Mother Margarite’s laugh scraped through the room. “You don’t have to take my word for it. Wait and see for yourself. Within a few months, Laurel will start to weaken again. She’ll probably even claim that it’s nothing.” She leaned closer. “It won’t be nothing.”
My throat went dry.
“She’ll grow sicker the longer you wait,” Mother Margarite continued. “But it’s up to you. Either Richard will die, or Laurel will.”
I stared at her, unable to move. “So Laurel is only partially healed then?”
“Now you’re starting to understand. And once you kill Richard, I’ll gladly give you the rest of the remedy.”
“I can give you something else instead,” I offered. “Just name it. Land, gold, protection. I can make sure no one comes near this place ever again.”
“I already have protection.” Her eyes gleamed. “Fear does a better job than soldiers. I already named my price and I expect you to keep your oath.”
“I’ll bring an army and take your remedies,” I threatened. “I have many people at my disposal.”
I was certain that would frighten her as it had frightened so many villagers, but she simply laughed. “And who would know which one to use?” She gestured and the rows of hundreds of bottles. “Take a guess. Some of these are poisons. Not even the best healers know them all. That’s why they couldn’t help Laurel. But by all means, try.”
A whine of panic rose in the back of my mind. This was a situation I had no hope of winning. What was I supposed to do? No threat I could make that would force Margarite to give me what I needed. I couldn’t command her. I couldn’t arrest her. I couldn’t frighten her into doing what I wanted.
For the first time in my life, all my strength and power were completely useless. I stumbled back.
“But…how?” I croaked.
“By whatever means you wish.” She leaned one bony hand against the doorframe. “But I suggest you hurry. I’m an old woman. Once I die, my secrets die with me.”
The door shut in my face.
I stood there, staring at the warped wood.
Once I die, my secrets die with me.
I backed away from the cottage then turned and ran into the blinding darkness. Thorns clawed at my sleeves and roots caught at my boots, but I hardly felt them. The darkness swallowed the path ahead, and still I ran faster, as if speed alone could tear me free from the choice tightening around my throat.
Laurel or Richard.
Laurel or Richard.
Laurel’s face flashed before me, pale and sunken. Her fingers had been so weak around mine. Her voice had been barely more than a breath.
You make me feel safe.
I stumbled and caught myself against a tree.
Safe.
A ragged laugh tore out of me, sharp and broken. I couldn’t keep her safe. I had delivered her life into the hands of a woman who had turned it into a weapon against all of England. I had been so desperate to save Laurel that I had not asked the price until it was already too late.
My father’s voice slid through the darkness of my mind, horribly familiar and cutting.You thought it would be that easy?
I clenched my teeth and pushed away from the tree.
You thought you could choose better once and be clean?
“No,” I breathed.
You’ll always be my son.
I drove forward through the underbrush, but the voice followed and I thought I’d be driven mad by it.
