Chapter 44
After Enzira left, I asked Ramia to fetch me some ginger tea and motherwort to alleviate the pains from my monthly cycle. My cycle wasn’t due for another week at least, but Ramia did not ask for confirmation, which meant I didn’t have to lie.
It still felt dishonest, though.
But I needed to use the shadowstone. And, for Ramia’s own protection, it was safer if she didn’t know about it.
Once she was gone, I didn’t waste any time. I dug through my pouch of gemstones and found the shadowstone.
The jeweled rose was nowhere to be found. But I would have to solve that mystery later.
For now, I needed to know for sure that the Earthen Court armies would not attack the Shadow Court. Not with Warwick dead.
I hurried to the bathing chamber and squeezed the dark stone in my hand. “Show me my father.”
The mirror swirled with gray smoke, but all it did was churn and roil.
“Show me King Maddox of the Earthen Court,” I said, my voice loud and firm.
Still nothing but smoke.
Unease spread through me. What was going on? Where was my father ?
Perhaps he had some kind of protective amulet that prevented magic from locating him. That sounded like something paranoid my father would do.
I tried something else. “Show me Gerard, Captain of the Earthen Court.”
If my father’s armies were preparing to march on the Shadow Court, Gerard would be involved.
The smoke swirled, then faded to reveal the courtyard of the Terrona Castle.
Gerard stood there in full armor, arguing with another soldier.
The captain’s face was ruddy with anger, his eyes dark and enraged.
The soldier before him looked young; a new recruit who had neglected his duties, most likely.
Gerard was clearly in the Earthen Court. Relief settled over me, but doubt still crept into my thoughts.
Warwick had mentioned meeting the armies at Chesser Road in three days’ time. That was today. Was there any chance at all the armies would still show up? Even without Gerard leading them?
I shook my head. “Show me Chesser Road.”
I wasn’t sure if it would work. But, sure enough, the vision changed and revealed a familiar cobbled road. It was covered in the roiling mist of the Necro Shadows.
Shit… My home, my kingdom. The shadows were on their doorstep now.
Chesser Road was only a mile from the castle. In no time at all, the shadows would breach the castle walls.
But there were no armies. How could there be, with the shadows so close?
I knew this was good news—it meant there was no army approaching. But it still didn’t make any sense. Why would Warwick have a meeting in the thick of Necro Shadows? What was I missing?
Leaning forward, I peered more closely into the mirror’s depths, trying to make out any figures within the shadows. But they were too thick.
I placed the shadowstone back in the pouch, frustrated that I hadn’t solved this yet. Was it possible that someone’s fae magic allowed them to move through the shadows unaffected? Could someone be there, waiting for Warwick right now, concealed by the Necro Shadows?
I brought a hand to my amber stone. “Azure?”
It took her a moment to respond. When she did, her voice sounded sleepy. “Yes?”
“Never mind. Go back to sleep.”
“I’m awake, Sybelle. What is it?”
“You need your strength.”
“You silly humans always underestimate us. Just tell me what you need from me.”
“I need you to fly over Chesser Road and tell me if anything is amiss.”
Azure was silent for a moment. “Chesser Road is too far for us to communicate.”
“I know. But this is important. You’re the only one who can get there quickly enough. Warwick said he would rendezvous with his allies at Chesser Road today. I need to know if anyone is there.”
Azure hesitated. “I don’t like leaving you.”
“Varius will protect me.” Even as I said it, my stomach knotted again. He was avoiding me.
Regardless, I knew he would ensure my safety. He had made that much clear last night when he’d saved my life.
Azure sighed. “Very well. But I won’t linger for very long. I’ll return before sundown.”
“Thank you. Please be safe.”
“You too, Sybelle.”
I knew how worried she was because she called me by my name instead of human . I prayed I was making the right choice in sending her away.
I left the bedchamber in search of the library. But when I opened the door, I found myself in an unfamiliar hallway. Frowning, I made my way down the hall, searching for landmarks I recognized.
I froze when echoing voices drew closer, followed by soft footsteps. My instincts told me to return to the bedchamber, until I heard a child’s wailing cry.
My heart jolted in my chest, and I hurried forward without thinking. When I rounded the corner, I froze, eyes wide.
Clermont was leading a large crowd of fae through the hall. Upon seeing me, he stopped and went rigid.
My eyes roved over the crowd of fae behind him. They certainly weren’t nobles. Their faces were smeared with dirt, and their clothes were ragged and torn. And…
They were families. Several adult males and females, some with younger fae standing alongside them.
A few of the female fae were clutching small children in their arms. My eyes fell on one, a child with purple skin and cat-like eyes, who was writhing in his mother’s grip. She was attempting to shush him to no avail. His screech bounced off the walls.
“My lady.” Clermont stepped in front of me, drawing my attention to him. “Can I help you with something?”
“I’m just—” I was going to say I was looking for the library, but my gaze was fixed on the screaming child. “Clermont, what is going on?”
“These are refugees from the Pern District. Their homes were destroyed by the shadows, and they need a place to stay until the village can be rebuilt. ”
My heart twisted with horror and pain. I stared at the faces of the fae before me, seeing them in a new light.
Their homes were gone. Their lives uprooted. They were in a foreign place, and they were frightened.
In this moment, I had never felt so helpless. The fear in their eyes was so potent it stole my breath.
I inhaled shakily and approached the fae with the screaming child. Clermont uttered a protest, but I ignored him, drawing closer to the child with slow and careful steps.
The mother’s eyes widened at my approach, and she tried to clutch the child more tightly to her, but he thrashed even harder.
Hesitantly, I spread my hands. “May I help?” I asked in Agnarrish.
The woman stilled, clearly surprised by my use of her language. She said nothing, so I didn’t try to come any closer.
Raising my voice over the child’s crying, I said, “Do you want to see something funny?”
The child’s cries faded, but only slightly. He still maintained a halfhearted wail, but his eyes were fixed on me.
I held up my hands directly in front of my face, extending one finger on each. “Watch. My eyes will follow both fingers. Do you think I can do it?”
The child fell silent, staring at me with interest.
I lifted my hands so my extended fingers were directly in front of each eye. “You’ll have to watch carefully to see,” I said. “Are you ready?”
The child nodded.
I slowly brought my hands together until my fingertips were touching. When they met, my eyes were fully crossed, and I stuck out my tongue.
The child burst out laughing, the peals echoing in the hall. Around us, a few of the fae chuckled with amusement. Even the child’s mother offered a small smile .
I dropped my hands with a grin and then said, “You are very brave. Do you think you can be brave for a few more moments?”
The child sobered and nodded again.
My smile widened. “Thank you.” I nodded at the mother, who gave a warm look of gratitude.
I turned and moved back down the hall, where Clermont stood, watching me uneasily. He glanced from me to the child and back again.
“That was… impressive,” he said. “Thank you for helping him.”
“I wish I could do more,” I said, wringing my hands together.
Clermont sighed. “So do I, my lady. Do you need my assistance with anything?”
“Where is the library?”
Clermont gestured behind him. “Just around that corner. I believe the door is already open, so you won’t have to worry about exploring more areas of the castle.” He offered a wry smile.
“Thank you.”
He pressed a fist to his chest, then continued down the hall. The crowd of fae followed after, some shooting me curious looks. The child waved happily, then rested his head on his mother’s shoulder.
For a long moment, I watched them make their way down the hall, my heart clenching painfully in my chest.
If I figure out how to break the curse, I can help them.
Resolve filled me, and I turned and made my way to the library.
Just as Clermont said, the door was already open. I stepped inside, scanning the room for Varius.
But he wasn’t there.
I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. It was clear he did not want to see me. Whatever lust we felt between us was not something he intended to pursue.
I told myself it was fine. We had both entered into this marriage presuming that no feelings would be involved.
But the more I told myself the lie, the less I believed it.
No matter. I didn’t need him to help me research.
Now that I knew a witch was behind the Necro Shadows, I knew what to look for.
Unfortunately, the sentient library was unable to provide me with any texts on the history of the Shadow Court witches.
I gathered this was intentional; the witch must have included a clause in her spell that prevented people like me from asking too many questions.
It was also why Varius was unable to speak directly of the curse.
However, I knew there were books about the witches of the Earthen Court. And, as the neighboring kingdom of the Shadow Court, surely there had to be similarities.
After Tislora all but admitted she was aware there had once been Earthen witches, I was intrigued.
Was it possible there had been survivors after King Ragnus had killed the witches?
Had any of them had children that had possibly lived on after the slaughter?
Tislora herself was a sorceress. Where had she come from?
“Castle, can you give me the red volume from before—the one about the Earthen Court witches?” I asked.
The shelves rattled, and a heavy book dropped to the floor next to me. I picked it up, finding the place where I had left off before and re-reading the passage with greater interest.
The most powerful witch enchantments were anchored to an object or person, which fueled its power, allowing it to survive as long as the object or person remained healthy and intact.
Trinkets, coins, heirlooms, and gemstones were commonly used.
The rarest of spells were able to harness the power of a witch’s lineage in order to fuel the magic.
I froze .
A witch’s lineage…
I had told Varius that fae magic could not outlive the one who cast the spell. But, according to this passage, a rare spell could live beyond a witch’s death… through her lineage.
Was I right? Had there been survivors?
What if the witch who cast this spell had had a child? A child that Ragnus did not know about?
I pulled out the scrap of parchment I had tucked into the bodice of my dress. On it were my notes from the rose jewel’s vision.
I scanned the parchment, searching for my hasty scribblings of the witch’s spell. I had only recalled bits and pieces, but it was better than nothing. If that damned jewel hadn’t mysteriously vanished, perhaps I could jump back into the memory and recount the events myself.
I glanced over my recollection of the witch’s curse.
… shadows turn poisonous, destroying lives…
…bodies cursed to beastly forms…
…never speak of today’s events…
…stone of shadow and blood…
…one of my kind gives up a life…
…curse will live on as my line lives on…
…blood of witches will poison the land…
I chewed on my fingernail as I studied the words. My blood ran cold when I found what I was looking for. The curse will live on as my line lives on.
“Holy shit,” I breathed, my hand shaking as I covered my mouth. “Holy shit .”
This meant at least one of the Shadow Court witches was still alive.