“The spell on your father soured the instant I told him I was pregnant. The news was too big for the spell to maintain its hold. He became disgusted with me, with us, and left the citadel without a word. I never heard from him again. Right after, I ran to Morgana, who said it must have been my fault the spell didn’t work correctly. I begged her to help me, to find him again, to fix it, but all she said was that with a baby on the way, at least I’d have one person who might love me. Fern took Morgana’s side. She shut me out.”
Mum smiles at me, both pained and proud. “I didn’t care once you were born. You were everything to me—and more. Years later, when you started talking, I realized that part of the spell must have passed down to you. Magic as strong as that always has a price. A child born of magical deceit, cursed only to tell the truth. It restored the balance after we so arrogantly tried to manipulate the rules of magic in our favor. I’m so sorry, baby. It’s all my fault. I should have been the one punished, not you. I tried so hard to remove your curse. I tried everything. I even asked Ruth—and it took her sight and—” She glances at Ruth ashamed, and words fail her. She can’t go on.
I look between the two women, a trickle of ice in my veins. Surely she can’t mean…? Ruth’s eyes. She had been blinded because Mum asked her to try to heal me. I recall that day I collected the Odyssa when Will brushed my throat and jolted away. That’s what a mere second of contact with my curse did. Gods…how much pain did Ruth tolerate before giving up?
And Mum has carried the guilt of it since. Of what her request did to Ruth, of how her lies ruined a man’s life, of how her choices bestowed on me an unyielding curse. So much hurt ricocheted and hit all those people because my mum wanted what so many want: to love and be loved in return. I don’t know how to feel, like there’s an orchestra of emotions trapped within my ribs. Each cresting wave is another truth I have to carry. Each crescendo a heavier burden.
Ruth turns to me, concern etched in every groove of her face. “Curses cannot be broken easily, least of all without significant sacrifice. Don’t feel any guilt, Fliss. I was more than willing to try, and I’m sorry it didn’t work. Shortly after, Fern and I had our own falling out, so Marc and I decided to raise the wards around the cottage, thinking it would protect us from being Morgana’s next target. He gave Lilibeth access when they ran into each other in the citadel, just in case she ever wanted to return. He was never one to give up on people.” She smiles at her old friend. “And here you are.”
The hyacinths sit between them, a bridge of forgiveness, but something…something isn’t right. There’s something in what Ruth said…
My spine prickles.
Morgana’s next target.
Wait. There was a conversation. At the castle. Morgana was there. Or…no, she wasn’t there, but the queen said—or was it—when…with…
Like the first coal of a blacksmith’s fire, my memories spark to life. The sediments of my lost days stir. I remember.
To everyone’s surprise, I stand up. The chair tips back and crashes against the wooden floor with such a crack that I’m glad there aren’t any cats nearby.
“They’re planning something,” I announce.
No one moves, waiting for me to find the words.
“The queen and Morgana. They were talking when I was in the physician’s room,” I say. “Theyordered the flowers. The rare ones.”
I look down at Will. I can tell his mind is already at work,spinning to put together the pieces. There’s a cute crunch of concentration between his eyebrows and—no,focus.
“Will knew where they were because he studied at the Library. That’s also where Morgana lives, so she could have easily accessed the same information and sent the book over for me to find the Odyssa.”
“She’s coming to Alrick for the wedding tomorrow,” Mum says, and exchanges a nervous look with Ruth.
The wedding.
My hands fly to my forehead.
“Oh my gods,” I blurt out, causing a twinge in my gut. “They—She was worried the ceremony would be canceled. But why—?”
Mum stands and reaches a comforting hand out. “Okay, honey. Settle down, it’ll be okay.”
“Have you seen Card at all while I’ve been gone? Did he come to see you? Ask about me?”
“Fliss, sit down. Breathe.”
“Did he?”
“As far as I know, he hasn’t left the castle.”
What?Her answer grazes my chest like a sharp thorn. The last time Cardamine saw me, I was half dead, curled in Will’s arms and dripping blood. He screamed my name. I can’t imagine he’d be sitting idly by. Hasn’t he tried to find me?
Still, there’s only one thing to do.
“We have to warn them.”
That’s what I do best. I tell people the truth. Problem solved.
“They won’t believe you,” Will says. “Not without proof.”
