousands of people died. They say it was one of the final battles before Veridians overpowered them. The memorial was erected in honor of those who suffered, and it’s still over in the west sector today.”
I examined the map and saw the icon she’d pointed out wasonly several miles from the port my family and I had arrived at. Less than an hour’s ride by carriage.
Now I had three options. Two cemeteries and the memorial. After learning the history behind the memorial, my instincts were leaning that direction—it was symbolic of the Decemvirate and all that had been sacrificed to put us in this position of power. It felt exactly like somewhere they’d lead me. But I couldn’t afford to keep choosing incorrectly.
The bell above the door chimed behind me. “Thank you for your help,” I said, not wanting to take up any more of her time.
I turned to head back to the entrance when the two women who had just walked in noticed me and stopped in their tracks.
“Are you Rose?” one of them asked excitedly. “The new Feywood challenger?”
I stifled a groan. They must have a connection to the palace. So much for anonymity. Nodding tightly, I tried to sneak away before others were drawn in, when the shop owner called my name.
“Rose, is it?” When I stayed still, she beckoned me with a crooked finger back to the counter. Her dark eyes gleamed, a smile forming on her lips. “You’rethe Feywood challenger? Why didn’t you say anything?” She lowered her voice. “My parents moved us here from Feywood over five decades ago. I might have been a young girl, but I remember it fondly. I say it’s high time they deserve a win, don’t you think?”
I held my breath, refusing to believe my luck. Turning, she pulled a thin vial of amber liquid from one of her shelves, discreetly covering it with her hand as she passed it across the counter and into my fingers.
“Family recipe. I always have one handy in case any troublemakers come along, if you know what I mean.” She winked. “Show them what we’re capable of, yes?”
I grinned, grasping the vial and clutching her hand between both of mine in thanks.
“And, Rose? If you need to get somewhere quickly, take my horse.”
I started to shake my head. “I couldn’t possibly?—”
“I insist. Just promise to come back and buy plenty of charms once you win this trial.”
“Of course, I will,” I said with a laugh. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me, Miss…”
