Queen Xiaodera sips her tea. “Perhaps he didn’t.”
Her words instantly make me think of Thane’s brother. He claims Koa’s death was his fault. Did he willingly join The Shadow Guild in hopes of saving him somehow? But Algar said he saw him with The Divine. If he were with them, why would he leave? Surely, if anything had happened, The Divine would’ve protected him. They always protect their own. Gods, I have even more questions than before.
“Regardless, it will take quite a bit of time for your friends to heal.” The queen’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“How long, do you think?” I inquire.
“Give them at least three, possibly four hours. Our healers are wonderfully skilled, but they work diligently and never rush their processes.”
Okay. Four hours. Not fourdays. I can work with that. It won’t take much longer to reach Gadonia. If we’re only behind by a few hours, we could still make it to the shores before nightfall.
As if she’s read my mind, Queen Xiaodera asks, “Where are you traveling to?”
“The Shallows,” I reply in earnest. I’m tired of beating around the bush everywhere we stop.
Queen Xiaodera narrows her eyes at me while King Jehon’s broaden. Then the king bellows a laugh that makes me flinch. He howls as he throws his bald, tatted head back. The queen rolls her eyes before placing a patient hand on his arm.
“Sorry, my love,” he chortles. “But you are joking, right?The Shallows?” He shifts his gaze to me.
“She isn’t joking,” Algar responds.
Jehon’s smile slips. He studies me more intently with misty hazel eyes. “You will surely die.”
I wrap my hands tighter around my cup. “I’ll take my chances.”
“There is something there that you need?” Queen Xiaodera probes.
“One of the prosperity stones.”
She blinks at me several times, sitting up taller in her chair. “Are you dealing with a curse?”
I nod.
“Placed upon you or someone else?”
“My sister.”
“And there’s no one in your kingdom who can help you break that curse?”
I shake my head. “No. The sorcerer who cursed her is powerful. The people I asked before Thane were too afraid to go against him. This was my last resort.”
“I see.” She taps her fingers on the table, studying me as I take my last sip of tea. “You don’t strike me as foolish. I assume you have a plan to make it through that island.”
I shrug. “Sort of.”
Queen Xiaodera eyes me for so long, I fidget in my chair. It seems she’s trying to read me now, searching for some kind of secret or truth like Frevella did. I don’t think she can read minds, but it wouldn’t surprise me if a woman of her power could.
“Brave.” Her voice is soft, sympathetic. “But I was wrong before. Youarefoolish if you believe you will survive.” She rises from her chair, and her dress flows to her feet. King Jehon follows suit.
“We will be preparing for lunch soon,” she announces. “You are more than welcome to stay and dine with us, or you can join your friends in the infirmary. When you are ready to leave, my people will show you the way out. But I must warn you.” She presses her palms flat on the table and brings her face so close to mine that I can see the faint brown freckles peppered across the apples of her cheeks. “You must tellno oneother than the Gadonian council that you recovered in Immalon. And believe me, if you do tell, we will find out, and we will come for you.” She scans my face. “You aren’t the only people in this world being hunted.”
“So the history is true?” I ask.
Her eyes narrow, only a touch. “What do you know about our history?”
“That your tribe sectioned themselves off from the rest of society because others assumed you were creations of Xaimur. They said the elementalists set fires to kingdoms and caused floods in others. Earthquakes destroyed many of the coasts and killed thousands of people.”
She fights a smile. “For starters, weonlypraise Orvena here. She is our creator, and she provides us with our gifts. And it is true that our ancestors set fires and caused floods and earthquakes, but that wasonlydone to protect ourselves from becoming slaves to those who considered themselves superior to us—those who wished to use their magicagainstus. Our ancestors were attacked, our people raped, and many children killed. They refused to bow to the enemies, so they retaliated.” Her eyes harden as she looks deeply into mine. “Now, Immalon is protected, and no one can enter unless we give them that honor. You should be very grateful.”
