Two guards from the back of the room approached her from behind and lifted a ribbon to her neck.
Instantly recognizing the device, Aizel sprang out of reach, holding out her hands in defense. “That was not in the bargain.”
“I can’t have a Majis running free around my countryside,” the king said.
“But how shall I defend myself if this prince tries to kill me first?” Aizel asked, once again stalling for time.
“My dear girl, your life matters nothing to me. If you want your sister to live, you will carry out this task—without using your magic or further disrupting my plans—and return here to prove it.”
Aizel was done being silenced. “Your Majesty, my sister’s life is threat enough. I love her more than anyone or anything in my life. I would do anything for her. I have been before you this whole time without trying to use my magic. I can promise you that I will not use it again while her life is in danger.”
The king stood, flicking his hand at the back guards. “Of course you did not try to use it here in front of my mage guards. They would have stunned you in moments. They almost did the first time you stupidly opened your mouth. How naive do you think I am? Now shut your mouth. Turio, arrange the rest.”
Without another glance in her direction, the king left the room.
“No! Please—” Aizel attempted to block the guards, but within seconds they had tied the ribbon around her throat and cut off her plea.
A familiar weight settled at the base of her neck, making it difficult to breathe.
Reaching up, she fingered the single malachite gemstone that hung from the soft white ribbon. Tears stung at her eyelids.
“I will come back for you soon,” she signed to Celesta, as Sweaty and Stench grabbed her upper arms and yanked her toward the side door.
Chapter 13
They left the marble palace the following morning. Traveling back to the coast took another fortnight. At least this time she had the free movement of her hands since Turio—who had come with them—convinced the soldiers she could not remove the muting necklace on her own.
Which was true. She couldn’t.
Aizel’s entire body reacted with longing when they crested a hill and she saw the sea stretching out below. She had not realized how calming—and cleansing—it was to swim daily. No wonder Sweaty and Stench were, well, sweaty and stenchy. Her body felt hidden under an extra layer of grime and dirt from their traveling, and her brown underdress seemed to have turned a new, darker shade of brown.
If the five men escorting her had noticed that she was beginning to smell as horribly as they did, they hadn’t said anything or offered her an opportunity to bathe.
Perhaps they simply hadn’t noticed since they stayed as far from her as they possibly could while still ensuring she was constantly guarded.
For the most part, she appreciated their distance, but being treated with such fear and disdain was beginning to take a toll on her.
Turio was the only one who did not seem to be affected by her presence. Although she hadn’t seen the old man use magic, she assumed he could. At least, based on the way the others were treating her.
The Quotidian men who couldn’t use magic were the ones who treated her like she was some kind of monster.
She had no opportunity to even get near the sea as they immediately returned to the ancient stone building from which they had started this whole journey.
Shortly afterward, she found herself back in the small half-underground pantry room. As it was still dark, she could see very little of the room around her. But she gratefully sank onto the soft sandy floor, hugging her knees for warmth.
For the first time in several days, she was indoors and alone.
Her eyes slowly closed and she gave in to the exhaustion, until the jiggling lock outside the door brought her back to consciousness.
The early morning light streamed through the high, barred window above her head, illuminating the door as it pushed inward.
The hulking man who had found her on the beach—Minkus?—stood in the doorway.
Aizel scrambled to her feet, pressing her back into the wall behind her.
But the giant of a man merely sneered at her, crossing his arms as he stepped aside to allow Turio entrance to the small room.
Aizel crossed her arms. Turio’s half-smile was more chilling than the light breeze coming in through the open-air window.
