On to the tapestry. Pausing, I stared at it—memorized it—though I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t part of the deal I’d madewith the Liege. But then, neither were the things I’d already taken and freed. The king and queen’s gazes met mine, and I sunk into their crystal-studded eyes, looking back and forth between them, hoping they could tell me everything I needed to know. But when wind rustled through my mind, growing in volume to howl in terror, I jerked myself back and wrenched my gaze away from them. I sensed whatever they needed could not be delivered now, if ever.
As I rounded the bed, I didn’t peer past the heavy drapes clinging to the four posts and draping partway across each side.
There’s nothing in that bed for you,someone whispered in my mind.
Who is this?I asked, but only silence answered.
I stopped in front of the finger bones spiking up inside each of the wooden segments. Like Triisa had promised, it appeared that all nine remained. Those I’d taken had guided me onto new paths, and there was no returning them now.
With a heavy swallow, I left them. Triisa also told me not to take more, and they weren’t part of my plan.
A clear urn sat on the floor, capped with a broad, simple cork. Since I’d missed it the last time I was here, I stooped down to study it, finding it nearly full of small round discs. I leaned closer, squinting in the dim light, trying to see what nestled inside.
Bone coins. Thousands of them piled within the urn as if Ivenrail collected these trophies as well.
Not interested in touching them, I straightened and continued around the room.
The globes hung in the corner, lightly swaying as if thepulsations of the hearts inside each generated enough motion to make them twitch. A grisly display, they were my main reason for coming here.
Bring me the hearts,the Liege had said.Swear you will, and I’ll give you the collar.
I would’ve done anything for that collar, and he knew it.
With infinite care, I unhooked each globe, dangling them from their string as I carefully lowered them one by one into my bag. The last one clinked when it touched the others, and the sharp tinkle resounded in the room.
I shuddered, my heart slamming against the bony wall of my ribs.
“Come to visit, have you?” someone croaked behind me.
Spinning, I gaped as Ivenrail uncoiled himself from his bedding like a serpent slithering from its nest, its head arching back, and its rapturous, lulling gaze locked on mine. Just like a serpent, he would jerk back to strike.
A flick of his finger froze me in place.
I couldn’t breathe.
I could barely think.
My heart thudded once.
And then no more.
42
TEMPEST
Ivenrail strolled over to me wearing only thin sleep pants and a sneer.
“You’re pitiful. And you think you’re going to kill me?” He tipped back his head and cackled. “You can’t even breathe.”
But I could . . .
. . . I flitted from his bedroom and landed hard inside the front parlor of Lydel Court.
With his roar of rage blasting through my mind, I dropped onto the sofa in front of the cold fireplace.
A smile lit up my face.
I dropped the bag onto my lap. My pulse raced, but my eyes were heavy, eager to drag me down and trundle me off to sleep. But I still had more to do tonight.
