“Her body is failing. All treatments right now are like putting a bandage on a festering wound. I’m truly sorry, dear one.”
Failing.Festering wound. My stomach curdles. “Look at me and tell me there’s absolutely no hope.” My voice trembles even as I try to sound brave.
Those grey, weary eyes of Alys’s brim with tears and my heart fractures. Alys’s posture straightens and her lips form a line.
Her silence is loud enough.
Indebted to Durvla for not only making my dress but always being so patient with me, I send word to Barr na Cahar to have a dress made forher. Ellynne helps with sizing estimates and specifications. Durvla is going to look better than any noble.
My mother’s state remains unchanged, yet the palace becomes busy with preparations for the Feast. Decorators come in and out of the castle, foreign foods are imported, and various guests take up residence in our visitors’ quarters. It’s a welcome distraction from my nightly unrest.
My staff put on their best professional behavior—except for Eefa whose advances nearly earn her a trip to my bed. Callum doesn’t hide the disappointment on his face, and for the first time, guilt convinces me to turn Eefa away. I need to talk to him when this Feast is over. To both of them. I need to reduce the distractions in my life—become queenlier, I suppose.
After all, I’ll be betrothed shortly after the Feast.
There is fireeverywhere. It billows out from beneath the door even as I slam it shut behind me. I tear off down the palace corridor. “Help!” I cry out, the smoke triggering a violent fit of coughing. “Please! Anybody!” Fear fills me as surely as smoke and ash fill my lungs.
A beam crashes from the ceiling, cutting off my only escape. The wood splinters, embers and ash flying. I back away, my forearm over my nose and mouth. I cough and cough until my throat is raw, until I can’t stop wheezing. Collapsing to my knees, I stare helplessly as the flames grow larger, black smoke obstructing everything around me.
A book materializes on the ground in front of me, and as I reach for it, the symbol of the sun on the cover glows brighter than the flames. As quickly as it appears, it vanishes.
“Don’t fear the flames,” a familiar voice says. “Reach out.” My mother’s voice?
The flames closein on me, and my eyes dart around, my vision blurring. “Mother?” I cry, but there’s no one there.
“Reach out, cariad.”
The flames are so near now that the heat stings my skin. The silhouette of a feminine form seems to appear in the fire directly in front of me. Plumes of smoke circle around her. Then in an instant, the silhouette disappears again.
I shut my eyes, holding my breath, ready to face my death as the flames blast toward me?—
I’m catapulted into awareness in a mess of gasps and endless coughing. The taste of ash remains in my mouth, my throat raw. Sweat coats my skin, and my amulet is searing hot against my chest. This same bloody nightmare again! How many times has that been this week alone?
Eventually, the coughing subsides, and I stumble over to ring for Ellynne and Lowri.
I need a cool bath and a goblet of wine or three.
CHAPTER 30
Durvla
With the dressfinally off my plate, I can breathe a little easier. Even if I awoke this morning from a nightmare full of flames.
Choosing not to dwell on the strangely real fear that lingered from the dream, I begin packing for my return to Cluain Baile. Having gotten permission to take whatever I want, I pack the plainest dresses—I shouldn’t take a lot of fancy attire—some underclothing, a woolen coat to keep me warm, and some fabric. These new clothes will give me time to make Taig new clothing. I’m sure he’s grown in the time I’ve been here.
One month… It’s felt like a lifetime. So much has happened. But soon, I’ll be able to reclaim my identity. To live in the familiar comfort of my own home, in my own village, with my own people.
I’m too excited to be confined to my room, so I take to wandering the castle. Each step is more eager than thenext, until I’m standing in front of the grand entrance to the royal library. I have just four more days here, and I can’t leave without taking advantage of this opportunity.
Yanking the doors open, I hurry in and nearly jump out of my skin when I spot someone else standing there. The young woman whips her head around so quickly that her blond braid hits her in the face, and she flinches. She shuts the book in her hand and grins at me. “Durvla! You startled me!”
Eefa. “Myapologies. I didn’t expect anyone to be in here. I didn’t mean to barge in like that.”
Eefa laughs and hugs the book to her chest as she approaches me, hips swaying. “I’ve heard you’re leaving us after the Feast. Such a pity. I’ve grown quite fond of you.” She pouts, but something in her large eyes isn’t quite sad. They almost seem to challenge me. “It’s great here, you know. I didn’t grow up in the castle, but I could never go back.”
That piques my interest. “Are you also from the Grounds?”
“Worse. I’m from Darragh, west of here.”
