Chapter 23
VALANCE
“And there you have it,” Kormac finished his tale, pulling the oars.
The old woman sat between my cousins at the back end of the boat on a bench. I took the other end, my back to the exit and facing Kormac, him in the center with the oars.
“I can help you,” I said as a response.
“With what?”
“The oars.”
“Rest.”
“What about your resting?” I tried.
“I’ve rested as best I can.”
“But—”
“Enough,” the old woman interjected. “Who churns the water is unimportant.”
I frowned but said, “Thank you for doing this.”
“Make sure you survive,” she said. “That will be my thanks.”
“I will. We will.”
“Good to know.” She sighed. “I long for apple pie.”
“Autumn is famous for its apple pie,” Kormac said.
“No shrimp?” I asked the old woman.
“Apple pie now,” she answered.
“I’m hungry myself.” My stomach rumbled in response.
“Hold on until you reach shore.”
“How long will—”
“By nightfall you should reach the shores of Autumn,” she cut me off.
“In this little boat?” I questioned.
“Yes, Your Highness. By the hand of your cousins.”
A current took told of us, dragging us faster toward light at the end of the tunnel. We passed into daylight, surrounded by rocks. The boat rocked aggressively as the river emptied into the sea. I held on tight, waves crashing into the rocks around us.
We’d either be smashed to pieces or drowned.
Then I caught my cousin Daro’s fingers moving. The water calmed, the boat jolting. It steadied, taken by a different current. Stayed steady, seeming to glide across the waves, moving out to sea, easing through swells.
“What—”
“And now for you, Lilybeth,” the old woman said.
Lilybeth used her magic, the wind feeling as if plucked from somewhere else. Used as a tool, pushing against our vessel.
The old woman seemed pleased, her awful teeth on show. “A wonderful team. The wind and the water at their command.”
I looked between them. “You have control over my cousins?”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
“A magic you will know when you reach the north.”
“Of course.”
Always lost in mystery…
Always stuck in the dark…
“I know, it is frustrating,” she said. “It is for me. I didn’t want to be here in Spring. I hate it. I like Autumn. I was set for Autumn and apple pie. Now I will not see either, and I will wait in the cold as the full me. My powers are spent.”
“I’m sorry,” I offered.
“Why? The mer brought us to this. Not you.”
“I’m glad.”
“You are?”
I realized my mistake. “I’m glad you didn’t betray us, I mean.”
“I understand.” She licked her palm. “You do not trust me.”
“I do. We both do.”
Kormac nodded in agreement.
“Yet you considered this my doing?”
I sighed. “Can you blame me? I’m traveling blind to Winter without much knowledge. We’re traveling…”
“Hopefully, you now see that your interests are in my heart. Pure as anything.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Another lick of the palm. “Worry not, Prince Valance.”
The country of Spring fell away piece by piece. The keep, its crown, showing no hint of the chaos within.
“They’ll hunt us,” I said.
“I’m sure they will. Only so far, though.” She smiled.
“What did you do?”
“Chaotic mist. Itchy, bad for the lungs. All temporary but enough to confuse and linger. Hours will pass before normality returns to that wretched place. By then, you will be well on your way.”
I expected to see ships give chase. None appeared.
“Autumn is rich with Fomorian,” I said. “At least in the northern reaches.”
“Dangerous.”
“And we’ve lost you,” I said.
“Until Winter. Be grateful of this freedom. If I didn’t act, you would never leave with your life.”
I didn’t say anymore, thankful for her intervention. But she was exhausting, and her palm-licking grated on my patience. Instead, I turned to face the way forward, the boat in full control of magic. Praying to Danu for a safe crossing.