Chapter 11 #2
We lie together for a few minutes—or perhaps an eternity—my fingers trailing her skin. In the afterglow, it seems to capture the sunlight, holding it beneath it.
My wife. The word reverberates in my chest—no longer with the teasing tone I used once, but as a truth my heart has always known.
Her eyes catch mine, brilliant like stars. “You know what I’m thinking?”
“You can think already?” I grimace and place a hand over my heart. “Oh, what a poor job I must have done.”
She rolls her eyes and punches my shoulder lightly. “It’s not a job. And it’s not like we finished a second ago.”
Of course she’s right. And I know I can’t spend the entire day in this bedroom, even if I wish I could remain here forever. Perhaps I wish I could postpone any thoughts about tomorrow, but that’s not a sensible solution.
“What is it?” I ask, giving her my full attention with none of the previous teasing.
Astra mock pouts. “We ruined the test. Now I’ll never know which method yields more magic.”
Her words make me laugh, perhaps because I was expecting something serious. I cup her face with both hands and kiss her, then say, “We’ll keep testing, don’t worry. We just got started.”
“We will. Now let’s get dressed.” She pauses. “You’ll have a tough day tomorrow.”
My chest constricts with a strangled breath, and yet I nod. “I know.”
I also know she might want to see my fire, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Something bitter and dark stirs in my stomach when I think about it.
But if I can’t conjure it now, when I’m calm, safe, how am I going to use it tomorrow?
TARLIA
Iwonder if I’m being foolish or smart. And then, isn’t that how it goes to any decision? I don’t trust Mirella. Frankly, I don’t even understand on which side she’s on, but I’m willing to give this a try.
And this is how I’m in the narrowest hallway ever, walking in sideways and blind, carrying no light. I feel like a mouse in the cavities of a wall. In fact, there could be mice or insects here. Disgusting.
Then I see it, the tiniest sliver of light, just like she described. Not described, asked. Somehow, she framed all her instructions as questions, but I’m not going to inquire into fae talk.
There are three tiny holes, too small even for my little finger to go through, forming a triangle from where thin rays of light enter the hallway.
Squeezing one eye shut, I place the other close to one of the perforations, and see the large room where Azur decapitated Zorwal.
The memory of the blood and then our dash through the desert gives me goosebumps of the bad kind, a reminder of the danger encircling me, watching me like a predator.
My position doesn’t give me the best view of the room, as I’m behind the main chair, so don’t know if Zorwal’s sitting there or not.
One thing I do know is that there’s no mysterious visitor here, at least not yet—unless they’re invisible or crouching under a chair, but then they would be talking.
Perhaps the room is empty. Perhaps this is some kind of prank.
The silence feels heavy and my chest feels tight.
Technically, my butt’s the one squeezed in this hallway, but I can’t forget that Mirella knows I’m here.
She twisted and twisted her words, and while my understanding is that she doesn’t want to harm me, I could be wrong.
In fact, I could be wrong about a thousand things, and yet I’m putting myself in a position from where there’s no escape, just for the slight chance of glimpsing some scrap of information that could lead me somewhere.
The alternative would be to remain in my room—oblivious, dumb, and passive—waiting for a strike of luck to hit me.
Yes, I guess I’d rather be daring, dumb, and active.
At least there’s a certain integrity to it.
In the silence of the thin corridor, all I hear is my slow, almost silent breathing, until it’s broken by a door opening—the door to the council chamber.
I can barely see him, just the top of his head, and yet a shiver covers my entire body, even if I can barely believe my senses. The mysterious visitor is none other than Otavio. He was in the castle previously, living here in guest rooms, and perhaps that had more to do with Zorwal than with Renel.
“Oh, look who’s there.” Zorwal’s voice has a slight hint of surprise, which I wasn’t expecting. “So you’re alive after all.”
“I’m sure you’d notice if something happened to me.”
I hear Zorwal stepping down from his chair, the whoosh of his long robes sounding as clear as a yell.
He stands in front of Otavio. “You were here before, were you not? In this castle?”
Otavio sighs. “Diplomatic issues. Unaware you were its real master.”
Zorwal snorts. “After all these years, you still haven’t realized that just because you can lie, it doesn’t mean I’ll believe the absurdities coming out of your mouth.”
“I was truly unaware of your position.”
Even from here, I can see Zorwal’s eyebrow raising. “Then how did you find me?”
“Can’t you feel it? Our minds. Just glimpses, for now, but soon it will be much clearer. It’s how I found you.”
Zorwal rubs his chin. “Nothing’s clear yet, except that he’s been awakened.”
The word he makes me shiver, even if I don’t know who they’re talking about.
“It means we can find him.” Otavio’s voice is quiet, careful.
“He’ll find us in his own time, once he’s strong enough.”
“If we want him to. If we want him to rule over us.”
Zorwal stares at Otavio. “What would be the alternative?”
“If… someone wanted to strike him, imprison him, this would be the perfect time. We could go on with our lives. Undisturbed. Still powerful.”
Zorwal pauses, then laughs. “Except that nobody would be brave, foolish, or capable enough to strike our king. Or are you suggesting treason?”
“I’m stating facts. Nothing’s certain.” Right. As if Otavio wasn’t suggesting attacking this king or whatever while they can.
“What is certain is that he’ll rise and lead us, even if he’ll want us to stay far from him. Do you have a problem with that, Tiurian?”
“I’ve sworn an oath to the brotherhood and I keep it, fae.” Otavio is using his superior tone, the same he used when explaining something obvious.
Zorwal sneers. “Except that your word is worth nothing.”
“It’s as powerful as my will to survive. There’s no need for you to cross me. We’re stronger together.”
“I’d rather be as far apart as possible from you and even from our honorable king. A basic matter of…” Zorwal narrows his eyes. “Survival instinct.”
“While it’s true that we must keep physical distance, we’ll still be joined through our minds.”
“Yes, the same minds our king can see, the same minds where he would find any trace of dissent. If there was any, of course.” Zorwal gives Otavio an amicable and yet chilling smile.
“Neither of us would be so foolish.”
They stare at each other in silence for a moment, perhaps trying to read each other’s intentions. I wonder if Zorwal is truly loyal to this king or if he’s just afraid of trying to defeat him.
Otavio doesn’t look too thrilled that he’s been awakened, even if he’s being careful to circumvent any suggestion of treason. This is important information, and yet I don’t even know if it should fall in Mirella’s hands.
Zorwal is the one who breaks the silence. “The heart. It was not destroyed, like we thought. You found it, did you not?”
Otavio blinks, not even trying hard to look innocent. “What makes you say so?”
“Don’t play silly games. The bonds were cut. Only the Heart of Magic can do that, can affect the entire land like that.”
Otavio’s tone is calm as he says, “Our minds will become more and more open to each other. You’ll soon find out all about the heart.”
Zorwal glares at Otavio. “I could strike you, you know? Your magic is no match to mine.”
“If self inflicting pain is something you like, strike me, Zorwal. You know it won’t kill me.”
“Where’s the heart?” Zorwal is clearly exasperated, almost furious. “Why did you cut the bonds?”
“You’ll soon find out. Be patient.” Otavio then looks straight in my direction, as if seeing me.
Zorwal glances at my direction, then stares at Otavio again. “What if you were to be imprisoned? Kept in a comfortable cage from where nobody could hurt you?”
“I wonder who would be capable or foolish enough to do it. Not you, of course, since you wouldn’t want to commit treason, especially right now, when our king will need our support.”
“You say it as if you were enthusiastic to give him any support.”
Otavio laces his hands behind his back and takes back and forth steps. “You’re here, as powerful as a king, controlling the Crystal Court. Don’t tell me that having to adapt will be easy for you either. I’m sure it ruins your plans.”
Zorwal clenches his fists. “The bonds being cut is what ruined my plans. With no lower fae serving us, this kingdom will plunge into chaos.”
“I thought chaos was a good thing.”
“Don’t play with me.” He points a finger at Otavio. “What’s your game? Our deal was that you’d live on the human side, while I was to gain control of the fae side. That was our deal.”
“I do control Krastel, my dear brother. It’s in the palm of my hand. Soon I could control all the human kingdoms. I say could because now I might have to adjust my plans.”
“So why mess with the fae?”
Otavio sighs, the way he does when he’s lost his patience. “I did not cut the bonds. Nor have I found the heart. It was another Tiurian.”
“My bloodpuppets would have brought me any Tiurian in fae lands.”
“But not in human lands,” Otavio says.
Zorwal narrows his eyes. “The heart is not there.”
“Then I do not know. What I can tell you is that I can find this Tiurian—and the heart. And soon I won’t be able to keep any secrets from you even if I wanted to. So my findings will be yours and our king’s. If I’m free to search, of course.”
“Why wouldn’t you be free?” Zorwal asks. “Do you need any help to find this heart?” His tone is conciliatory, friendly, and yet even I can notice that his cordiality is a fake veneer.
“Not at all. I have my… trail.”
“Then I’m looking forward to seeing it in the shared space in our minds.” His words sound like a threat.
“Indeed.”
Otavio leaves in confident steps while I’m quite sure Zorwal will have him followed or something. But Otavio certainly knows that too, and I’m pretty sure he would rather not share the location of this heart while he can. If he can even find it.
The heart. What is it? It’s something extremely important. Then it hits me— and my heart responds with a jump.
Astra must have found this heart. Another Tiurian. It’s why Otavio was so desperate looking for her. I need to tell her all of this, and yet I don’t know how.
As I’m making my way slowly to the entrance, I’m greeted with a bright bluish glow from a lightstone. I retreat, even if it’s useless. There’s nowhere for me to hide. No way to run.
I’m caught.