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WITH CERYN GONE AND the doors locked, the inertia settles over the room once again. Will stares out of the window, Addyson and Della talk, though Della is obviously anxious about Finn, twisting her hands together and biting her lip.
The teacher is tending to Archer, who’s sitting up, Everleigh’s hand in his, feeling better and desperate to be off with Ceryn.
“I feel good.”
“You felt good before and we almost lost you.”
“I feel fine, honestly.”
“That’s good, but you still can’t go to help Ceryn. She’s not going to get into trouble, just see if our hunch is right. If Ginata’s at her cottage with my brother and Wolf.”
“And if she is?”
“Then as soon as Weaver gets back with reinforcements, we can rescue her and kill him.”
“Kill him?”
“Yes. I don’t trust him, Archer, and while he’s alive there’s always a chance that someone could assist him to take back his crown and then we’d be back at the start of it all again. Without him to rally supporters, there’ll be no outcome other than me being Queen.”
“I cannot wait for peace.”
“Me neither. I will be a peaceful Queen.”
“A beautiful Queen.”
Everleigh blushes but cannot answer. She just squeezes his hand a little tighter, resting her forehead against his for a second.
Needing to distract herself from the heat of him sitting beside her, she turns to watch the teacher as he makes another tonic for Archer. He stands on a stool so he can reach the bench and the concentration on his face is evident. He cuts up different herbs and leaves and petals, he mixes them with pinches of this powder, and scoops of that powder. He shakes everything together in a small bottle, and then pours the contents in to a cup.
“I wanted to ask you something.” The serious tone of Everleigh’s voice makes the teacher stop what he’s doing. “About my sister.”
He passes the tonic to Archer and sits facing Everleigh, listening intently. “Go on.”
“I know we all call her cursed. And people don’t like to be near her. They’re suspicious or frightened, I don’t even know which one or why. If the curse is because she killed our mother, why are they scared?”
The teacher nods. “Lots of people enjoy having something to worry about. A superstitious person enjoys having strange little rituals or things they can complain about or fear. It gives them something to do. It’s like Ceryn. The devil’s mark is a load of old nonsense but people lap it up.”
“That’s my question, I suppose. If Addyson is the cursed princess, what is the curse? Is it nonsense or is there an actual curse upon her? What form does it take? What can I do to help her or protect her?”
He sighs, rubbing his eyes. “This is tricky. There is nothing for anyone to fear from her. She won’t hurt anyone, nor, can I imagine, does she want to. She didn’t kill your mother, childbirth did. But...” He takes a deep breath. “The curse is real. Only because your mother was a Queen. It’s silly old magic, traditional and archaic. Your mother was royal because she married your father, so the magic that ran through his veins, that runs through yours, transferred in part to your mother. Although your sister didn’t kill her, she did. But for giving birth to Addyson, your mother would be alive. Addyson wasn’t at fault and isn’t to blame, but the ancient magic of the Realm means that the curse is real.”
Everleigh shakes her head. “So, what is it? What will happen to her?”
“I only know one other case, and it was many years ago. As I remember it, the curse is almost like a mirror. It reflects back what befell the victim.”
“So, it will kill my sister?” The anguish on Everleigh’s face makes both Archer and the teacher reach for her hand.
“It’s not quite so literal. No, when your mother died it robbed your father of their love. It took his true love away from him and it left him lonely. If I am right, and I am not always, Addyson will never find true love, she will always be lonely and if she does become with child...she will die in childbirth.”
Tears pool in Everleigh’s eyes and spill onto her cheeks. She’s shaking her head as she speaks. “I was hoping it was a stupid curse, a pointless one, just words, not real. Like what people say about Ceryn’s mark. I wanted it to be just words.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Can we change it, alter the course of her life? Mine was altered. I should be dead by now, but I’m not.”
“The prophecy said you would rule.”
“You said it was my choice.”
“It was, but a prophecy is different to a curse. A prophecy is an opportunity. A curse is a condemnation.”
“It cannot be hopeless. If a Kingmaker can live, then there must be a way to change things for Addyson.”
“That I know of, no, but I do not know everything.”
“Will you help me find out?”
He nods and she rests her head on Archer’s chest. “You have to.”
They are silent as they each lose themselves in their own thoughts, none of them aware of Addyson on the other side of the door, listening.
***
CERYN WHISPERS TO PITCH as she readies her for riding and then heads away from the castle to the cottages. She isn’t planning on confronting anyone, but she needs to see if they are there and hopefully find Finn before he walks into the path of danger. She has weapons if she needs them and she’s ready for whatever may happen.
The closer she gets, the more wired she becomes; adrenalin and fear in equal measures priming her for action.
She tethers Pitch far enough away that no one will see her or hear her, and then moves towards the cottages. She is hidden in a copse of trees and she’s sure no one would see her unless they came looking specifically. She can see the pair of cottages, fences around the front gardens, flowers along the paths. They are pretty little cottages, close to the woods and the river, quiet but not isolated; there are other cottages across the way and down a bit, but Ceryn keeps her attention focused on Ginata’s cottage.
There are signs of life. The windows are open and the front door is ajar. There is smoke curling out of the chimney.
Feeling a little exposed standing at the base of the tree, Ceryn decides to climb it. No one can sneak up on her if she’s up a tree and she has the advantage of a clear view all around.
So far, there’s no movement from within the cottage, though it’s likely there’s someone there. Della and Finn’s cottage is completely closed up.
She shifts to find a comfier position and sees movement to the left of her. Finn. “Finn!” She calls out to him and he stops when he hears her. She calls again and jumps down from the tree, pulling him into the shelter of the branches.
“You need to go back to the castle.”
“Why? What’s happened?”
“Ginata’s gone from the castle and so’s Wolf. We think Millard’s been drugging her with a love potion. We think she’s under his spell. We think they might be here, but I’ve not seen anyone yet.”
“Let me wait with you.”
Ceryn grins, shaking her head.
“Look, I know I’m no fighter, but two heads are better than one, surely?”