The casual display of magic made my belly flip over. From what I’d seen so far, magic wasn’t forbidden or scorned in the wasteland. And I hadn’t run into one person who appeared to have been sucked into madness. But maybe they locked those people away when it started to happen.
Or gave them a “benevolent” end like in my court.
“You strong, girl?” he asked, dropping back onto the bench seat, turning his unsettling gaze my way.
“Enough.”
I’d only told Commander Thorne where I was going. He’d tried to stop me. Tried to insist I take a full guard. As if the rebels would letme enter their court and dispense justice with a contingent of soldiers milling around me?
I’d told my father I was traveling to one of the northern courts to get to know their eldest son for a possible marriage match. My father had already suggested such a thing, and he’d insisted on a full guard when I departed. I snuck away from them the third night after we left for Noctvale Court, stealing the swiftest horse and leaving a note telling them I’d decided to enter a cluster, a sisterly religious group who were notoriously unwilling to share details about the women who hid behind their walls.
Before my father could determine exactly where I was, I’d be back, victorious after finding revenge.
The ferryman stroked the owl’s spine, and it preened, its gaze still fixed on me. “Listen up, because I don’t share often with those who come here.”
Why me then?
“Use your feet and hands when it counts. Despite what you’ll see, no weapons are allowed. When they offer things, take as much food as you can carry. A flask for water too. It’s potable everywhere inside.”
“That’s good to know. Thanks.” What was he talking about?
“No weapons from here on out unless they’re handed to you for training. That’s the rule and you’ll survive longer if you obey it.” His gaze lingered on my body, long enough I started to twitch. “I hope you’re not armed now.”
“Where would a woman like me get weapons?”
He grunted. “Same place as everyone else. And don’t assume they’ll bond with anyone. Behave yourself, and you might live long enough to find your match.” The mist began to clear ahead of us, revealing uneven shapes in the distance.
Late day sunlight burned off the rest of the fog, exposing our destination, an enormous island with a castle dominating the center. As I stared, I nearly forgot how to breathe.
The castle rose at least six stories into the sky, its spires piercingthe clouds like accusations. Stone bridges arched between towers, and banners snapped in the wind at the peaks of the towers.
Where was the rebel camp, the rough shelters, and the desperate hovels I’d imagined?
This fortress could house hundreds of people. It must’ve taken decades to build. Generations, even. The elaborate stonework and the sheerwealthdisplayed in every carved detail stunned me. How had my father’s spies missed something this impressive? No one in our court had ever mentioned that the wasteland swamp held a kingdom that could rival our own.
My belly spasmed. If the rebels had resources like this and commanded this kind of power, what chance did my father’s forces have when they came for revenge?
The boat pulled up to a long wooden pier with a ladder leading up to the top surface. Other similar crafts moved through the water around us, carrying passengers toward the same area. Men and women of all ages, all wearing the same expression of nervous determination, disembarked, striding along the pier toward the shore.
“Good luck,” the ferryman said, waving for me to get out. “Hope you make it long enough to bond with a good one.”
“Thank you.” I stood and grabbed onto the ladder.
He gave me a brisk nod. “Off my boat, now. Go with the others. Remember. Food and water only. I mean it.”
“Right.” I climbed up, the hem of my too-long, stolen guard uniform tangling around my boots, nearly making me fall back into the water.
The ferryman had eased the boat away from the pier and was heading back across the lake, perhaps returning to shore to collect his next passenger.
Looping my bag over my shoulder, I joined in with others striding along the pier and taking a wide dirt path that slowly slanted upward, aiming for the imposing castle entrance ahead. Some stared at the ground, shuffling their feet, while others gaped at the castle like me. I craned my neck, marveling at the carved stonedragons mounted above the entrance that seemed to writhe in the shifting light.
My pants snagged, jerking me off balance.
I pitched forward, catching myself too late, colliding with something solid and warm. The impact made my wrist blade shoot into my palm and stab forward.
It hit flesh and sank deeply.
5
