“I’m sorry.” I had conflicting feelings about Hugo being in a coma. On one hand, it meant I was safe from his accusations. On the other, he might be the key to unlocking the mystery. If he could identify his attacker, the murderer would be brought to justice and I could return to Vantillios with peace of mind.
“Father is distraught but, of course, he would never admit it. He’s ordered an increase in patrols around the castle and insists that the culprit will be found any day now. As if it’s so simple.” She rolled her eyes in an attempt at bravery. “I wish Tarben was here. He would know what to do.”
“He’s not coming back?” I failed to hide my disappointment.
“No. We’ve written to him with the news, but with everything going on at the border, it could be days before he receives the message,” she said in an uncharacteristically flat voice.
A stab of pity unexpectedly struck me. She looked so sad and lost. It was exactly that pity that prompted my next words. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need, name it.”
She nodded and hesitated. “Would you… would you come with me to see Hugo?”
I had not been expectingthat.
The apprehension must have shown on my face because Amalie hastily continued. “It’s just that you managed to save me from the brink of death, and it makes me think that maybe you could save Hugo too. I know that you’re not a witch or anything, but you seem to bring good luck to my family, so maybe you could…”
“You think I might be able to wake your brother?” I finished for her in disbelief.
She nodded again. “I know it’s silly. You don’t have to do anything. Just you being there would help.”
Divine goddess. How could I even respond to this? Therewas no way my presence would help stir Hugo to consciousness. Not unless he woke up just so he could throttle me with his bare hands.
“I could,” I said reluctantly. “But you know I don’t have any magical powers? I only happened to be at the right place at the right time when I saved him. And you.” At the look of disappointment on her face, I hurried to add, “But yes, of course I’ll come with you.” I didn’t love the idea of visiting Hugo’s sickbed, but if all I needed to do was sit there…
She looked slightly less distraught. Hopeful even. Yes, it would be a good deed. And it didn’t hurt that it would paint me in a flattering light. “When would you like to go see him?”
“How about right now?”
I hadnotbeen expecting that. I shot the lady’s maid a helpless glance. She offered me nothing in return but a wordless shrug.Flames of Erasure consume me.
I could not come up with a reasonable excuse, so I found myself following them to the royal wing of the castle, all the while wondering how I managed to escape a dire situation only to end up in this one.
***
Visiting Hugo went much as I had expected. Dismally.
We sat at the side of his enormous bed for nearly an hour with no success. Amalie held his hand, occasionally murmuring affirmations, urging him to wake up, but mostly, we sat in silence.
After a long period during which the only sounds to be heard were the gentle rumbling of the fire and Hugo’s soft breathing, Amalie eventually conceded that my presence would not wake him from his deep unconsciousness.
“You should go,” she sighed. The sound carried the weariness of a much older, more jaded person.
“And you? What will you do?” I surveyed her fatigued, tear-stained face and her slouched, defeated posture. I was itching to get out of there but something didn’t feel right about leaving her alone in her current state.
“I’ll stay a while longer.”
“You should rest, eat something,” I said in a stern voice that reminded me of Mae.
“I know.” Another sigh. “I’ve got dinner with Father this evening, but I’d like to remain here until then. But you should go.”
I hesitated. Why? I had been bored to tears a minute before. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m certain. I appreciate you accompanying me.”
“Of course.” Joints aching from being confined to the wooden x-frame chair for so long, I stood. Something made me say, “He’d be so proud of how strong you’re being.”
She nodded, not taking her eyes off her brother.
Uneasy with how heavy this experience had made me feel, I stepped out of the bedchamber and into the adjoining study. As I was leaving Hugo’s rooms, my eyes fell on an oak cabinet with a lock on it. It was what sat on top of the cabinet, however, that brought me to a halt.
