‘With some, yes, but it varies. Sometimes the growth is not immediate,but my extra magic ensures they will become fruitful and healthy in time. Sometimes it’s that my powers allow me to access something in the plant that normal folk wouldn’t be able to or, at least, not at such a great intensity.’
‘So is some of it spell work?’
‘Plant and spell work go together hand in hand. They’re infinitely stronger combined than they could ever be alone.’
‘Then maybe I should learn it too. You know, to honour her? If you think that would be all right. I could learn the spell work, couldn’t I?’
‘You could, and I can’t think of anything she would have liked better,’ I reply.
‘I know that you’re going to be as safe as you can be on this trip,’ he says, his voice suddenly quiet. ‘But if you do meet the Torailians?—’
‘I’ll be careful, I promise,’ I interrupt.
He blushes. ‘Oh, yes, I know, but that’s not what I was going to say.’ He clamps his mouth shut and I wish I could take my words back.
‘What were you going to say? What were you going to ask me?’ I press, only for the colour in his cheeks to deepen.
‘Well, I’ve heard before that they have these arrows that go wherever you want them to. That you don’t even have to aim them. I was wondering … if you did see them … if you’d be able to get one for me.’
‘Oh.’ My lips remain parted for a moment as I work out how to reply. On the one hand, it’s great that my little brother thinks I’m capable of surviving a confrontation with the Torailians – and could even come out of it with a souvenir – but on the other hand, the Torailians are well documented as not having magic, and if their arrows don’t miss, it’s likely because it’s a skill they’ve spent a lifetime honing. They also haven’t been seen, let alone fought, in decades. But that doesn’t feel like something he wants to hear.
‘If I meet and survive any Torailians, I promise I will bring you back one of their arrows,’ I tell him. And from the way he grins in response, I almost want to trespass into their territory just to fetch him one. Almost.
Chapter 16
When we’re done in the orangery, William heads off to get ready for the ball – something Kay has been doing since she woke. And evidently it was worth it. As she walks down the steps into the hallway, the sight of her is enough to take my breath away.
‘You look stunning,’ I tell her honestly.
‘I feel beautiful,’ she admits, taking my hand and squeezing it tightly. ‘Like a proper bride.’
I’m reminded of her words from yesterday, about how she needs this marriage to work, not just for the safety of her child, but because this is her only chance at love.
‘Youarea proper bride,’ I tell her. ‘Come on, I’m sure the king won’t want to be kept waiting.’
Especially not for my family,I think to myself, although I do not say as much. Besides, Kay isn’t a Kultavaris anymore. She’s a Lorathin.
Acacia Lorathin. It still sounds so odd to my ears, but I suppose I will get used to it with time.
We enter the ballroom and though the king’s ego is on show in full force, from the size of the orchestral ensemble to the gratuitously overindulgent banquet, I try to keep a smile on my face.
This is meant to be a happy day for my family.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Kay murmurs in awe. ‘The florist told me the theme for this ball was blue, and we match perfectly. It looks as if it was created for us, doesn’t it?’
‘You picked the outfits perfectly,’ I respond, offering the smile I know she needs to see.
As I scan the crowd, I spot William at the side of the room. As Kay requested, he is also in a pale blue waistcoat. It’s subtle enough to be passed off as a coincidence, but heartwarming nonetheless. I instinctively make a beeline towards him, but his gaze narrows and he offers me a small shake of the head. Only then do I see Artur approaching him from the other side. Of course. He has not told Artur that he knows the truth about his parents. To him, I am still nothing more than the gifted and now sister to Jonas’s wife.
It will have to be a masquerade ball, minus the actual mask-wearing.
I think of the marks on William’s stomach. The sign of the Issen. More than once over the last two days, I’ve considered asking Benny how fast they appear to be spreading and if he can tell how long it will take before they’re on visible parts of William’s body, but I knew there was no point. William himself told us that it spreads more quickly when he uses the magic, which he’s done twice over the last couple of days.
Besides, our plan is to get to the Issen as fast as possible. That’s all that matters.
‘You will need to be the one to present me to the king,’ Kay says, pulling my attention back to her.
‘Sorry?’ I twist around as if she has slapped me. ‘Ihave to present you to the king?’
