Reagan rose from his chair and turned to the emissary. “We leave in twenty minutes.”
With an electrical current in the air, both mages vanished. I stared at the empty chairs, still struggling to believe they were, in fact, empty.
“They flung,” Cerridwen explained.
“Right. You can do that,” I murmured, shaking my head.
“It’s easier to travel if you can do it,” said Gwinifer, who also stood up and walked towards the door.
“Not all of you can?” I asked, following her.
“No. It takes practice and leaves you with a nasty exhaustion. Not the good type.” She smiled over her shoulder as we walked out of the room. “Not everyone masters it.”
“Should I be worried about Wraiths?” I asked, unwilling to waste the opportunity.
“Yes,” she said simply, turning her back to me. “But not here, not on castle grounds.”
“What if I’m in the city and see one of them?”
“Then you scream and hide,” Gwinifer replied, sauntering through the corridor.
I blew a quiet, irritated breath. “Could you just help me?” I asked. “I ran away from that dead hound in the woods, and I just need something to feel safe. Can you give me anything I could defend myself with against these creatures?”
She stopped and turned to me, cocking her head to one side as she considered. Or pitied me.
“Most creatures will be stronger and faster than you. You’d die, even if you could fight, which...” She eyed me thoughtfully. “I’d venture you can’t.”
She would be right.
“You could use Velvetshades as a precaution.”
“Velvetshades?” I repeated.
“Yes. Velvetshade Blossom is a flower that can make you invisible to their senses. It hides your scent and keeps you off their radar. The petals are velvety and purple with a strong smell. Carry a few in your pocket. It might help you hide, but you’d still be better off praying to Zara that you never encounter any creatures at all. And if you’re thinking of wandering in the Northern—”
“A flower?” I cut her off. “That’s the best you have?”
“For a human? Yes,” she said, padding away. “Don’t do anything stupid, Red. And by all means, don’t give my brother a reason to bite my head off.”
???
“Why do you want to know?” Cerridwen asked as I trailed behind her down a winding staircase.
“So I can see it. Admire it. I don’t know what to do, and I feel like I’ll go mad if I don’t do something. I mean, what do you people expect—”
“Alright,” she replied swiftly. I fought the urge to grin. “You’ll find a garden if you follow these stairs down to the ground level, turn left, and head straight south. Spend as much time there as you like.”
“Thank you,” I said, already descending the stairs.
???
The garden was unusually vibrant for the season, the grey sky only adding to the contrast. Shades of pink, orange, and even maroon bloomed in abundance, so many that it was impossible to tell a damson from a blackthorn.
The rows of bushes guided me deeper into the heart of the lush garden, blissfully empty at this hour. My steps were slow and aimless, but my eyes were ever watchful, scanning the greenery. Then I spotted it. Muted purple, no fruits in sight, and mainly textured petals. Velvet. I approached the bush, bending low as if to smell the flowers, careful of any prying eyes, my fingers grazing the petals before swiftly plucking a handful.
In my pocket, a small, thin bag—courtesy of my brilliant chamber—was just the right size to hide the cluster of petals, lest the scent of florals and damp earth betray me.
A few moments later, I slipped out of the garden.
