My mind tumbles endlessly, trying to process and pry details apart.
“Sire,” the feminine voice responds. “It’s a rare power. Lynx is enough for now. I’ve just healed her once more; she’s taking strengthening elixirs to replenish the lost blood. It’s similar to elixirs I’ve made for victims of the Cleanse.”
The puzzle pieces fall into place. Elixirs. The Cleanse. Realms … A knot forms in my throat.
“We are on the right path,” she continues. “A magical talisman, like an amplifier stone, would help shorten the process. But it has to be givenwillinglyby the person who owns it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Amplifier stones are elusive. They choose their Wielders and mysteriously appear in their possession. Some people believe it’s a gift from the gods. But they don’t necessarily work for everyone, and they have to be imbued and runed before theycanwork.”
There’s a pause before the sovereign says rather than asks, “You know where I can find one of these.”
“I do. But as I’ve said, it must be given willingly. Or else it is futile.”
My hand flies to the pocket watch in my trousers, and I back away as quietly as I can. When I’m far away enough, I turn and run back toward my room, not stopping until I’m behind closed doors. It’s only then that I let the panic consume me. Sinking down to the floor, I try to grapple for all I have learned.
There must be a reason for all of this. Theremustbe.
When I finally get up, I take half of my last elixir—made by Radika who has been working with the sovereign all along. Too distraught to care, I climb into bed, still in my uniform. Tomorrow, I’m supposed to witness the sovereign’s attempt to cleave Tiernan’s powers from him. Powers that I’m sure he doesn’t even have.
I hope the Shadow Wielder and I will succeed with this risky plan.
Chapter 57
Loud poundingon the door rouses me from my sleep. I jump straight out of bed, my entire body aching. Before I can even say anything, Lynx bursts through the door. “Get dressed and meet us at the sovereign’s study,” she says. Then she slams the door again, and the room plunges into darkness.
I do as she says, and as I step into the study about ten minutes later, the sovereign stands there with an enthusiastic grin.
“I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to brief you. The Shadow Wielder will be made an example of in the square. Then afterward, I need you to restrain him at Fiada Purlieu. Tonight, we will close the Veil, and we will be one step closer to making Erleya the safest and greatest kingdom. Report to the infirmary. There, you will meet the Sorceress I have been working with. She is a key player in tonight’s ritual.”
My stomach bottoms out, but I smile and nod. “Yes, Your Excellency. Thank you for entrusting me with this task.”
He lowers his head and dismissively waves the back of his hand toward me.
I leave the room and pull in a breath before forcing myself to take step after step toward the infirmary.
My pulse quickens more with each step until I’m standing in front of the door with my heart racing in my throat. I somehow find the courage to push the door open and step into the infirmary. To my surprise, there is no one in there except for Radika. She turns from where she’s pouring a purple liquid into a bulbous glass vial and smiles at me.
Anger rises within me so fiercely that tears embarrassingly well in my eyes. Realms, I hate being an angry crier. “How long have you worked with the Zenith?” I demand.
Her smile doesn’t falter. “I told you, I work for no one but myself.” She moves closer to me, the glass bottle still in her hand. The purple liquid sloshes within it. Slowly, the liquid begins to darken. My gaze darts up from the bottle to Radika’s face.
“I heard you speaking to the sovereign last night.”
“Ah,” she says with a smile on her weathered face. “I thought I sensed you nearby.” She’s close enough that it’s uncomfortable, but I don’t step away.
“How can yousenseme?” I ask, looking at her like the madwoman she is.
“The same way I sensed you over a year ago when the Purists nearly destroyed your lovely soul. Your lovely, yet loud, soul.” She laughs deeply in her chest.
Now, I do step away from her.
“I’ve always been different. A Sorceress with the ability to mimic what a Healer can do, but also with an aptitude for dark magic. The dark forces always call to me. Hence why your poor, tainted soul cried out to be rescued.”
Spiders scuttle down my spine. “What are you saying?”
“You’re not the first I’ve tried to save from the Cleanse. But you are the first I’ve successfully saved. When I found you … well, you saw the blood. You had no heartbeat. No breath in your lungs.”
