“Runa.” She laid her hand on my shoulder, her arm stretched between us. “I was going to tell you, I promise. But everything happened too soon.”
I just shook my head. I couldn’t deal with all of these revelations currently coming to light. Not while I was basically imprisoned, but there was one question I had to ask.
I looked up, my gaze connecting with Collum’s brown eyes. I motioned to my face.
“Did you know?”
“That you could read?” She breathed as my heart crumbled at the title. “I hadn’t known for certain, but your parents were well-versed, so I assumed.”
I changed the subject. “So, Milo?” My chest was constricting, and it wasn’t because of the bind for once.
Her voice was filled with sorrow. “He and Helene are to marry within the next few days. I’m trying to talk them into leaving town but . . . Adis came before we were able to make plans.”
There was no relief at hearing my twin was alive. No relief that he was possibly leaving town. Just pain at the massive lie that had been my entire life, the lie my parents had left us in with no way out.
“That’s what I’m called then . . . a reader?” I thought knowing the title would lessen my confusion, but now it only heightened it. My brows gathered on my forehead. “Are you a reader?”
She nodded. “All who are trained in the Seid language are.” She must have seen the questions in my gaze because she added, “I just lied to Adis to buy you some time to heal, and to slow his takeover.”
Wait. “Takeover?”
Collum sighed. “There is just so much you don’t know. But yes, Adis has been trying to overtake the entirety of Heimland for a long time, and he believes magic is the way to do it. That’s why he continues to fight Malheim.”
“But the Purge?—”
“That was his father,” Collum corrected. “He hated magic. He hated the way it put certain humans above others, even if we have always welcomed anyone willing to learn with open arms. He sought to eliminate it because he didn’t want to take the time to learn himself. He thought he did. But he forgot that Seid, or reader education, began early.”
Something else niggled in my mind. “And the king?”
Collum shook her head. “He hasn’t been seen in Ralheim in years. I hear rumor’s he’s still ruling, but he just . . .” She grimaced and I could feel her despair. “He allows Adis to do whatever he wants, and I don’t understand why.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “So, we are witches then?” I was still so confused by all of this
She shook her head. “That’s just what they call us. We are physically no different than them. We just know how to read the language of magic—a skill which appears to only be passed down through family lines, which is what started the rumor.” She sighed. “But as you have already seen, anyone can have magic, they just have to have the Seid books read to them. And anyone can become a reader, as long as they are taught the language and the proper cadence for reciting the spells.”
“Oh.” For some reason, the information was both surprising yet, unexciting. She had just reaffirmed that I was here, trapped and beaten, because of a skill, not because I was any different from Count Adis. “So . . . there’s just us readers and the rest then?”
She smiled sadly. “Not exactly. Within our coven, yes. But I’ve heard rumors that there is another skill even more valuable, and even more hidden than reading.”
I tilted my head to the side, not sure I was ready for more information, but finding myself hungry for it anyway. “What’s that?”
“Seekers.” She sighed. “Seekers often don’t know how to read the old language, though I am sure they can be taught, but they are physically different.” She looked over at me, her lips twisting. “They can sense magic in a way that most people can’t. There are many theories why this is, but nothing is certain. Most believe that they are born more sensitive to the magic that runs in veins in the earth. The magic, which we draw into existence and into the essences of individuals with our words. But they are the only ones who can find the books when they are hidden. But . . .” She paused, lifting the wooden cup to her own lips. “They can also be dangerous, as they can find books that are meant to remain hidden, or slated to be destroyed.”
“Oh.”
“They’re very dangerous.” Collum shifted closer to me,leaning her head against mine as we had sometimes done when we gossiped as kids. “And they hide their identities well.”
“Why?” As soon as the word was out of my mouth, I realized how dumb the question was.
“Because they are even more sought after than we are. And when they are found, they are almost always trapped and used.”
Her words reminded me of where we were and why we were here. “Like me.”
She nodded. “As bad as this seems, this is actually a good thing.”
Shock stole over my features, and my mouth dropped open. How was—“WHAT?”
The word came out too loud, and I immediately slapped my hand over my mouth, barely breathing as I waited for the wooden door to slam open.
