“But you said the timing is wrong for the Dark Mage to move to Spectral Peak. What value is your information if it’s shifting?”
I took a breath. “Everything shifts. Always. We can only try to keep up together.”
Ironclaw was still targeting me with a pointed glare, and I forced myself to meet his eyes.Wow, fabulous bone structure.
“It sounds like we need her,” Lord Draw said almost lazily.
I resisted nodding but most definitely agreed.
“As I understand it, Lady Mayfair doesn’t have direct communication with the witch. Any kind ofwritten prophecies”—he caught my eye—“could change. But she still has valuable information. We only need to temper her warnings against our own scouts’ updates.” Draw’s eyes were intent on me, as were everyone else’s—everyone except the queen.
It was quiet as they waited on Queen Elthra’s word.
But she was watching Lord Draw.
Finally, she looked down at her hand. “The ring,” was all she said.
Ironclaw spoke low, for her only, “If you would permit me to take that ring and throw it in the fire, I would.”
She ignored him. Instead, she held her hand up for all her advisors to see. “Lady Dottie, what does green signify?”
She could have me dragged from the room. I understood this was my test.
I resisted squinting as I tried to recall what lime green represented, then realized I didn’t need the ring. I had seen it on her face, hadn’t I? Queen Elthra was always the most important woman in the room, and now everyone was arguing overme.
“Jealousy.” I swallowed. “Your Grace.”
––––––––
THE QUEEN COLDLY EXCUSEDthe lot of us to make preparations for the following day’s departure.
I had no tasks before me, didn’t even understand what one did as part of daily life in Castle Creneda. I found my way to the wide courtyard, horses dozing in the shade, still haltered outside the charred stable. The day had grown hot. One squat woman in a leather apron lifted a horse’s back hoof between her knees. She clipped the hoof systematically before filing it smooth. A litter of hoof clippings scattered around her in a U shape. I found a stray patch of wall and leaned against it. I felt a little self-conscious but enjoyed the bustle of the yard.
The afternoon sun was warm and before long I was sitting in the dirt, my legs stretched in front of me. I caught the occasional stray glance from curious folk and tried to ignore how thirsty I was growing—I knew where the well was, but I wasn’t entirely sure the water was safe to drink.
Someone tsked. I looked up to find Jerrald staring at me. He was wearing a tunic and loose pants that might have been linen. His face was free of grime and his cornrows were tidy. His black beard looked fresh as well. He clearly bathed here at the castle.
“Oh, I was looking for you, Jerrald.” I stood up. “I wanted to say thank you for helping me yesterday. I’m just waiting until the host leaves.” I gestured to the activity around me.
“Well, we’re not leavingtoday,” he stressed. “Are you going to sit in the dirt of the bailey until tomorrow?”
I shrugged. “I’m a visitor. What else am I supposed to be doing?”
Jerrald did a little eye roll that wasn’t quite an eye roll. “Come on.” He tilted his head and I followed him into a corridor. It was slightly cooler behind stone walls, the afternoon seemed unseasonably hot. He started in one direction, and I figured following him was better than sitting in the dirt of the...bailey.
“So, you’re a witch,” he said, accusingly. “You could have told me in the forest.”
I set my face. “I’m a witch’sapprentice. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone until I told the queen herself.”
“Is it true you told her a snake would eat Lord Parable’s tongue?”
I snorted. “Of course not. Where are we going?”
“You may not be a warrior, but where we’re heading, you’ll still need protection.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Witch’s apprentice, perhaps, but I know underneath that you’re still just a woman.”
My face blazed remembering him coming upon me yesterday in the forest, when we rounded a corner and passed a woman with a basket full of laundry. She had no eyes for anything except the path in front of her as she staggered along, and I had to race around her to keep up with Jerrald.
“Or have you got magic against battle damage?” Jerrald asked, kinder this time.
