“Absolutely not!” Raena spat.
I wanted to speak, but no words came out. Inside my mind, a thousand thoughts were racing and swirling like a wild hurricane. What if Seraphina was telling the truth? What if the fae were the best hope for Corlixir? But what if she was lying?
Eventually, I sighed and brought my hand up to my face, letting the smooth part of my nail brush against my lip. “I’ll go,” I said, without even realising I’d spoken.
“What?” Raena spluttered.
“I’ll just go and speak with them,” I explained. “If there’s even a chance that they can help my people, then I need to at least try.”
Raena shook her head with a furious scowl. “This is so foolish. You coulddie, Naria. What if something happens to you? You’ll be in the middle of a forest. There won’t be any guards to protect you!”
“Then let’s bring some with us. Surely there must be a few guards you trust to keep us safe.”
She snorted. “Us? Tell me you do not expect me to come along for this death mission.”
“Please, Raena.” My lower lip trembled. “I can’t do this alone, and you’re the only person here I trust.” We’d been friends for barely more than a week, but already she’d helped me through so much. I wasn’t lying when I said I needed her there with me.
Her lips parted as though she wanted to protest, but all that came out was a heavy sigh. And after a few long seconds, she grumbled, “I do have some friends in the garrison. I’m sure I could convince them to come with us, even if only to accompany us through the forest… But, you need to promise me something.” She took my hands, her brown eyes staring deep into mine. “If there’s even a chance of any danger, anything at all that might hurt either of us, we leave immediately and we don’t turn back.”
I swallowed thickly, then nodded. It was decided.
Across the table, Seraphina was dipping a feathered quill into some ink. I hadn’t noticed, but during our conversation, she’d been scribbling something onto a faded scrap of parchment.
“These are directions,” she explained, continuing to write hurriedly.
“You’re not coming with us?” I asked.
She shook her head. “My place is here, with the King. And as much as I don’t agree with some of his decisions, I have been hired as a healer and I will never refuse to give someone care, nomatter how undeserving they may be.”
Respect blossomed in my chest. I understood very well the pledge that healers take once they begin practising. They always strive to protect, no matter when, no matter who. Even when the ‘who’ was someone you couldn’t stand.
Seraphina passed the note towards us, and I accepted it while trying to force down the fear rising in my throat.
“Stay safe in the forests, Naria. Since you are the Princess of Corlixir, the fae should not harm you, but I cannot speak for the wolves.”
As she spoke, I shuddered.
“You’rereallymaking me want to change my mind,” Raena complained, but before she could say any more, I ushered her towards the door.
“Thank you for this, Seraphina,” I called back for a final time as we turned to leave.
“You do not need to thank me, Princess Naria. I shall pray every night to your Ancients that Corlixir will rise again.” The healer dipped her head in parting. “Like a phoenix from the ashes.”
CHAPTER 12
Despite Raena’s natural charm, it took a few days before she was able to convince enough of her guard friends to accompany us into the forest. Thankfully, none of them ran straight to the King after hearing of our plans. There’s nothing like the weight of a heavy coin purse and the fluttering eyelashes of a pretty noble to keep someone’s lips sealed.
While she was busy, I spent most of my time flitting between the forbidden library and my bedchamber, trying to learn as much about the faeries as possible while also staying far away from Lukas. A few times, his servants accosted me while walking through the halls to let me know that the prince was desperate to see me. Every time, I made some sorry excuse.
I had, of course, been very poorly that week. Far too ill to speak to His Royal Highness. And we wouldn’t want him to catch anything… Some sneezes and a few fake coughs every time I passed his manservant seemed to be enough to keep the princeand his servants at bay.
When it was finally time to leave, Raena led me through the palace grounds and towards the stables. She’d organised for two of her trusted guards to meet us there at midnight. Nerves fluttered in my stomach like little butterflies as we approached the thick stone outbuilding. We were wearing thin black cloaks, both to conceal our identities and to hide our more ‘practical’ travelling dresses. While a low-cut silk gown wouldn’t be my personal idea of practical, Raena insisted they were the best option for our little venture through the woods. That, and the fact she’d made it very clear she wouldn’t let us be seen dead in breeches.
Inside the stables, two guards dipped their heads in respect as we passed through the open doorway. One, broad-shouldered with cropped black hair, busied himself fastening a saddle to a horse in a stall, while the other, a taller man with golden hair, stood much closer, leaning against a wooden pillar and sharpening a broadsword.
“Your Highness,” the one who was holding a sword greeted me. He then turned to my companion, a flicker of something I wasn’t expecting flashing briefly across his sharp features. “Lady Raena.”
“Thank you for meeting us,” she replied, lifting her hood and letting it drop to her shoulders. “And thank you for agreeing to help. Naria has been so desperate to add those pesky mushrooms to her medicine collection, but unfortunately there’s only one place in the woods you can find them.”
