While most of the letter was fine, some of the ink had run. I groaned, turning the page over. Some of it had even–
“Did you see that?” I asked, grabbing onto Agatha’s arm.
“I can see,” she said, gripping me back in pretend shock. “But no, I didn’t seethat.”
I turned the page over again and the back page shimmered. Like a dull flash. I turned it slower, more deliberate, so the light could catch...
There was something there.
“Can you see letters?” Agatha asked.
I nodded. I turned it and set it at an angle. How could I get a copy of this?
I looked around the stables. I was looking for the record book or bookkeeping shelf. I saw it at the other end and dashed to the small desk, found a scrap the same size as my letter and colored it with a charcoal block used for writing. Then, slowly, I pressed the charcoal page against the backside of the piece of paper. I hoped what I was seeing was what I thought it was.
I took the charcoal page away.
My letter had transformed.
A wax had been used to make a secret message.
I saw Agatha’s jaw drop out the corner of my eye. Mine already down too. I gulped, leaning over the small desk, and looking at it.
There was more writing, and amap.
And the map destination only read one thing.Jebra.
Agatha laughed lightly. “Holy–”
“Yeah,” I said. I looked around quickly, suddenly everyone seeming suspicious. The stableboys mucking out the stalls could be listening. Or worse, could be spies for Lady Skol. And the men in the yard bringing in horses? They didn’t look like people of the Warlands.
I snatched the wet letter up, forgetting that I had to be careful with the wet paper, and placed it in my pocket. I gestured for Agatha to follow me and made our way out of the stables. We had to find a room. Preferably one withprivacy.
We found a small dining room that wasn’t being used off a side hall and went in. We sat at the main table and I took the letter out. The main letter wasn’t as smudged as I thought, now looking at it in a good light. A few random words had smudged, but the message was still there.
My mother’s handwriting was still with me.
But the back had completely changed. The wet wax had picked up the charcoal as I wished, and was now a message and map.
The message was only a few phrases though.There was a second part of the prophecy that none other but myself heard. It is this, ‘One you love will cause your death.’
Then the map was only a handful of small sketches, landmarks of a close up area. It must’ve been a close up of the city, or area that Jebra was in. I’d never heard of Jebra, let alone seen it on a map, but compared to other maps, this was completely confusing.
“They’re just animals,” Agatha said, pointing out the landmarks.
“They’re not animals.”
“They are,” she pushed. “Look, that’s a wolf.”
It was a wolf.I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know how to understand it, but maybe the older guide would. He seemed to know Jebra and the way there, even if it was a myth.
“Well the first part cuts off old steely eyes,” Agatha said, nudging my shoulder.
I looked back up at the line, my second prophecy.Who I loved would kill me. My heart deflated. Fear flooded it.Not him.
“Don’t worry, Fey. You’ve got me,” Agatha winked.
I couldn’t contain the snort. “Thank you.” And I meant it, despite the pain in my chest. “Really though, thank you so much. I know it’s been crazy so far, and it’s only going to get worse. But–”
