Lucenna let her bangs fall over her eyes so he wouldn’t see them mist. “I accepted this mission because hope is all we can vie for. I have not given up. And I won’t.”
“You’ve searched for nigh on four years. What if we are not meant to find it?”
She laid a hand over the Luna Medallion hanging from her neck, stroking the edges of the inlaid diamonds and carved runes. Her fingers passed through the illusion spell reflecting an image of the Moonstone at its center. The real stone had been missing for centuries, stolen and hidden away in a place that only existed in fairy tales. “There are other options.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Black clovers arenotthe answer.”
“The Liberation begs to differ.”
“Those plants are rooted in dark magic, Lucenna. Have you not learned your lesson?”
“Oh, you mean because my actions led to Mother’s demise?” she hissed.
“No.” He slammed a hand on his desk. “I mean, they are dangerous.”
Lucenna glared at him. “I’m alone, Lucien. I can only do so much with what I know. The guilds have no real power. The Archmage has taken it all. As long as he has the Tellur Medallion, the Liberation has no chance against the empire. The Sol Medallion vanished and this,” she lifted the Luna Medallion, “is useless without the Moonstone! Every passing day that I don’t find it, more of our people die under the laws of the Mage Code. So, tell me, how else do you expect us to attain our freedom if not with dark magic? With compliance and diplomacy? Yes, because that has served you so well before.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Her brother didn’t react. His face was an impassive mask.
“Lucien—”
“Leave Corron at once,” he said stiffly. “It’s not safe.”
She lowered her head. “I will.”
“Contact me when you’ve moved to a secure place.” His image faded from the Orb, and it returned to clear glass.
Lucenna groaned, and let it sink back in her satchel. She should not have said something so cruel.
A thin strip of sunlight streamed in through the leaves and caught on the pink diamond ring on her fourth finger. It reminded her of another ring Lucien had once planned for a girl he loved. A ring he could never give.
None of it had been out of compliance.
She picked up a rock and hurled it at a tree with a furious scream. For each rock she threw, Lucenna imagined smashing the Archmage’s skull in. She desired nothing more than to obliterate him for all he had taken from her family, and everyone oppressed under his heel.
Breathing heavily, she dropped her head against the battered tree bark, feeling no more significant than the mud splattered on her boots.
Who was she to overthrow an empire?
The gentle sound of oars cutting through water drew her attention to the woodland. The ferryman came into view. He rowed his boat through the lake carrying a handful of men, all dressed in black, toward the shrouded shore.
They took orders from another man with honey brown hair wearing a black leather coat. He was too far to hear what he was saying, but she was curious enough to pry. Lucenna cast an amplification spell to listen in on the conversation, and the man’s brogue voice came clear as if he’d spoken in her ear.
“We’ve lost the Maiden’s location,” he said, frowning down at something in his hand. “Spread out. Search for her. When you find her, report it to me immediately.”
Find who?
“Don’t confront them. Don’t attract attention. Tomorrow we engage.”
The men nodded with serious expressions. “Yes, Commander.”
He was a commander? He didn’t appear to be part of any regiment. They wore no livery or crest of their liege lord.
The men noticed her one by one as the boat neared the shore. A man with dark skin and black curls nudged the leader, motioning at her with his chin. “Commander Von, there’s a witness.”
Magic pulsed at her fingertips, ready to attack should any of them approach. The commander studied her. His eyes landed on the medallion, and she quickly tucked it away.
“Leave her be,” He turned away. “She knows nothing.”
