Chapter 4
CASTELIS
I head dutifully back to our workshop. My bedroom is adjacent, and I know I should sleep. But how can I sleep after what just happened and what I just saw? Perhaps there’s something menial I could do to numb these raging feelings instead.
The sound of Rylian’s scream haunts me. The sight of the shattered crystals… There’s no way I can sleep right now.
I search Duke Alred’s desk for any project notes for me, any additional requests for analysis. I find nothing for me to do, but a heavy tome in the corner catches my eye. The thick black leather cover has a vial embossed on the front—a book of potions.
Scrap paper marks off one page in particular. I glance around, listen to see if Alred’s coming, then open the book to the page. A careful hand has recorded a precise recipe for a potion named Snowdrop.
Before I can read what it does, the door bursts open. I stagger back from the desk, hoping whoever it is won’t notice what I was doing. But the book is right there, open now when it was closed before.
It’s Duke Alred, and he looks as perturbed as I’d expected, as I am.
I reach for an excuse for tampering with the book. “Sir! I am so glad you are here—I had a question about—”
He waves me aside. “No time for your nonsense now, Castelis. I have an important task for you.”
“A task, sir? But—”
He holds up a hand to silence me. “You think you love your king so much?”
“What?” My mouth falls open. I’m so taken aback, but I answer as quickly as I can. “Of course I do, sir. I have always been a loyal member of the Autumn Court.”
“You’ll never be a real member of the Court, human.” Alred leers at me as he is yanking at the drawstring of a nondescript brown canvas bag. “Besides, don’t lie. I see the way you look at him.”
“He’s my king! I admire him.”
“Don’t be coy. You’d be his paramour in a blink if he asked.”
My eyebrows fly up. “I—no. What brought this on?”
“I have an urgent task. If you love your king so much, you will do as I ask. There’s not much time.”
“What—what is that?” I point at the bag.
He yanks open the drawstring. King Cresian’s crystal fills the room with light.
“What are you doing with that here?” And why now? And why hasn’t he told me what happened?
“There was an attempt to destroy the crystals! I spirited this away just in time, while Rylian pursued the traitors. He was injured, and they fled.”
“Injured? Gods—” But—but—Rylian hadn’t pursued anyone. Fae couldn’t lie, though. Could something have happened after we parted?
“I must return to tend to his injury with my tools. If you truly care, you will take this crystal and get far, far away from here. You will hide it in the foothills and guard it and keep it safe.”
“Until it finishes growing?”
“Yes. And until we’ve determined it’s safe for you to return with the crystal.”
“How will I know when it’s safe?”
“When we say so. I’ve hired a guide to take you as deep into the hills as possible, to find a cave where you can hide.
Meet him outside the Merry Pig tavern. He’ll take you there, and then he can tell me where you are and guide me back when the time is right.
” Alred pauses and thinks for a moment. “Also give me that necklace of yours.”
I clutch my throat. “My talisman? No! It was my mother’s.”
“All the better. I’ll keep it safe. But if something happens and you must move to a different hiding place, this talisman will allow me to track you down with my magic even if your guide makes a mistake.”
Anguish is blooming in my chest, but I take off the necklace. His logic makes sense. More ways to find me are definitely better. I just wish I could speak to Rylian first. “But—Lord Alred, I don’t—is Rylian all right? Can I speak with him before I go?”
Something isn’t right about this.
“The sooner you’re off, the sooner I return to help him, the sooner I will heal him.” He shoves me toward the door.
“Aren’t there other healers? Let me get my cloak at least!
” I don’t pick up the bag with the crystal just yet.
Instead, I race into my meager student room next to the workshop and feverishly grab anything I can think to put in my pack.
I’m no hero and certainly no traveler, but heading out on this sort of journey into the wild hills so rash and unprepared doesn’t seem wise.
I toss in some tea, my tin pot, a flask for water, a hat.
Gods, what else could I need? I have no food.
How could this rush be anything but folly?
But perhaps he is right. This crystal is precious. It’s all that we have left. It needs to finish growing without interference. If it’s destroyed, Rylian will have to power the wards alone. That’s impossible for any fae without help. Even one as strong as Rylian.
Although if I take it, he will still have to power the wards alone.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“It’s the only way, Castelis. Hurry.”
“Are you sure I’m the best person to keep it safe?” I return with my overstuffed, heavy bag. “Sir, I’m nobody. I can’t fight or—”
“Your complete lack of consequence is exactly what makes you perfect for this. No one will look for a lowly human. And definitely not one as meek and book-trodden as you. Do you think you could think of anyone less worthy of a second look?”
I simply blink at the caustic words for a moment. But despite how they hurt, perhaps he is right. “No, sir. I guess not.”
“Very well.” He forces the bag with the crystal into my hands. “Besides, no one will expect the king to entrust your kind with such an important artifact. They’d assume you might destroy its magic. Now, unless you’re planning to carry it out in the open like that, better put it in your bag.”