I inhale deeply. “Alright,” I say. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 49
After returningwith the Shadow Wielder, I was rewarded with trust. After meeting with the sovereign, I returned to my room to find Neris sitting there, beaming at me as though she’d never been flogged in the square. I hugged her for as long as she allowed me, then apologized profusely for getting her into this situation until she threatened to slap me.
And now I can wander the castle as I see fit, so long as I show up to training and report to the sovereign whenever summoned.
Large archways and columns with beautiful carvings usher us through the never-ending corridors of the castle. My heavy boots drown out theclick clackof Neris’s shoes as we wander the passages, exploring beyond where I’ve been allowed before. There are no appearances of aristocracy to keep up, no husband to please, no suffocating family members to get under my skin. Yet I have never felt so burdened.
I cannot get the look of pain in the captive’s eyes out of my mind. Something about his face and even his name reminds me of someone I’ve met before, but I cannot put my finger on it.
I haven’t given up on looking for Father but it’s certainly starting to feel futile.
Neris is prattling my head off as we round a corner and wind up in a more secluded area of the castle. My heart grows heavier and heavier with the thoughts of Father and the thoughts of the Shadow Wielder I helped capture a week ago. In the field where we ambushed those travelers, I felt the pulse of my pocket watch. It prompted me to look across the field to a woman with curls escaping her braid.
I’m certain thatsheis the Shadow Wielder the sovereign seeks; I’m sure she’s the one I’ve seen walk through shadows in my dreams.
Then again, we all saw the man wield darkness when our troop leader demanded that the Shadow Wielder reveal themselves. What are the odds there were two Shadow Wielders reluctant to use their powers to smite us right away? It goes against everything I’ve ever learned about Dark Mages. What’s worse is that, even though I was halfway across the field, I saw the man’s interactions with the woman. I saw the way he protected her, the way he took her into his arms and kissed her before ensuring that she was held back. He surrendered to us, seemingly to protect the rest of his friends. To protecther.
He seems to be a good man. But he also seems to have a less-than-pleasant history with the sovereign. Their encounter in the throne room leaves a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wouldn’t put anything past the sovereign; I’ve seen his brand of cruelty enforced in the square. I’ve heard stories from Father. He’d once told me that as long as a person stays in Commander Rheon’s good graces, they would be fine.
A sharp jab in my rib forces a whoosh of air from me, and I jump, startled. “Realms, Winnie, lost in thought?” Neris asks, stepping in front of me with a worried look in her eyes.
I rub my ribs. “Yes, apologies.”
She huffs an exasperated sigh. “Did you hear a word I said?”
“I—” The thought of lying to her crosses my mind, but I know she’ll just ask me to repeat what she said. I don’t think I could repeat even one word.
Today she’s in a green silk dress with tiny white flowers throughout. Her blond curls are pulled up into a ponytail with a large bow that droops down the back of her head. Her cheeks are a healthy, rosy color. Two weeks in the castle have surely done her well, even with her occasional shift in the kitchen.
“I want to get us out of here,” I say in hushed tones. “But … you seem to be doing so well.”
She looks at me as though I have mud splattered all over my face. “You’re kidding me, right? Winnie, this place is disturbing. If you can figure out a way for us to get out of here, I wouldn’t be too disappointed. The luxury is wonderful, but this is not the freedom I want. And I’m sure it’s not what you want.”
My stomach squirms.
“Where are we going anyway?”
“This corridor is rarely guarded, and if you look closely …” I move toward one of the columns bracketing an archway. Running my fingers along the marble, I feel for cracks. My fingertips brush against a disruption in the stone and, indeed, there are tiny fractures within it. The faintest sign of discoloration becomes more obvious. I hold my open palm up to the column, reaching out with my terraforging. Black specks float onto my fingertips.
“What in the hells is that?” Neris asks.
“Ash.” I let the particles float away and turn my gaze down to the floor. “I can sense it along this entire corridor … sort of … in the tiles. They’ve done a great job cleaning, but this must be closer to the source of the fire perhaps? Or maybe just a spot they never expected anyone else to reside in. Not yet, at least, so …” I start to move again and Neris follows until we happen upon a door that’s very slightly ajar.
My forehead creases as I stare at the door.
“Winnie …”
I push the door open and peek inside. The room looks like it’s been ransacked, papers and books strewn all over the floor, sheets hanging off the bed, and drawers open. I push it open farther to find a large four-poster bed adorned with wispy white canopies. A stately oak desk on one side is stacked with books, a diadem sitting atop them. I gasp, and Neris clamps her hand over my mouth. “Shh.” She practically shoves me into the bedchamber, and the door quietly clicks shut behind us.
A tense silence fills the room.
“What do you think happened?” Neris asks, gesturing to the surroundings.
“I don’t know, but I think this is—was—the princess’s room.”
Awed, she begins to carefully step over the items strewn on the floor, making her way farther into the immense chamber. She doesn’t touch anything, but she removes her spectacles from her pocket and sets them on her small nose before crouching to get a look at each of the books. “These are all romances,” she says.
