Collum stared at me, but where I’m sure my eyes were gaping with surprise, she looked calm and collected. Something which immediately put me on edge.
We sat like that, in the thick silence, for several moments, until we were both sure that no one had heard my shout. Then, finally, she continued.
“We’ve got to steal the books and start reading to the servants. Once we all have the same magic, it won’t be the edge Adis thinks it is.”
She . . . had a point. My mind immediately flickered to the book I had hidden behind my chamber pot in the wall. The one containing the power of wind. “But the powers . . . so far they aren’t . . . that intimidating.” It was a struggle to put what I was thinking into words. “I don’t know what the servants are going to do with the power of wind, or empathy.”
Collum shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that everything will be equal. If Adis thinks he can knock just anyone over with wind, he will be wrong.”
“But he always keeps the books in his presence,” I insisted. I wasn’t sure why I was arguing this with her, because I knew inmy mind she was right. But something in my heart pulled the other direction, telling me that eliminating myself from this equation was the best solution for us all.
“Don’t worry. I will convince him to let us take the books with us next time. Just watch.” A smile stole over her features, but it didn’t light up her eyes. The rock in my stomach sank deeper. “As for the stronger powers, the coven says they have leads. We will find better books.”
I let the silence settle between us again. I didn’t like speaking up against Collum, and there were so many holes in her plan. I didn’t want to point out that if we could find the books, how would we get them in here without Adis knowing?
Not only that, but once everyone had powers . . . what then? Would the war end? Or just become more violent?
And who was this coven she spoke of?
CHAPTER 9
The next day, we kneeled side by side, I, whispering pronunciations to Collum, while she pretended she was learning them for the first time. I had to hand it to her, she was very good at playing the uneducated student. And after what had to be hours of fake struggle, I could tell even Adis was getting annoyed.
“I’m sorry,” Collum said at last, unable to hide the boldness in her voice. I cut my eyes at her, silently pleading for her to at least add a little fake meekness to her voice.
It didn’t matter though, because Adis’s foot was already tapping.
“I—” she started again. “I hate to slow everything down, forcing you to listen to my learning. Perhaps Milo can coach me in the evenings and nights as well?”
It was my first time hearing that name—the one I pretended was mine—in a while, and my chest clenched at the thought of who it really belonged to. I was cursorily distracted from my thoughts, though, as Adis stepped closer, peering at my cousin over the end of his long nose.
“All books are to be read in my presence.”
His tone caused my shoulders to tense.
“I understand . . . sir. But I fear I won’t be able to learn fast enough to read by the end of the week. And I know how badly your men need magic.”
“Hm.” Adis lifted his gaze to Markus and Syrus.
“You can trust us,” Collum reiterated. “Otherwise, you can kill one of us.”
I gulped at her suggestion. There was no way my cousin had just put one of our lives on the line, when she indeed planned to disobey the trust she wanted to be gifted. But ever obedient, I remained quiet, trying to appear as normal as possible as Collum continued to insist on putting her plan into action.
“I suppose it can’t hurt,” he mused at last, his eyes resting on the green book in my lap. “But only one book at a time. And once you can read, it ends.”
“Yes, sir,” Collum agreed, peering at me out of the corner of her eyes, a smug smile I recognized on her lips. I hoped Adis hadn’t seen that.
“Very well. Return them to their cell.” He waved us away.
To my surprise, Markus and Syrus didn’t grab my arms as roughly as normal, instead allowing me to walk next to my cousin, both of us sandwiched between them. I didn’t want to say it, but this was already much more freedom than I had been given before. Collum had always been good at convincing others to see her way.
As we crossed the open-air courtyard, Collum suddenly stopped.
“We need to take my cousin to see the healer again.”
My eyebrows drew together, but one pointed glance from Collum had me plastering a neutral look on my face. She hadn’t mentioned this the night before, and I had no idea where she was going with this.
“Adis gave no such instructions,” Markus grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
