9. Sage
Sage
Iwanted just a few more moments with my eyes closed. It felt like there was a sway under me, but considering the swirling of my head, it was probably from that. Moons, how much did I drink last night?
I rolled over, expecting the large expanse of bed I was used to, only to find myself tumbling to the hardwood floor beneath me.
“Moons,” I cursed again, the wind knocked out of me. My eyes blinked open to a ceiling I didn’t recognize. It was wooden, and way closer to my face than I was used to.
What in the world?
I sat up, only making my head spin more. I closed my eyes, trying to make any sense of what happened last night. The party started coming back to me, the dancing, talking to Octavio, dancing, going on a walk with that man…
Wait.
It all started flooding back. The walk to the garden, the broken magestone, my screaming. And then… nothing.
So where was I now?
I looked around, hoping to find something recognizable, but it was a sparse room, barely big enough to hold the small bed I’d rolled off of. There was a small desk and chair and a wardrobe that probably wouldn’t fit three of my ballgowns.
I had to think. I rubbed my temples, willing something, anything, to come to me.
What would Sorcha do?
Probably break the door down and start swinging the chair or something, but there was no way I was capable of that. So instead I just sat, pressing my back against the desk on the floor, and waited. Doing anything would have been better than this, but I was frozen.
I’m not sure how much time passed before the doorknob started to turn. My eyes widened, fear streaking through me. I crawled up onto the bed, pressing myself into the corner there. I was still in my dress from the previous night, its large skirts making me feel at least a bit more protected.
Light poured in from the door, making me squint. The silhouette was one I didn’t recognize.
As my eyes adjusted I could make out a girl.
More light poured in, and I could see dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail.
She was in an outfit that would be considered scandalous in Peradona.
Her tight, black trousers hugged her body, and were tucked into large black boots that reached her calf.
They looked a bit large for her, as if they were borrowed.
She had a white tunic on, the top unlaced so I could see a bit of cleavage.
“You’re awake,” she said with a nervous smile. “I was worried you might not have ever woken, but Captain was sure what he gave you wouldn’t kill you.”
Captain? What was she talking about? My head was still spinning. She brought the tray I didn’t notice she was holding forward, setting it on the small table next to me. “It’s just some stew and water, I thought you might be hungry.”
I was slightly hungry, but I didn’t want to take food from some stranger. What if there was something in there that would kill me?
But as my stomach gurgled again, I reached for the bowl with a piece of bread sticking from it.
The woman smiled, seeming happy with my choice, so there probably was something in it.
Great.
“What am I doing here?” I asked.
She shifted on her feet. “I’ll let the captain know you’re up.”
Before I could demand more, her meek frame was out the door.
I rolled my eyes. Where was I?
Mindlessly, I took a bite of the food given. It wasn’t the best thing I’d ever had, but it was decent. And then I realized I instantly forgot every survival instinct and just… ate what was in front of me.
Whatever, I had already committed, so I continued, eating all the food in front of me. Once I was done, I felt a bit better, sharper even.
Sharp enough to realize if I pushed the desk over to the window, I could see outside. The perfect plan.
Except as soon as I began pushing the desk, I realized it was made of solid wood and had to weigh at least as much as I did. Why the hell was this desk so heavy?
I started pulling open the drawers, hoping to take out whatever was in there, but all I really found was a few papers and some ink. I pulled another one of the top drawers, realizing it was stuck. I gave it another yank, and another.
“Stupid little…” I yanked it once more, really hard, and it finally broke free. But it broke a bit too free, and came right out of the rails, sending me and the drawer flying back to the wall.
“Ow,” I whined as my ass hit the floor. Great, just fucking great.
I blew my bangs out of my face, before standing and brushing myself off, letting the drawer clank to the floor.
Anger coursed through me. Why was this all so difficult? I kicked the edge of the desk, and when I did, it slid way more than it did when I tried to push it.
Apparently, these drawers were the heavy part.
So I ripped out the other one, letting it crash into the first on the ground, and then started to push.
Though it was still pretty firm, I was able to get it to move a bit.
It scraped across the floor, making even more noise in the room.
Said floor beneath the desk was now scratched, but I wasn’t really worried about it.
It felt like it took forever, but I finally managed to get the desk all the way over to the window. At least then maybe I could tell where I was, and maybe even see someone who could help me.
I hiked my skirt out of the way and started climbing on the desk.
“You know, if you’re going to make an escape attempt, you should probably try not to make so much noise.”
My head whipped around to a voice I recognized.
The man was there, though he was no longer in a waistcoat and a button up.
He had on a loose fitted tunic and a thicker jacket that was fully unbuttoned.
He had on some kind of chain necklace I couldn’t see the end of, and a worn brimmed hat perched on his head.
I grabbed my necklace—my curse—on impulse. Though he looked dashing in his previous clothes, something about this attire seemed to actually fit him. Looked more him for some reason. Not that I knew anything about my kidnapper, obviously.
“What the hell am I doing here?” I asked.
“There was a slight… misunderstanding last night,” he said.
My brows rose. “Misunderstanding? You call kidnapping a misunderstanding?”
He held his hands up in mock surrender. “Kidnapping is a little harsh. There’s just something I need from you, and then you can go back.”
I sucked my teeth. “For someone who wants something from me, you’re not doing a very good job convincing me. What is it? Money?”
He snorted. “I have plenty of that.” Though by his current attire, you wouldn’t be able to tell. “I want that.”
He pointed to my hand, where the blue pendant sat. I lifted my brow. “Really?”
He nodded. “Give it to me and you’re free to go.”
I shrugged, and turned. “Fine, try to take it off.”
He stood behind me and tried to pull the chain apart, managing to do nothing except hurt his hands. “There must be a way to take it off.”
I turned back to him. We were now much closer. His dark eyes looked down into mine. Though he was clean shaven just last night, he was already growing back some stubble. I considered how the slightly spiky hair would feel against my fingertips.
My brain turned to the kiss we shared in the garden, one I’d almost forgotten about. For someone who looked so hard, his lips had been so soft and pliable.
But right now was a really bad time to remember the lips of the man who kidnapped me.
“No one we’ve talked to has been able to,” I said, trying to get back to the subject at hand. For a long time after it happened, it felt like I was being carted from one healer or mage to another. My mothers worried about it for a long time. What was such a powerful magical amulet doing to me?
But after a few years, it seemed clear that it wasn’t doing anything except sitting on my chest, a weight reminding me of that day over and over and over again.
Though every once in a while my mother would bring someone else in to try to break whatever spell was keeping this piece of jewelry bound to me, other things had taken priority, and it was just something I lived with.
At this point, it almost felt like it was a part of me. “If every royal mage can’t break the curse, I don’t think you’ll be able to.”
His jaw was set, as if I’d issued a challenge instead of given a reasonable warning.
“We’re getting it off,” he said as if it was final. “And when I do, it’s mine.”
“Moons, have you always been this cocky?” I snapped. “I’m telling you, not even all the resources the kingdom had to offer could help me, so what makes you think you can?”
He shrugged. “I just don’t fail.”
It felt like talking to a wall. “Okay, so what did you have in mind?”
He thought for a moment. “I thought this was supposed to work,” he said, holding out what looked like a small key with a magestone on the end, though the stone was mostly shattered.
“Yeah, obviously,” I said. “This looks like a cheap piece of crap you get at a phony mage shop.” Anyone with basic magic knowledge should have understood that.
He looked down at it, almost perplexed. “Shouldn’t have trusted that rich fuck,” he murmured.
He tossed the thing down, letting it clatter to the ground. “Okay, plan B.”
I raised one brow. “Plan B?”
He nodded. “We have to go to Maralda.”
“Who?”
He shook his head. “She’s a mage who lives on the outskirts of the Tyrell forest. If anyone knows what to do, it’s her.”
I didn’t know who he was talking about. It definitely wasn’t one of the healers I knew of. “I’m sure if she was that powerful, my parents would have asked for her help.”
“She doesn’t leave the forest,” he said. “And not many people know about her.”
“But you have, what, some special pass?”
He smirked. “You could say that.”
I sighed. This was ridiculous. “I’m not going anywhere. Now let me go.”
“I can’t. Listen.” His gaze was so intense I couldn’t help but hang on his every word. “I need this necklace. It’s important, and I know she can get it off. Don’t you want that?”
At least knowing he wanted something from me made me pretty sure he wasn’t going to try and murder me.