My lip quivered. “I hate letting her down.”
“You didn’t let her down. Most fae couldn’t accomplish what you did today. She’s asking too much,” Ethan said harshly.
“She’s not,” I insisted. “I’m the Worldweaver. I have to be ready for anything.”
“You will be,” he said. “But for now, it is time to rest.”
Sleep sounded amazing right now. Ethan carried me all the way up to our bedroom, disregarding the curious looks the servants shot us.
I fell asleep curled against his chest. I was out of it by the time my head hit his shoulder.
I knew I’d done well today, but I had also failed.
I resolved to try harder next time. My mentor’s disappointment was unbearable to me, even if she expected me to perform miracles. The next time we were in that training arena, I swore not to let her down.
I sleptin until late the next morning. By the time I awoke, I had to get dressed and leave quickly, because Arthur and I were supposed to have breakfast at my mother’s restaurant.
I took a shortcut through the palace gardens. On the way, I saw a strange sight. Ozzie sat on a bench, swinging his legs, while Jasper knelt in the mud, making the outline of a man.
It’d rained last night, but I thought Jasper had outgrown playing in mud puddles. Ozzie, probably not. I was in a hurry, but I was so curious to see what they were doing that I stopped for a minute. “What are you guys doing?”
“Making a golem!” Ozzie said brightly. “Jasper’s practicing.”
“What’s a golem?” I asked. I’d never heard of one.
“It’s a way for a fae to clone themselves without having to cast an illusion to make a duplicate,” Jasper said as he carefully piled the mud to make the shape of arms and legs. “It’s much easier. Anyone can do it.”
“Really? Then why haven’t I heard of it before?” I asked.
“Because it doesn’t last long,” Jasper said. “The magic is kind of crappy. Watch.”
Jasper snapped his fingers. My mouth dropped open in amazement as I observed the mud turn to flesh and bone, looking as real and breathing as the real Jasper himself. The golem stood, turning in place until it faced Jasper, waiting for a command.
“That’s amazing. Can it talk?” I asked.
“Yes,” the golem responded, in Jasper’s voice. “Simple sentences, but enough to get by.”
“What about magic?” I asked.
“The spellslookreal, but it’s all just weak illusions,” Jasper explained. “They can cast things like battle orbs and shields, and not much else.”
The golem conjured a battle orb, and tossed it at me. I didn’t have time to jump out of the way, so I gasped— but the orb sailed right through me. I hardly felt it.
“That’s so clever,” I said. “It’d serve a brilliant ruse.”
“But it’s not foolproof,” Jasper said. He poked the golem. The moment his finger touched the golem’s skin, it immediately dissolved into a gooey heap of mud.
Jasper wiped his hand on his pants. “You see? Duplicating yourself with illusion magic lasts longer, and is more effective, but as we all know, most fae can’t do it, including me. So I’m just making a golem instead.”
“So why do you need a clone?” I asked.
He sighed wearily. “Ugh… Iwantedto take Ozzie out on a date tonight, but I’m expected to go to some stupid pompus event with my family.”
“Your dad is finally speaking to you?” I raised my eyebrows.
He scowled. “Well, no, but my mother is. If I go to this thing, maybe she can convince my dad to go easier on me. But obviously, Ozzie is more important than some stupid party, and the baking convention we’re going to is one night only.”
“I missed it last year! Ireallydon’t want to miss it again,” Ozzie moaned.
