Chapter 81
Aeliana’s landing on Durriken’s back wasn’t gentle or graceful, but there was a rightness deep in her soul as she found her grip and wrapped her arms around his leathery neck.
He flew her to the opposite wing of the palace, giving her a bird’s-eye view of the hundreds of Ahmranans below.
Shouts rose as they caught sight of Durriken, who then dove low on the north side of the palace, out of view.
Once again she wasn’t sure if her stomach turned because of the unfamiliar sensation of flight or because of nerves.
“They’re already here,” she murmured.
Had Gaeren found his parents and Enla? Had he gotten them to safety? She scanned the skies, not sure where to look for Orra and the other Stars, but bright glows on the highest turret made her suspect Orra had finally found them. Hopefully that was a good thing.
Focus on our task. Durriken’s reminder rumbled through her mind.
She nodded, more for herself than in response to him, then ran through the names of the different herbs and roots Marnok and Lukai had instructed her to find.
She relished the opportunity to finally take action and do something to protect her mother, but she also hated the fact that it all depended on her success at finding these herbs in time for them to be used correctly.
Her mother’s life was in her hands, and it terrified her.
They didn’t even understand the curse well enough to guarantee this could work. For all she knew, by poisoning her mother to weaken Mayvus, Aeliana would still be condemning her mother to die—perhaps a more painful death than the one Sylmar would have offered.
She shook her mind free of her spiraling thoughts as Durriken slowed by the apothecary.
Despite the palace’s southeast entrance being overrun by Ahmranans, none seemed interested in what the apothecary had to offer.
In fact, they hadn’t seemed interested in fighting their way into any part of the palace.
They’d stood there, content to wait, as if someone might let them in.
Were they all under Mayvus’ branded spell?
Her gut clenched at the scarier question. Why weren’t the royal soldiers fighting them back outside the gates? Were they attempting some sort of delegation with peaceful terms? Or had Gaeren’s parents always planned to welcome the enemy with open arms?
Durriken’s landing made Aeliana’s teeth rattle as she fell more than jumped off his back.
He took to the skies far faster than she thought he was able, and she felt his absence even though she knew he would only attract unwanted attention.
Even now he might have brought dozens of soldiers headed in her direction.
The Ahmranans probably knew Durriken was Mayvus’ enemy, whether or not they suspected he was tied to the Recreants.
If they served Mayvus, they would want to take him down.
She rushed through the doors Marnok had described.
The front rooms of the apothecary were neatly organized with displays for members of the palace to come make purchases.
But Marnok had warned her none of these items would have what she truly needed.
They were all simple fixes for everyday problems. The valerian root and moon’s brew herbs would be hidden in the back for use only by progenies of the crown.
And of course they were behind a thick locked door.
At first she used her starlock, attempting to shift the lock mechanism inside the door, but without ever practicing that sort of magic and without understanding the locking mechanism, she felt too pressed for time.
Instead, she found a mallet and swung hard at the knob.
After three hits, the knob broke off and the door swung open with a faint creak.
Her chest rose and fell with the effort, and she sensed that Sylmar would be disappointed in her weakness. She promised him in her mind that she would redouble her efforts to train when this was all over, then flung open the door and entered a chaotic brewery and hatchery.
Animals in cages stared back at her with wide eyes, and potions burbled on back burners, making her wonder how this place didn’t burn down at least once a year. A desperate need to free each of the creatures crawled up her spine, but that agenda would have to wait for another day.
For now, she hunted for the red fibrous roots and the light silver herbs.
“Please, please, please,” she murmured, unsure if she begged the Stars or the Sun to show her where to find what she needed.
The only response she received was the whine of a black and white creature that might have been a raccoon. She hoped it wasn’t a skunk.
“What do you think you’re doing?” a voice demanded from behind her.
She froze, then turned slowly, examining the room for other escape options. But it was a closet she stood in, and the only way out was blocked by an elderly progeny. She’d seen him before, assisting Gaeren’s uncle and parents. Trenton? Tobin?
“I need valerian root and moon’s brew. My mother is very ill.”
He snorted. “Are you looking to put her out of her misery?” He shuffled over to a table and pulled a single vial from a rack of dozens. “This will reduce her pain without harming her. Perhaps she’ll recover, and then you’ll have to live with the guilt that you almost killed her.”
Her face heated, even though she didn’t care what this man thought of her. “I don’t need”— she paused, taking in the name of what he’d given her—“willow bark. I need valerian root and moon’s brew.”
His eyebrows rose, but his glance at the drawer to her right gave her a clue for at least one of their locations. “Then you aren’t looking to heal your mother.”
Pain shot through her shoulder, like lightning firing up the nerves in her hand, forcing her hand open to drop the vial, which then shattered on the stone floor. The noise sent several animals scurrying in their cages.
“Who are you setting out to kill?” His voice dropped, and she knew her life depended on her giving the right answer, but she didn’t know what the right answer might be. He should be loyal to the king and queen, to Gaeren. But what if he’d been planted here by Mayvus?
She reached behind her, fumbling for anything on the table that might give her the upper hand. But the old man was both sharper and faster than she’d given him credit for, and the pain that tore through both arms this time made her cry out.
“Were you sent to kill the king?” he asked.
“The king and queen have seemed sicker again lately. Is that because of you? They’re not branded again.
I’ve been watching for that. I’ve even been strengthening the queen’s stamina to ward off susceptibility.
Unless… is that what you came for? Are you taking their blood to brand them? ”
Aeliana shook her head, but then she finally put the memory of him together. He was the king and queen’s primary healer, Tobias. The sting of his magic lessened, and she changed the direction for her flailing arms to the drawer he’d looked at.
“I see the Ahmranan soldiers coming,” he went on, “but maybe they’re a distraction. You came with a dragon, and you look for the silent weapons of an assassin. That alone is enough for me to find you guilty.”
“I’m not an assassin.” Her hand found a grip on the drawer’s handle. “I’ve been here for several days. Haven’t you seen me with the prince?”
Tobias’ eyes narrowed, and she realized it was a mistake to make that connection. “I suspected you all were here for an inside job. I’m surprised you didn’t take the whole family out before bringing that witch into our presence.”
She tried to defend herself, but the magic he employed rose higher with his suspicions, cutting off her words.
She closed her eyes, begging for Durriken to come, not knowing if there was even anything he could do.
As she reached through the tether, she sensed his panic and feared he might tear down the entire wing in his efforts to free her from this mad progeny.
Tobias released his hold, and she dropped to the ground, her legs giving out with the sudden relief from the pain.
“Please,” she gasped out. “I’m trying to kill Mayvus.”
“Of course you would say that now,” he grumbled.
Aeliana’s desperation grew as spots formed in front of her eyes. She scrambled for something to hold on to, to find purchase to stand and defend herself. Her starlock heated against her chest, reminding her she had far more arsenal than the dagger at her waist that she couldn’t seem to grasp.
It was futile after the way her light shields had been sputtering, but in desperation, she let the magic of her starlock and starblood flow through her arms and into her fingertips, begging the Sun and Stars to give her something strong enough to defend herself.
Blinding white light filled the room, and the shield that formed before her forced the older man back against the wall, where he tripped over the mess of supplies scattered across the floor.
Aeliana’s surprise matched his. This time, when the light shield flickered, she knew it was her emotions impacting its success rather than her skill.
Had breaking her brand with Durriken freed up her somatic spoke?
Or was something else at play? She didn’t have time to think on it further.
And despite the light shield giving her room to breathe, Tobias still blocked her exit, and she needed a way out.
Stalling, she inched to the right, picking through the now open drawer for the red vine-like bundle of valerian root and the shiny grey bulbs of the moon’s brew herb the old healer had unknowingly pointed her to.
She tucked them into her belt, missing the deep pockets of her skirts.
“What will you do?” Tobias asked, eyes wide.
“I already told you,” she snapped. “I’m going after Mayvus.”