“You knew she had it?” I asked, stunned and irritated. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I told you I thought I’d seen it. She didn't wear it as a pendant all the damn time before.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I bet she even sleeps with it now.”
That would make it harder to steal, now wouldn’t it?
“How do you know her?” I watched his face, wondering what else he might be holding back and if he’d reveal it in his eyes or expression. “I thought your court and hers were feuding.”
“Were. Still are, I’m sure. Laphira and I… Well, it doesn’t really matter now, does it?” He sounded so bitter, I winced. “She married someone else and even had his son.” I could only describe his smile as a grimace. “She jumped into his bed fast enough. The boy was born not long after she and I…”
Ah, so it was like that. If he still pined for her, I felt bad for him. There wasn’t much worse than loving someone who didn’t feel the same way.
“You verified she still has it,” I said in a softer tone.
“I did and it wasn’t easy.” He dragged a hand through his hair, his careful composure cracking. “I snuck into their court, right into her bedroom. She’s…so beautiful. I—” He shook his head and stiffened, taking control. “Her son was there with her, actually. It must be him. It was dark, and I don’t think she saw me peering through the window. But I saw enough. I couldn’t…” He pinched his eyes closed, then opened them again. “I left. She’s got the featherdorn pendant, though. She was wearing it.”
My throat tightened. We’d crossed kingdoms, bled for answers, shattered illusions. And there it was, looped around a woman’s neck like a bauble, as out of reach as if we didn’t know where to find it.
“How can we convince her to let us have it?” I asked.
“I’ll break in and steal it,” Lore said with a conniving grin.
I lifted my eyebrows Lore’s way. “Wewill break in and steal it.”
“And under any other circumstances, I’d say, yes, do it,” Dorion said. “But that won’t work this coming week, and I know time’s an issue. They’re holding a fete over the next few days.”
Lore frowned. “What kind of fete?”
“Three days of dangerous competitions, one event each day,” Dorion said. “There will be people everywhere. You’ll never get near the talisman, let alone escape with it.”
With flitting we might. Or not. My stomachdropped. In five days, the curse would claim Lore, and this court was essentially turning our desperation into entertainment.
“Howdangerous?” I asked.
Dorion gave me a sympathetic look. “Some competitors will die, hence those with less fortitude watching rather than competing. With the talisman awarded to the winner. We need to attend and win because they’re offering the talisman as the prize. Well, the winner will be allowed toholdthe talisman, which will grant them one wish before they must return it. Irridain won’t part with it for long.”
“Laphira’s willing to hand it over even for a short time?” I asked.
The unfairness of it crashed over me like a wave. They had no idea what they possessed. To them, it was probably another bauble, another tool for political games. Meanwhile, Lore was dying. Each day that passed brought us closer to losing everything.
Dorion’s mouth twisted. “She will if her mother tells her to do so.”
I shot to my feet, pacing to the window. “She's wearing our only hope around her neck like jewelry. I say we storm the court and take it. I don’t care what they think or how much they treasure the featherdorn. We need it more than they do.”
I whirled to face Dorion. “You're telling me that while my husband has days left to live, they’re hosting games? Using the one thing that can save him as entertainment?”
“They don’t know what it is,” Lore said softly. “You know that.”
I deflated. Struggled not to cry.
“I understand,” Dorion said. “Believe me, if I could’ve taken it last night, I would’ve.”
I held up a hand. “Wait. Back up. You said the pendant grants wishes.” If we could get our hands on it, I knew what I’d wish for.
Dorion rubbed his temple. “It used to. From what little I heard, it’s been inconsistent lately.” He frowned. “When it was working, it had incredible value. Imagine holding an object that could grant you anything you could ask for.”
Crossing the room, I dropped down beside Lore, chest to chest, thigh to thigh.
“For battle mages, it means the difference between victory and death.” Dorion's voice carried a lilt I hadn't heard before. “Healers could revive lost magic.” He paused, his eyes distant. “In a world where power fails us when we need it most, the pendant offers the certainty we all crave.”
