“I don’t know.”
“So you’re doing this because you want to join with Endreas?”
“No. I’m doing this because I don’t think that his definition of peace is the same as mine.”
“Then you’re doing this to stop Endreas from fulfilling the prophecy?”
“I’m not even sure I believe in prophecies,” she said. “I mean, look at you. You’re supposed to make the King bow, but you can’t even knock me off of a rock.”
He looked momentarily offended, but then he laughed. “It’s true. I’m not a warrior.”
“And what if they’re wrong? What if neither prophecy is true? If Lavana does become Radiant and Endreas joins with her, even if she’s already the Crown, no one would stand for it. Well, some would, if they were paid well enough. But others would revolt. I can’t see any way past the bloodshed. I have to be honest with you, Kaelan. I need your help to succeed, but I don’t want war. I don’t care what any prophecy says. And I can’t see how dealing with Endreas or the King will lead to anything but persecution of those who have fled them. Once I am Radiant, you are going back to your forest with your nymph. You were safe enough there before... I’ll find myself another Prince eventually. Hell, I can probably take Riker back from Lavana if she hasn’t already claimed him.”
“Or if you kill her.”
“Or that,” she agreed. “But if I can avoid it... I will.”
A chorus of birdsong, chittering and sharp, swooping and melodic, low and lonely, filled the silence between them.
“And what if I don’t want to go back?” he asked softly.
She dropped her forehead to her arms, which were folded on her knees. “Please don’t—”
“You know it won’t work,” he said. “I can’t remain in hiding. And I’m being hunted, aren’t I? Someone will find me. I don’t want to bring that kind of danger to my home, my family. Anyway, I’m not sure there’s anything for me to go back to.”
“You can’t remain among Pixie kind.”
“Why not?”
She lifted her head. “For every reason you just gave. Your life will be in constant danger. And you can forget about freedom, and Honey. An unclaimed Prince leads to duels and battles. And you’re not a Pixie.”
“That doesn’t seem to make much of a difference.”
“It will if anyone finds out who you really are—”
“Then what? I go into exile?” he asked.
“That’s not a bad thought,” she said.
“Won’t the King pursue me?”
“The human world is bigger than most of our kind realize.”
“Or maybe I could join the Resistance,” he said.
“And do what? Weave them picnic baskets?”
The cords of his neck flexed. “You want me to run away.”
“I want you to not die,” she said. “Is that so much to ask? Why is everyone in this world so intent on getting themselves killed or killing someone else? The only reason I’m doing any of this is because I believe it’s the best way to prevent more needless death.”
“What about the needless death caused by the King?”
She groaned, starting to push up to her feet, but he grabbed her arm.
“You can’t look the other way, Magda. The Crown has been doing just that for generations and look where it’s led.”
“The King can do what he wants in the Realms,” she said. “And maybe Python and his ‘resisters’ aren’t as innocent as they seem.”
