Chapter 1
TURNABOUT
After the General dismissed us, I decided to go home—and Kato and Conner decided that I needed protection.
I didn’t argue with them because they were right.
Over the last few days, I’d been kidnapped and attacked more times than I could count.
Fenris might be locked up safe and sound in Oblivion, but the Order of Kings was still out there.
And right now, I had to be very high on their list of complications interfering with their master plan.
“Red, is this really all you have?” Conner asked.
We were in my cottage in the Apprentice Village. Conner and Kato were cataloging the contents of my pantry.
“One egg, a jar of pickles, and a wilted green onion. There’s not much we can make with that.” Conner looked at Kato, his brows arching.
“We will find more suitable provisions in the Magic Emporium,” Kato decided.
“Like donuts.”
Kato gave Conner a reproving look. “No, not donuts.”
“Yes, donuts.” I’d taken a few minutes to lie down, but the promise of donuts had me back on my feet.
Kato frowned at me and Conner. “Donuts are not healthy.”
“Neither is being abducted, but that happened,” I said. “And now I need donuts.”
If Kato had a counterpoint to my very persuasive argument, he didn’t voice it. He must have felt pretty sorry for me.
“I guess it’s settled then,” Conner said.
As we made our way toward the door, Kato slid his helmet over his head. He did it so naturally, so fluidly.
“Conner, put on your helmet.”
“You’re such a spoilsport, Kato.” Conner put his helmet on anyway.
When we left the cottage, Mrs. Edwards was busy tending to her rose bushes. A dark apron covered her flower-print dress, and she wore thick gardening gloves.
When she saw me, her whole face lit up with a smile, and she clutched my hands. “Savannah, I’m so glad you’re all right. I was so worried. And then they told me that you’d gone missing.”
I’d never met my grandmother, but if I could pick someone to fill that role, it would be Mrs. Edwards.
Whenever bad things happened, whenever someone showed me how cruel and terrible the world could be, I thought of Mrs. Edwards and was reminded that the world could be beautiful too.
She was kind, genuine, and made the best cookies I’d ever tasted.
I was so lucky to have gotten her as my host in the Apprentice Village.
I opened my arms and gave her a big hug.
“Goodness, what was that for?” she said with a light chuckle.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For being who you are.”
She held me in her embrace for a long moment, then met my eyes. “I’ll miss you too, Savannah.”
“Miss me? Are you going somewhere?”
“No, but you are. The Masquerade Ball is in two days’ time.”
I’d forgotten all about that. When I’d been attacked by a mercenary and thrown into another realm, balls and dresses and other such things had definitely taken a backseat to the more pressing matter of escape. And survival.
“You’re going to be a Knight, and then you’ll be off to the Castle,” Mrs. Edwards said. “Some fellows were here earlier to pick up your belongings. Most of your things are already waiting for you in the Castle.”
Was it bad that I hadn’t even noticed my missing stuff?
“I will miss you, Savannah.” Mrs. Edwards hugged me again. “I do worry about you. You seem to attract all sorts of trouble.”
“There’s no doubt about that,” Kato said.
Mrs. Edwards shone her sunny smile on him and Conner. “It’s comforting to know you have two such strong and valiant Knights to look after you. Promise you will always protect her.”
“Of course,” Kato said.
“We will never leave her,” Conner added.
Her smile turned brighter, and then, in an instant, it vanished. “What is the Iron Wolf doing here?”
I turned, following her gaze down the driveway, to the black SUV that had just stopped there. The General stood in front of it, watching us. Bad news was painted all over his face.
Kato strode down the driveway toward him. Conner and I followed.
“General? What happened?” Kato asked.
“Miss Winters, come with me.” The General opened the door to the SUV.
I went inside. The boys climbed in after me. The General’s gaze fell briefly on Conner, then fixed on me. Whatever had happened, it was bad. He didn’t even comment on Conner’s presence. Or try to arrest him.
The General folded his hands neatly over his lap. “Miss Winters, you have been summoned to the Many Realms Court.”
I flinched. “Why does that sound like a bad thing?”
“The Court has questioned Prince Fenris.” His face was unreadable. “Fenris is telling them a very different story from yours, Miss Winters.”
“What is he saying?” I asked.
I had a feeling I didn’t want to know.
The General’s expression was so hard, you could have bounced marbles off of it.
“He says Gaia is behind the Apprentice kidnappings. He says we’re experimenting on the Apprentices.
He claims we’re building an army of Polymages to wage war on the Many Realms. He proclaims that you two are leading that army of Polymages.
” The General pointed at Kato, then at Conner.
“He also says that you, Miss Winters, killed his mother, Queen Seriana, a beloved member of the Court. And now the Court is out for blood.”