‘Well, that’s just it,’ I said. ‘I don’t know. The only thing going through my mind when I did it was that I wanted to get the Eye as far away from King Balen as possible. Wherever it is, it was sent there by some remnant of my subconscious.’
Flint grimaced. ‘So it could beanywhere?’
‘In theory.’
‘Well, that certainly gives us a lot to go on. And the old man in the library, the one who told you the story, the one who turned out to beCaius Castellion. He has the last Eye. The one belonging to … to …’
‘Seera.’
‘Yes, her. Where do you suppose he’s taken it?’
I shook my head. ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
Caius disappeared straight after the Ceremony. For all I know, he could have been in league with King Balen this whole time. But somehow I don’t believe it. And if I’m right, and he has an agenda of his own, then my list of enemieshas doubled. So, with King Balen in possession of the Eye of the Past and Caius Castellion in possession of the Eye of the Future, it is imperative that the Eye of the Soul be found, and fast. If I found it before, I can find it again. Imustfind it again. Because if it falls into the wrong hands, we are all lost.
When I first proposed my plan to Flint, he told me that I was foolish, reckless and out of my mind. That I was an Heir, soon to be crowned queen. That I couldn’t just go gallivanting off in search of an enchanted talisman with the power to destroy the world. But I ground him down. It has to be me, I told him. I was the one called to the Keep, I was the one who sent the Eye through the portal.
‘I’m coming with you, you know,’ Flint says, now lying back on the roof with his arms folded under his head.
I frown. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You’re still in recovery.’
‘Oh,I’mridiculous? That’s rich coming from the girl who’s lived the best part of her life under house arrest deciding to just wander merrily out into the big bad world.’
I roll my eyes.
‘Besides,’ Flint continues. ‘What do you want me to do? Stay here? With Grandmother unable to string a sentence together, and Spinner sending me different samples of the silk she’s considering for your coronation gown? I’ll pass.’
‘You could always stay at the palace,’ I suggest.
‘Oh, because the atmosphere issomuch better over there? Seriously, Blaze, I can’t take much more of this doom and gloom. I’ve endured weeks of it already.’
‘So that’s it, then? You’ve made up your mind? You’re coming with me?’
My brother nods.
‘You said yourself it’ll be dangerous.’
‘Sister, danger is my middle name.’
‘Strange. I always thought it was Percival.’
Flint grins at me.
I gaze out at the Creek, watching the sunlight sparkle off the water, thinking about the crown of golden waves waiting in the throne room. Not inherited – won. Yet still to be earned.
Queen Hydra’s last words come back to me, and I hold them close.
Never doubt the tides of fortune, whether they break or bind.
