“I’ll fill you in before you leave,” Teryn said.
Cora continued. “Furthermore, there’s still the mystery of Ailan. Darius and Ailan were trapped outside the Veil together. If Darius is still alive, Ailan might be too. She might be our key to sorting this all out, and the Forest People might have some clue as to how or where we could find her.”
“I still don’t understand,” Mareleau said, an icy edge to her tone. “Why would Noah and I come with you to find them?”
“They may know how to suppress your magic without the collar,” Cora said. It was the only reason she sought to bring Mareleau with her. “I know how to draw mental wards around my own magic, but I haven’t a clue how to teach you to do it, nor how to do it for you. The Forest People have witches skilled in protective wards.”
Larylis spoke next. His voice was slow and controlled, but his rigid posture betrayed his composure. “Couldn’t you find the Forest People first and bring someone back to aid her?”
Cora sighed. “I doubt I could convince any of them to leave the commune, much less set foot on royal land. The Forest People take great lengths to stay out of royal matters.”
“So they might not help me anyway,” Mareleau said.
“I think if we go to them, they will. I know at least some will be open to it. We have to try. You said it yourself, you can’t keep that collar on forever.”
“I take it you intend to bring Mareleau and Noah alone,” Larylis said, and this time his tone was far from controlled, “as you’ve said nothing about me. Or Teryn. From this, I must surmise you intend for me to be separated from my wife and newborn son.”
She swallowed hard and forced herself to meet his eyes. Her fatigue was growing by the minute, which made for weak mental shields. Already the emotions of her companions were invading her senses. Larylis’ anxiety slammed into her, tinged with fear, grief, and anger. She wished she could allay those feelings, but she couldn’t. She could only add to them. “A naval fleet is heading for Vera’s shores. I can’t tell you what to do, but I’m certain you already know the necessary course of action.”
He cursed under his breath, his hand curling into a fist over his armrest. “I must ready Vera’s defenses,” he said through his teeth.
Cora took a fortifying breath before shifting her gaze to Teryn. His eyes were distant. He sat sideways in his seat, elbow on his armrest, jaw propped on his palm. He rubbed his brow with his free hand. “And I must stay here to act as Khero’s ruler while you’re gone. The queen and her consort can’t both be absent at such a tumultuous time.”
Cora’s heart cracked. He was taking this decision better than she expected, but that was only on the outside. Inside, his emotions were just as frayed and raw as Larylis’ were. She hated doing this to him. Hated that this was her idea and that she’d leave him so soon after their wedding. Berol nipped at his cheek from her place on the back of his chair. He gave the falcon a sad smile and scritched her feathered chest.
“Well, it’s lovely that everyone else seems resigned to this absolutely ridiculous plan,” Mareleau said, not bothering to hide her ire, “but I still have several questions. How the devils are we supposed to find the Forest People?”
Cora winced. She’d told Mareleau about her past in one of the many letters she’d written to her friend over the last several months, which meant she knew the commune was nomadic. They moved camps every season, ensuring they were never in any place long enough to draw local attention, as well as to follow the most favorable weather. Yet Cora knew the general area the commune would be in. As it was still winter, they would be in southwest Khero. Though that wouldn’t last for long. The commune would move again by Ostara, which was two weeks away.
That left only one option.
She’d have to locate them with her magic and use her worldwalking abilities to travel directly to them. She hadn’t a clue if she could accomplish the first task—
If you can feel them, we can find them, came Valorre’s voice.
She relaxed slightly. He’d checked in with her frequently throughout the day to assure her he was in no danger from the dragons. Knowing he was still safe was enough to smooth the edges of her nerves. Yet his words did little to bolster her confidence.
You said that before and things didn’t work out so well, she reminded him. It was how they’d ended up in El’Ara. Cora had been in the process of feeling her way to the Forest People—or trying to, at least—when Valorre had somehow overridden her focus with visions of his own. Of his original home. He’d taken the step that was required to initiate Cora’s abilities, and they’d found themselves in the fae realm.
That was my fault, Valorre said.I won’t do that again.
I still don’t know if it’s possible.
I think it is. I believe we can do it together. I’m your familiar, remember?
She relaxed even more. Valorre was indeed her familiar. She used to scoff at the concept of familiars, seeing them only as a witch’s pet devoid of a magical bond. But now she understood it was more than that. As her familiar, Valorre strengthened her magic. She never could have entered El’Ara without him, without his visions, memories, and his horn’s ability to pierce the Veil. But would they be able to find a place neither of them had physically been?
We can find the Forest People. I’m sure of it.
She hoped he was right. Sheneededhim to be right. Otherwise, they’d be searching forever.
She voiced her idea aloud and received another long stretch of silence.
Then Mareleau barked a laugh. “You’re going to use magic to find them. And you’re somehow going to do it with me and Noah in tow.”
“That’s too dangerous,” Larylis said. “Have you ever used your abilities with another person before?”
“With Valorre, but not with another human being. I’ll practice first.” She didn’t bother feigning confidence. She knew this was madness. Yet they had to try. Her one consolation was that she suspected it was possible. The Elvyn had told her how Darius had used his abilities to bring in human armies to attack El’Ara with iron weapons. That meant he’d been able to travel with multiple people at once. Cora hated comparing herself to him, but if it meant her goal was viable…
