My gaze drifts to the chief majordomo. I transformed him … into abird.Everything’s happened so fast, I haven’t even had time to think about it. What well of power did I draw from? It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before.
But then again, I did transform the arrow into seawater back at Castle. There’s only been one other fae documented to transform matter like that. My hand drifts over my heart.
How is it possible that my magic resembles the Queen’s?
“Is everything all right?” Eldy asks me.
I give my head a shake. “Huh? Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for turning you into a bird.”
The room fills with silence, and I look around to notice everyone is staring at me.
“Howdidyou do that?” Farron asks slowly. He drifts over to Eldy and grabs his arm, examining it.
“Excuse me!” Eldy pulls away from Farron and turns to me. “Your apology is quite unnecessary. That incredible feat of yours saved my life. Besides, I made quite a dashing bird, if I do say so myself. Though not so dashing, I’m sure, as a fair raccoon.” His face flushes as he looks down at Marigold.
“So, you know of the curse, then,” I say.
“I filled him in as soon as we arrived back at the keep,” Kel says. “Figured now that he’s been turned into an animal himself, he ought to know about the rest of us.”
“I knew our Rosalina was a special one the moment I set eyes on her,” Marigold says. She takes Eldy’s arm. “You know, Ezryn’s mother used to say that there’s deep magic in the world, more than we could possibly understand. It wakes up when it’s ready to.”
“Maybe this magic’s been asleep for five hundred years,” Farron says.
“Farron, what are you saying?” I ask.
“The realms were crafted of the four seasons to keep the Vale in balance, but the world has been anything but balanced lately.” He shrugs. “Maybe her magic found a way back to us.”
“I don’t know.” I rub at the space over my heart. It doesn’t feel like the magic found me.
It feels likeIfoundit.
Kel holds me tighter against him. “If anyone has a chance of restoring harmony to the Vale, it would be you, Rose.”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” I mumble.
Marigold squeezes my hand. “We should let you all get some rest.” She gestures toward Astrid. “We need to get to our own chambers before nightfall.”
She and Eldy leave the room. Astrid gives me a quick hug before turning to follow them.
“Wait, Astrid!” I grab a letter off the nightstand and give it to her. “Can you make sure this gets to Farron’s brothers? I need them to keep my father in Coppershire.” My throat tightens. “I don’t want him brought to Spring until we know what’s going on.”
She kisses my cheek. “You can count on me.” An exhausted sigh fills me as she leaves, and I’m left staring at my hands. I wish I could talk to Papa about everything. Maybe something he discovered on his travels could help explain just exactly who Anya O’Connell was—or is. “I don’t even know what came over me when I changed Eldy.”
Kel tucks a stray piece of hair behind my hair. “I don’t know either, my Rose. But I do know that it was not chance that you fell into the Enchanted Vale. You belong here. Magic lives within you.”
Farron comes up beside me. “You’re just as incredible as the legends we love to read about. I wish we had time to discover all your secrets.”
I offer him a soft smile. “Me too, but right now we have to focus on Ezryn. Has anyone seen him?”
“No,” Keldarion says, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “I spoke with Kairyn. Ezryn is in solitary confinement, awaiting the trial in the morning. Guards are posted outside the chamber, but no one is in there with him. At least there will be no concern about someone encountering his beast.”
“How can we just leave him there? He’s all alone. How can he even be put on trial? He’s the High Prince.” Tears flow down my cheeks.
“Ezryn broke their sacred creed. The law states that power passes to the steward in such cases,” Farron explains.
“I can’t let this happen.”
“But you must,” Keldarion says simply, wiping my tears away. “And you know it, else you’d have already razed this whole keep to the ground. Because you know Ezryn. Know him in a way none other does. That is the truest form of love.”
