16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
I t took considerable effort to mask her sheer terror and shock at his words.
“How could you possibly know such a thing?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He kneeled again and handed her back Ara’s wand. “I’m searching for it, too.”
A storm of butterflies exploded in her stomach. She met and held his gaze, grasping the Draswood tightly. “Why would a prince—the heir apparent—waste his time?”
“Besides the obvious fact that it would be the most powerful wand in the world?”
“Besides that.”
He sighed. “My mother. You already know her views on magic are growing more radical, all while magic disappears as the Fabric grows more unstable. Instead of protecting and increasing our magic, she wants to kill two birds with one stone by pooling all magical power with a select few.”
“It’s why she continues eroding the Order’s power,” Imani said.
“Yes. Fewer magic wielders, less instability is my mother’s public reasoning. But it also means she can severely limit competition for the next monarch.”
“How convenient it also happens to give her vast powers over everyone then,” Imani said. “Where do you stand regarding your mother’s plan?”
“Controlling and restricting magic the way she wants will be disastrous for the kingdom.” He tightened his hand over hers. “I want to save it and build up our magical forces, not reduce them.”
Imani turned over this information and the deal he offered her. For all his passionate idealism, Tanyl knew what he was doing—because whoever controlled magic and the Drasil? They held the doorways, and whoever controlled those ruled the realm.
Imani wanted the power for herself.
He searched her face while she sat thinking. “Why would a little elf be searching for it?”
She let out a calming breath, stalling to think of a lie. Searching for the Drasil had gotten her grandmother executed, and Imani needed to distance herself from Aralana in Stralas.
“I came across it in my research on slips and doorways. My parents died in a Fabric event, and I’ve been researching it for years.” She shrugged. “And you said it before—it would be the most powerful wand in the world. I want that power.”
“To be clear, you would give up the power to me. But, from what I’ve read, only a monarch will be powerful enough to wield the Drasil, anyway. What have you learned about where one might be located?”
Wands didn’t work like that, so he was testing her. Or he didn’t know much about it. She kept her mouth shut.
“I don’t have a location yet,” she confessed. “My strategy is focused on learning about its uses and history in hopes the information reveals some hint about who might still possess one or where one disappeared.”
“I agree. You’re smart.” His eyes sparkled with a secret.
“Stop being coy. What do you know about a potential location? If you don’t tell me, then there’s no agreement. Put me in jail or execute me. You can search on your own.”
“Calm down, elf witch.” He stood with his palms facing her in placation. “I’ve read the book a dozen times, and the only mention of the Drasil is during the Norn chapters.”
Imani didn’t quite believe that was all the book had to offer. Malis had been quite adamant he wanted it for the information on slips and doorways, but she stayed mum.
Tanyl continued, “One part detailed how the Norn used wands to eradicate a disease killing the Draswood trees. Being elves, they tried hundreds of wands, each with varying degrees of success, so there were many details to review. As a result, I didn’t think much of the excerpt.”
“Don’t tell me they used a Drasil to heal the trees,” Imani murmured, remembering the scrap of paper she found listing the “tests” and the names of wands.
“If it were so easy, I would’ve entered the Draswood already,” he scoffed. “They did list a handful of wands they did not try. But tucked away in that list, under a group of what they termed ‘alternative’ wands?—”
“Wands not made from Draswood trees,” Imani finished for him, her mind reeling. She knew exactly what list he was referring to, but again, kept that information to herself.
“Precisely. There were several types of wands listed. In addition to the Draswoods, there were several goldwood wands, a few bone ones located in various territories of the realm, and one Yggdrasil wand, which had the word ‘Nereids’ next to it.”
Imani stiffened. He must have had more of the list than her scraps of paper—all those wands were on it and more. They had to be related.
“What does ‘Nereids’ mean?”
“I don’t know. It’s not a word in the common tongue or any current elvish dialect. It’s probably a thousand years old, or older. Likely a dead language, as well.” His eyes were earnest and hopeful, but the weight of disappointment crushed her.
While learning the Drasil’s full name—an Yggdrasil—was interesting, it was practically nothing compared to what she had. She’d been coming up empty-handed here, even in Stralas, and while it didn’t mean there wasn’t information to be found here, especially in the royal vaults, the dozens of maps of Niflheim combined with Ara’s fragmented notes gave her a better lead. If she could somehow get to the Niflheim Kingdom, explore their library, and speak with the other wand-making elves there, Imani could piece more clues together and learn more, maybe even find a Drasil.
Despite the kind heart that she could sense from him, could she trust Tanyl with this knowledge? It was a desperate hope. She badly wanted a confidant in this search, yet she had to be smart about what details she revealed and when.
“These wands were made maybe ten thousand years ago. The fact someone mentioned it even a thousand ago is a miracle,” Imani said. “If we can learn what the word means, we might have a solid lead.”
“I casually asked Master Selhey if he was aware of any other wand materials, including the Yggdrasil. But, even as a wandlore expert, he knew nothing about it and assumed it was inferior to Draswoods, like all alternative wands. Since it wasn’t part of their history, I wondered if Norn elves could even adjust a Drasil.”
He was incorrect. “Any breed with a wandlore brand can adjust any wand, likely even a Drasil.” Imani fidgeted, curious as to what he was keeping from her. She was keeping quite a bit from him, too.
A beat of silence passed as Imani considered her words. “Over the years, I’ve read everything the Norn have written about wandlore, and my family was expert wandmakers. I’m nearly certain Norn elves had nothing to do with creating these wands. Whoever did simply has the same wandlore magic.”
“Yes, it is odd only one Essenheim breed possesses the brand today. It stands to reason many more used to practice the craft.”
“Indeed. It’s also possible the Drasil trees—these Yggdrasils—don’t grow in Essenheim or even this realm.”
“If we were to find a Drasil wand, could you ensure it worked properly for me?”
He already knew the answer.
She let out a deep breath. “Anyone with wandlore magic would be able to study the Drasil. Norn elves never use the other materials you mentioned, like goldwood, as they’re vastly inferior to the Draswood, yet they can still make them. I assume an Yggdrasil is a more powerful tree from which to create a wand than all those materials.”
He put his hand over his mouth, thinking.
“How did you learn about any of this?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from wandlore.
“A children’s story my mother told me when I was young,” he said, “about a lost city under Menlone Mountain.”
“Menlone. Where Niflheim’s capital city Kehomel sits?” Imani asked, her heart beating wildly at the mention of the Niflheim Kingdom. What did he know about the Drasil being there?
“Yes, the old city of Zorah was there when Niflheim and Essenheim were still united as one kingdom with a king and queen. It was famed for its beauty, and travelers from all the realms made it their home. However, a great war broke out?—”
“Between Essenheim and Niflheim?”
“No, this was thousands of years before the War of the Middle Kingdoms.”
“You’re talking about the Great Realm War.”
Tanyl nodded. “When the Upper gods won and ended it, they sealed the doorways as punishment to the Under and Mesial realms. Time passed, and with people living in peace, they had no use for Drasil wands. My theory is that most disappeared over time. Now only monarchs can manipulate the slips, and the doorways are … unusable.”
“But what does this have to do with Kehomel?”
“They say the first recorded Fabric event was when the original city of Zorah went into the depths of Menlone Mountain during a ground quake. They rebuilt the Court of Darkness on top of it.”
“Didn’t the ground quake destroy the buildings?”
“Oddly enough, they say it miraculously sank into the mountain, simply making it impassable and impenetrable. With the mountain as protection, if anyone were to find it, it would be as beautiful and untouched as before. So many foolish explorers have tried, but none have lived to tell if they found it. But it’s only a children’s story to teach a lesson about greed.” He crossed his arms. “We have a better chance of finding a Drasil here in our kingdom than chasing after legends in others.”
Imani had a lot to consider. She met his gaze head-on. “What exactly are the terms of this deal you want with me?”
“We’re going to do a binding using your ability. In exchange for the pardon of your crime, you’ll agree to help me find the Drasil. We’ll search for it, research it, and if you find it, you’ll hand it over to Essenheim?—”
“You mean to hand it over to you ,” she clarified.
“Yes, to me. And I’ll need you to fix my other wand.”
Enter a binding and agree to give up the Drasil to him? This would be a considerable sacrifice, and Imani couldn’t lie to herself— she wanted the Drasil.
But Tanyl’s lack of knowledge about wandlore remained an advantage for her. Imani knew more about the Drasil from Aralana’s research, and she likely understood its capabilities far better.
Imani fought a grin, realizing this binding would be meaningless. Tanyl would never even hold the wand unless he found one first. Like how powerful master witches could sense and remove magic cast by lesser magic wielders, the Drasil would overpower weaker magic, even a binding. It would be the most powerful magical object in the realm.
Moreover, he never mentioned her agreeing to modify the Drasil for him. Maybe he assumed handing it over to him meant she’d also configure it for him. He thought wrong. He’d never be able to use it properly without his magic trying to destroy him unless he specifically stated she was to modify it—which she, of course, wouldn’t do.
He might ask another elf for help, but the chances were slim. Something like the Drasil, he couldn’t entrust to simply anyone.
Imani would modify it so that it only worked with her magic.
Another example of the world’s ignorance concerning her kind—Norn elves were notoriously tricky regarding bindings.
Agreeing too quickly might tip him off, and Imani hesitated to push her luck. But the pull to ask was too irresistible. “Between fixing your current wand and searching and handing over the Drasil, you’re asking for a lot. I want something else.”
He waited for her to continue.
She cleared her throat. “I’m a strong witch. I’ll pass the assessments. I’ll work for the Order, but when you’re king, I want to be named the First Witch.” Her aspirations went much higher, but it would be unwise to overplay her hand now. Tanyl might be a spoiled prince now, but she surmised he would be a good, noble king when the time came. However, unlike his mother, he would never prevail at cunning schemes or ruthless decisions.
Imani would happily play the role for him as his chosen mate and queen consort, but she wasn’t going to press her hand on it yet. She’d settle for the First Witch for now.
The prince didn’t hesitate. “Done.”
“What are you staring at? It’s over.”
Tanyl said nothing. His massive pupils bore into her as she struggled to sit up. The euphoric, disorienting effects of magic were still potent.
“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“How unfortunate,” she said while trying to get control of the dizziness.
“It’s devastating.”
“You’ll get over it.” She winced, trying to wipe off the dried blood from her hands, marveling at how Tanyl had demanded a flesh-magic binding.
“Doubtful. You don’t want to know how many people I’ve slept with to get you out of my head, imagining they’re you.”
“Very sorry for your situation, Tanyl. Truly abhorrent how much sex you’ve had to have in my name.” A wave of dizziness forced her to lie down again.
The high of the flesh magic coursing through her, and the accompanying waves of hunger, were hard to ignore.
“Meira,” he breathed, brushing her hair off her face. “I’ve met only a few female Norn elves before, but you are different.”
His scent wasn’t arousing to her. It was consuming.
Hunger shot through her. She wanted to devour him.
She shifted onto her side and shuddered at the force it took to stop.
“Meira.” A dreamy smile tugged at his mouth, somehow making him younger but more handsome. He propped his chin on his arms. “You’re magnificent.”
Could she open herself up to him? Feeding relaxed elves reduced their inhibition and made them feel safe and close to their prey. She had so much to hide. What if she accidentally corrected him and called herself Imani? She had always planned to pick someone safer, more inconspicuous, less suspicious of her.
Her magic was working hard on him.
Invisible bugs crawled over her skin, sensing the soul draw pulling him in and taking hold. Before her magic, the sensation would have meant she was in danger. This meant the prey was ready to be ensnared.
She wasn’t afraid, merely entranced at how his eyes glazed over with unnatural desire. She stared directly into them and used her illusion magic to temper the draw a little to lull him into a calmer yet still malleable state. She was in his head.
“You want to sleep with me.” Her eyes locked onto his, voice sounding lilting and soft. It was a demand as he was under her spell, and he’d say yes.
“Yes,” he breathed. “But I should stay away from you. I can’t get tangled up with another female at court, not with my mother watching,” Tanyl said in a quiet voice, moving closer, their heads almost touching. He moved his mouth closer to hers and continued stroking her hair. “But when you remove your glamour for me, even with the marking on your face, you are quite literally the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen.” He ran a finger down where the scarring was invisible.
Her first instinct was to jerk away, but a tiny, screaming part of her also wanted to lean in. Was she attracted to the prince? Or was she simply starving? She hardly knew anymore.
She was too greedy to worry about any of those questions or explain to Tanyl how his desires weren’t natural. Her magic had trapped him with a trick to get what she needed to survive.
He probably wouldn’t even care, making it even worse when she grabbed him and crushed her mouth to his.