“You don’t need to be so cruel. I’ve grown rather fond of her.”Is that the queen?
“Fernie, you have me. I have all the magic you’ll ever need.”Who is that? She sounds far away. Fragmented.
“I know, my dear, but this is Lilibeth’s daughter. Don’t you think she’s suffered enough?”
“She certainly has an unexpected strength to her. I was actually pretty impressed she managed to find the Odyssa. Most who’ve tried have perished. Maybe she’ll make it through this as well.”
The queen sighs from my bedside. “Maybe. I’m doing everything I can to save my son from a doomed fate, Morgana. I can only imagine Lilibeth feels the same way.”
There’s a soft brush of a hand against my cheek. I can’t open my eyes, let alone move away from it.Morgana. She said “Morgana.” The Morgana who cursed me.
“You know there’s nothing I can do for her. I’m good at many things, but healing is not one of them, and besides, I’m all the way in Berian right now. Let’s focus on the positive: We have all of the flowers. They’re enchanted and ready to go, so at least we can saveyour son. Did you tell them that you’ve planned something magical for their vows?”
The queen hums softly and strokes my cheek again. After a quiet moment, she says, “Not yet. If she dies, they might be too devastated to go through with the wedding ceremony. That cannot happen. There might not be any other opportunities.”
“Ah,” Morgana says, like my death would be something of an inconvenience to her.Like it wouldn’t take much for that to happen.“Aren’t your fancy physicians up to the job?”
The queen adjusts my blanket.
“They’re running out of supplies because of the rebel attacks, and none of the healing spells they’re trying are strong enough,” she says. Then adds, “I’ve considered calling for Ruth.”
Morgana snorts. “She’d never help us.”
“I have her son locked in the dungeon. She’ll do anything I ask. When he doesn’t come home, she’ll have to come looking for him eventually. And when she does…”
Will. Oh my gods, Will. He stabbed me. He’s in the dungeon. We’re both as good as dead. I’m dead. Dying.
I stir slightly, and the queen presses a hand to my shoulder. Not a moment later, there’s a sudden bang, like a door crashing against the stone castle walls, and Morgana’s flicker of magic vanishes. Even that can’t rouse me from my inertia.
“Get away from my daughter,” Mum says, loud and unwavering.
There are stomping footsteps and the comforting smell of carnations as a hand takes mine.
“Lilibeth,” Queen Fern says. “I was just—”
“I don’t care what you were doing. Get out.”
“You can’t address me like that.”
“I saidget out.I don’t want to see you here again.”
The pulsing in my limbs throbs louder and louder. It won’t be long until I’m back in the arms of unconsciousness. Whatever battle of wills is happening over my bed is a strain bigger than I have theenergy to comprehend, so in the safety of my mother’s care, I slip into the darkness once more.
A muffled shout makes me aware of my body. I’m trapped in my aching bones, unable to open my eyes, unable to twitch even a fingertip. I know this feeling now. It’s the effects of poppy. Probably the ones I prepared the other week. The physician must be trying to keep me under, which is a terrifying realization. It’s usually reserved for patients who don’t have much hope, and from the unceasing cramp in my stomach and weakness in my veins, I’m most likely still bleeding out. Over the terror pounding in my ears, Card’s voice comes from my left.
“What was that about outside?”
A chair scrapes across stone to the bedside.
“Lark. I’ve just decided to relieve him of his duties for the time being,” Bastion says, sounding like he’s sitting down next to Card. “He almost punched me for telling him to stop trying to see her.”
“Prick. Fliss would rather die than have him allowed in here.”
The silence hangs.
“Don’t joke about that happening, please,” Bastion says, with a sternness he usually never uses to address his fiancé.
“Sorry. I’m…”
