I pulled it out, and though I never would have guessed what it was, I wasn’t surprised to be staring at an uncut emerald, so similar to the one Felix had convinced me to accept before. That stone, along with a handful of gold coins, was in my pocket.
I gripped the bottom corners of the satchel, upending it over my bed. The mirror tumbled out, along with half a dozen more emeralds and a familiar enchanted pen.
“What—” Sofia reached for the nearest stone, but I ignored her and the gems. The light was fading fast.
I picked up the mirror and hummed, nudging it with my power. I made sure that I wasn’t touching my sister, not wanting her to hear whatever Felix had to say. I wished I could have asked her to use the mirror with me, so that I could see him, but that would certainly violate the terms of my contract.
Sofia’s face was a mix of confusion and wonder as she studied the emeralds and mirror, but she cut off her questions. I was thankful that I didn’t have to shush her as Felix’s deep voice rolled over me.
“. . . one word. It’s a wonder the archives don’t fill the entire castle if Valois was as meticulous as you. Of course, if he was, he’d haveincluded a reference catalog so that people could find things. But that is an annoyance to bemoan another day. I’m sure today you want to know the results of the experiments you left me. It’s hard without your insight to interpret the colors I saw in the node, but I think you might have been onto something with the Truth allowing dishes to be made from other cookbooks in the library. I couldn’t change the original spell, but I could add to it. I’ll have to see how that applies to the curse.
“But enough about me. How has your return been? Yes, I know you can’t actually respond, but I feel silly talking to myself. Having a conversation with a person who can’t answer is much more sensible.”
I chuckled.
“You’re laughing at me now, aren’t you? I assure you my logic is sound. I am a cat without anyone around. If I start talking to myself, I have to worry about my sanity. Talking to you is an effort to maintain my sanity. Not that I’m actually at risk of going insane! I don’t want you to worry or think I need you to return. I can handle a few days with only myself for company. After all, you survived the experience.” He sighed. “I suppose you’ve heard what you needed to hear. You’ll have other matters to occupy you this evening. Good night, Isa.”
I waited another minute, but Felix said nothing more. And why would he?
I cut off the enchantment and placed the mirror on the bed next to the gems. I picked up the pen, rolling it over my fingers.
Sofia studied my face. “You were communicating with the duke?”
Though that wasn’t quite an accurate description, since I couldn’t respond through the mirror, I nodded.
Sofia bit her lip. “You really are in love with him.” She glanced back at the bed and brandished a stone at me. “Are these emeralds?”
“I strongly suspect so.”
“He gave you a fortune in emeralds and a magic mirror.”
“The mirror is so I can check in on Felix and spy on the people who started the rumors about us. It isn’t really a means of communication, since it is one-way. I can hear Felix when I use the enchantment, but he can’t hear me. If you used the mirror, you’d be able to see whoever you focused on. I’m actually hoping you’ll help me, since with both our magics, we’ll be able to see and hear.”
Sofia cocked her head to the side. “Tell me about the emeralds, Isa.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t know they were in the bag. Perhaps I was supposed to give them to Berklay along with the documents I delivered this afternoon.”
“That is a lie if ever I heard one from you.”
“I didn’t know they were in the bag,” I protested.
“But you don’t think you were supposed to give them to Berklay. You’re the one who always said half-truths are no better than lies. Tell me why you really think they were in the bag.”
“To buy goodwill,” I admitted to Sofia. “It’s a bribe to make up for forcing a contract on me.”
Sofia shook her head. “One emerald this size might be a bribe, but half a dozen?”
“Why else would he give me a fortune in jewels?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not denying that guilt might play a role, but that isn’t all. I don’t think this is about debts. The man gave you a fortune injewels.”
“The fact they are gemstones isn’t critical. It’s not like he gave me an emerald necklace. I was less likely to notice a few rocks in the bottom of the bag than a stack of gold coins. That’s all.”
Sofia lifted her hands in surrender. “Fine. You know the duke better than I.”
Her words were the truth, but my magic told me clearly how wrong my twin thought I was.
I huffed out a breath. I had other things to deal with. “Tell me about the rumors. Which ones are gaining the most traction?”
