Chapter 32
Ikar
Ieye the black streaks traveling up her lower arm with concern. “That’s why we’re here. We search for the Field of Tulips.”
“Have you found a Queen of the Night?” Odella asks.
I force calm into my voice. “Not yet.”
Her eyes hook on Vera, curious.
“That’s our originator,” I add, clearing up any confusion.
Vera looks up, and Odella tilts her head to the side, meeting her gaze.
“Your hand?” Odella gracefully extends one light-green hand midway across the table toward Vera, who looks at me, unsure.
I offer an encouraging nod. She hesitantly stretches her hand out.
I watch with interest as Odella folds her fingers around Vera’s.
I’d mentioned that Odella is a seer, but it is rare to receive knowledge from one.
Seer visions can’t be requested—only offered.
I wonder if Vera understands the gravity of the moment.
The vines that are settled in a fancy crown on Odella’s silky hair loosen and glide down her arm, twining around both their hands, then traveling up Vera’s arm and around her neck.
I can hear her heart pounding from here as she watches, but I know Odella won’t hurt her.
Vera stiffens when they reach the back of her neck, fear pronounced in her gray eyes.
I’m about to call Odella off, but suddenly she speaks, her eyes flashing gold. “Lucentia favors you greatly. Out of many who are weak, you are strong. Do your duty, and you will help in restoring lucent to our kingdom. Beware of one whom you’re inclined to trust…”
Her gold eyes hold Vera’s as if silently communicating with her, and I clench my jaw in frustration that I don’t know what’s being said.
The vines retract, and Vera sits back against her chair almost violently, fear lighting her eyes.
Lucentia favors her? Her duty? It makes sense, I guess.
She is a gifted originator—the best I’ve ever seen, if I’m honest. Her help on this journey will help in restoring lucent if I retrieve the flower.
Which it sounds like I might from Odella’s revelation—that thought brings a hint of relief. But what else did she share with Vera?
Odella stares with open curiosity at Vera from across the table. “You have secrets.”
“Don’t we all?” Vera responds simply.
Her gaze is challenging and guarded, and she doesn’t seem to realize how hard her knee digs into my leg. Odella triggered something, and I’d like to know what it is, but somehow I already know Vera won’t be telling me a word.
Odella glances at me but speaks to all of us. “The Black Tulips will either save our kingdom… or be our downfall. There is a formidable enemy after them. Ensure that enemy doesn’t get one of the Tulips, or all could be lost.”
How am I supposed to ensure that when I can’t even find one of the blazing women?
I frown. “What enemy?”
“Gloam, the god of shadows, and his people.”
They were banished long ago, and I haven’t ever seen one, but my firm nod seems to appease Odella.
She continues. “I can tell you where to find the Field of Tulips, but the rest you must do on your own.” She looks pointedly at Vera, but I’m unable to decipher what she might be communicating, and Vera’s gaze reveals nothing.
She appears so bored that I know she’s hiding something.
I’m left completely confused—it irritates me when so much depends on the success of this mission, and I appear to be missing details that could help.
“The Field of Tulips, can you help us reach it?” I ask.
Another flower begins to bloom on her dress as she smiles, distracting me slightly. “One of my Naiads will help you.”
“Naiads?” Darvy asks, glancing around to see if he’s the only one who doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
“River nymphs,” I say.
Darvy still looks confused, as does Vera.
Odella simply nods. “They, and I, are the reason the river is still lucent here. But once it passes my boundaries, it will return to its poisoned state. I will provide a boat and a Naiad to guide you, but only so far as she is not in danger.”
I nod. “That’s all we ask.”
“I recommend you leave the river as soon as possible once you’ve left lucent waters,” she advises with warning in her voice.
“And if the boat makes it in one piece,”—Odella and I both glance at Vera with concern as she chokes on her drink before Odella continues—“leave it for your return journey. I’ll leave the border open for two days. ”
“Your kindness is appreciated,” I say.
“We need lucent restored as much as you do, King Ikar.”
I nod, then the same nymph that led us here appears as if from within the tree itself.
She curtsies. “I’m here to show you to your places of rest for the evening.”
“Darvy, I need to speak with you. Rhosse and Vera, you can go ahead; we’ll be along soon.”
Rhosse nods, and Vera scoots her chair back and offers Odella a polite smile.
I feel the stark absence of her knee pressed against my leg when she stands and walks away with Rhosse without a backward glance.
My magic aches uncomfortably as I watch her go, and I find myself wondering with a clenched fist if I am doomed to feel this way for the rest of my life.
“You have feelings for her.” Odella speaks so softly that if I didn’t have excellent hearing, I would’ve missed it.
I jerk my gaze away from Vera’s retreating form and laugh dryly. I’m not inclined to lie to this ancient ruler, so instead I deflect her comment. “Any advice on how to fix broken magic?”
Odella laughs, and it feels like listening to a warm summer breeze. “Magic does not break. If you learn to listen, it will teach you much.”
It will teach me more self-control than I ever wanted.
“I’ll work on… listening… then.” I nod, though I have no idea what she means, and I still intend to speak to Darvy about it.
She merely smiles. “I will see the four of you tomorrow.”
With one last nod, I catch up to Darvy who waits near the path that Rhosse and Vera disappeared down.
Odella may believe that magic doesn’t break, but mine has.
I’ve gone back and forth over whether I should mention it to Darvy.
His healing is for the physical, as far as I know, but maybe he can help, and this is the first chance I’ve had to ask.
We walk along the wide vine-woven path through the trees for a while in silence, and my jaw works as I try to figure out how to begin. “Darvy.”
“Yeah?” He looks my way and sees my dire expression. “What’s wrong?”
I flex my hands and wipe my palms on my trousers, then run a hand through my hair, almost tugging at the strands. “I think my magic is broken.”
Darvy laughs until he realizes I’m completely serious, and quiets immediately. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Maybe the widow venom did something to me—”
Darvy interrupts, all healer now. “What’s happening?”
I’ve been thinking about it for a few days now, but it’s difficult to put into proper words.
I lower my voice, aware that there are any number of nymphs hiding behind every leaf and branch in this forest, and try my best to describe it.
“My magic has always just been mine. It was content that way. Then a few days ago, out of nowhere, my magic reacted to Vera. It was as if a piece of magic I’ve never known about rose from the depths of me that wants to…
bond with her. It’s desperately trying to do something that feels far too intimate with a woman I have no right connecting with,” I finish in a harsh whisper.
“And your magic has never reacted to her before?”
I shake my head. “No, and Vera can’t be a Black Tulip. I’ve seen her use originator and healer magic—”
“But didn’t Jethonan tell you they’re similar to both of those factions?”
I stop, caught off guard at the reminder, and a smidgeon of hope blooms in my chest before I quickly squash it.
“He did, and I see where you’re going with this, but keep in mind that I have been around Vera for weeks, and my magic has not reacted to her any differently than any other woman until now. ”
Darvy nods in agreement. “Good point.”
“If my magic reacts to every woman I meet, I’ll be in an even bigger mess. How will I identify a Queen of the Night?”
“Send out a letter to the kingdom?” Darvy suggests.
“They’re in hiding. From me. I don’t think a simple letter will draw them out,” I growl. “Can you fix this?”
Darvy frowns. “I’ve never tried to heal magic, so I don’t believe so. Never even heard of such a thing, actually. Have you tried pulling lucent from Vera?”
I frown. “Yes.”
“I assume it worked?”
I think back carefully, but I’ve had no difficulty using lucent. “Yes, that all feels normal. But the other part, it’s still there.”
“Has it drawn toward any of the nymphs?”
“No. But they’re not human, either.”
Darvy nods. “Maybe Jethonan has heard of this before. Talk to him about it when we return.”
I plan to—if I don’t lose my mind first.