“Where are Alys and Haruka?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” says Chiyoko. “But if the Forayers happen to be here for you lot, they’ll know to look here. We need to leave.”
That was our fear when we considered coming here in the first place, but no time to dwell on that. Osheen and I race toward the back of the house where the saddled horses are waiting. Alys and Haruka come jogging into view. Kilkenny isn’t far behind them, and my body relaxes with relief.
Everything happens so fast. Chiyoko rushes right past Kilkenny and leverages herself onto Osheen’s horse. Haruka and Kilkenny both protest. There’s a brief flurry of hand signing for my sake, but it’sincoherent, and I give up on trying to follow anyone’s line of conversation. At the end of it all, Chiyoko says, “I’m going!” Stubbornness etches every angle of her face.
Kilkenny huffs out a breath and helps me up onto Ghendor’s back before I could figure out what to do next. Confusion crosses Osheen’s face, but he mounts Ffion, sitting right behind Chiyoko.
Kilkenny hugs his mother tightly, exchanging some words with her before turning to his sister. Then I awkwardly scoot back to let him climb into the saddle. Ifeelhis disgruntled groan from Chiyoko’s insistence. He makes sure everyone is set, then, glancing over his shoulder at me, he says, “Hang on to me, Garrick.”
I barely have a chance to react before Ghendor takes off at a gallop. I wind my arms around Kilkenny’s waist, avoiding his sword sheaths, and press my head against the spot right above where they intersect. We ride like mad, the wind tearing through the ridiculous slit in my dress and chilling me. I dare to look back at what we’re leaving behind, and my heart constricts in my chest.
Dubh Carrig is burning.
CHAPTER 48
Carys
With all thecourage I can summon, I march to Iywan’s study, Callum’s steady footsteps beside me. “Are you certain you’re ready to confront him again?” Callum whispers as we round the corner, slipping past a couple of servants carrying trays.
“No, but I must,” I whisper back.
As we arrive at Iywan’s study door, I pause at the sound of an unfamiliar feminine voice inside. Beside me, Callum draws in a breath to question me, but I press my finger to my lips, and he swallows his words. With caution, I lean my ear against the sturdy oak door, focusing intensely. “It cannot be done, my lord,” says the alto voice. “We’ve tried everything. We’ve even attempted to imbue an already runed crystal, but it isn’t stable enough on its own.”
“What do you meanon its own?” Iywan asks.
“The blood needs a live tether, likely close by. On its own, it’s too weak. It can maybe get a person through the wards temporarily, but it cannot break them down completely, and it certainly will not be successful in the summoning you seek.”
“But sheisalive. We’ve ensured it. If we get her to the ward…”
“Her Majesty is too weak; The amount of power needed would kill her in no time. You need a live, healthy Mage, and a powerful one at that. It doesn’t have to be the queen.”
My blood runs cold.
Wards, imbuing crystals, blood magic? Hells, what am I hearing?
“It has to be royal blood, but her heir has never shown any signs of magic. She’s painfully Ordinary, and quite frankly that’s probably for the best.”
I hold my breath, grateful that no one can hearmy heart.
Iywan continues. “It’s time for the contingency.”
“I’m afraid the contingency is implausible, my lord,” the other voice says.
“Try anyway.” Iywan’s tone leaves no room for argument. “Find them. You’re dismissed.”
My pulse scurries as I grab Callum’s arm and steer him away from the door, practically running back around the corner toward my bedchamber so we’re out of sight when Iywan’s cohort leaves the study.
It isn’t until we’re near my own door that Callum asks, “What did you hear?”
My throat works, but no words come out. I can hardly wrap my mind around what I’ve heard. They’re trying todraw magicfrom my mother’s blood? If Iywan finds out that I also possess magic… A shudder runs through me.
I stare up at Callum, apprehension pulsating through me. “Have you heard anything strange lately? Like from the other guards?”
“No.” He shakes his head, confusion written on his face.
I frown and retreat into my bedchamber. What is Iywan trying to do by bringing down wards? Magical wards protect things. Like the ones that have kept the Veil closed through history, that the Veilguards have traditionally guarded.
