Daros sits before me, bound like before, eyeing the bandage on my arm. “Had a little run-in, did we?”
I ignore him. I won’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know I hurt myself trying to kill the First Queen. “I need more information.”
“She did that to you, then. I knew you’d need more.”
Next to Daros, Nash balls his hands into fists.
On his other side, Jaku remains calmer, but the lines in his neck are tense. He says, “You will respect Her Majesty.”
Daros shrugs—or tries to. “She hasn’t earned my respect.”
Nash’s fist goes flying.
Before it can land, I say, “Not yet, Nash.”
He pulls back, shoulders heaving. It can’t be easy, putting up with Daros attacking me. If our positions were reversed, I would have let that punch land, instead of pulling back.
“That’s right,” Daros says. “Listen to the girl. That’s all she can do anymore is talk. Might as well make her think it means something.”
This time, Nash doesn’t hesitate. He punches Daros full on the mouth. Daros reels back fast and hard, the front two legs of the chair lifting off the ground.
I don’t bother saying something to Nash. I wanted to do the same thing.
Daros turns his head to the side and spits. “Not a good way to get information out of me.”
I say, “I need you to tell me how to defeat the First Queen. None of this nonsense I already know. You will give me the information I need.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?” He’s going to give it to me without a fight?
“On the condition that you give me my freedom and my house back.”
Of course there’s a catch. There’s always a catch. He wants a bargain. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You pardoned me. Might as well set me free, like you should have done.”
“Why do you even want to stay in the city?” Everyone knows him here and now they realize what his job is, if they didn’t already.
“My reasons are my own.”
I hold in a huff. “We both know you’re going to wreak havoc in this country if I set you free. I can’t have that happening.”
“It’s your death.”
I clench my jaw. He’s right. I glance at Nash and Jaku. Neither is looking at me, both staring daggers at Daros. Too bad it doesn’t intimidate him in the least. I could take them out of the room and discuss it with them again, but I don’t want to. It’s clear it’s up to me and they’ll support me with what I decide, even if they don’t like it.
“Fine. You want your freedom and your house back?” Not that his house was left in very good condition. Another reason not to care if I give it to him. “You can have them, if you take a dozen guards with you wherever you go.”
“Not much freedom then, is it? Besides, you could have your Head Guard here stab me in the back as soon as we part ways.”
I try to act nonchalant, but if he doesn’t take it, I don’t know what I’ll do. “You’ll have to trust that we aren’t like you. Besides, it’ll mean more freedom than you have now.”
He purses his lips as the room turns silent. It’s so quiet. I can hear my own breathing, my stress, dripping from me. It’s not what I want, but then, none of this is. He says, “Three guards, in exchange for another piece of information.”
I don’t let my relief show on my face. Besides, he’s only offering a piece. I need the whole, but I have a feeling it’s going to take a lot of time and persistence to get it out of him, and more giving in to his demands. “Six. And when I summon you, there’s no delay in your coming,” I say.
“Done.”
That was too easy. What has he planned? I don’t trust him at all. At least with the guards, I can hope everything will go as I want. “Tell me what I need to know.”
“Not until I have what I want.”
“That may have worked last time, but it’s not going to work now. Tell me.”
“Let me out of the bands first.”
I clench my jaw. He’s right, I have to let him go, but I don’t wish to. I want to keep him locked up forever. We’re far past that alternative if we’re going to continue getting information out of him. I give Jaku the go ahead. He leans down next to Daros’s ear and whispers something I can’t hear before sawing through the ropes.
Once he’s free, Daros shakes out his arms and rubs them down, before standing and stretching. “You don’t know how good that feels.”
“Answers, Daros.” My words are crisp. “Now.”
It’s strange, looking at him when he’s so much thinner. Though we’ve been feeding him, it hasn’t been enough time for him to put the weight or the muscle back on. He saunters forward, but Nash darts out a hand and shoves him back by the shoulder.
Daros doesn’t glance his way. “You’ll need magic to defeat Androlla.”
I should have known, but it’s a shock. “Where do I get it?”
“I’m not sure it’s worth telling you without more of what I want.”
I glare him down. “And I don’t have to give you what you want, without something more to go on. How do I get magic?”
He taps his lip with one finger as he looks at me. Nash and Jaku are tense, their muscles bunched, poised to grab him the moment he missteps. Daros may be weakened, but so is Jaku from his shoulder wound. I’m not sure who’d have the upper hand if it came to a fight. Though Daros wouldn’t get far, with all the guards outside the room, and no other way of escaping.
When Daros speaks, his voice is deceivingly calm. “Practice simple spells to start with. A charm for good luck. A charm of protection.”
Both spells sound useful, but not like something I can use to defeat the First Queen. On the other hand, if it’s going to take magic to defeat her, I have a lot I need to learn. “How do I do that?”
“You are a simpleton.”
Puneah growls. Can she understand what we’re saying? Either way, I’m happy she’s on my side. “Tell me what I need to know.”
He rubs his nails against his shirt, as if he hasn’t a care in the world. “You’ll need an object to focus the magic on. A rock. A piece of jewelry. Clothing. Anything that doesn’t have life to it.”
“So no plants?”
“No plants or animals.”
“Fine, then what?”
“Let’s start with a spell for luck. Besides the object, you’ll need something green, rosemary, and a mirror. Grind up the first two ingredients on the mirror. While doing so chant ohma lo, then place the object you’re going to use on the mirror and rub the grindings into that object while saying the same phrase. When you get it right, the object will glow for a brief moment, and then it will be enchanted with luck.”
“That’s all I need to do?” It sounds simple enough.
“No. You need to believe it. Not a little, but truly think it’s going to work. The object will not take to the spell unless you do so.”
“You're not instructing me to build a curse, are you?” Because I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Would I do such a thing?”
That doesn’t make me feel better. Perhaps there’s another way I can get the information I want. “What does ohma lo mean? Why do I need to chant that?”
“You ask too many questions,” he snaps. “It needs to be done if you want Queen Androlla gone.”
His rebuke stings, but I don’t let it show. I have to focus on the task, and not on his trying to make me feel inferior. “I can do that.”
“Right.” The word comes out like he doesn’t believe me. “In the meantime, if you’ll excuse me, I have a house to set up.”
I want to ask if he’ll come back when called, but I can’t bring myself to seem that weak. Besides, he’ll have guards to make him. I hope they can. With his skills, including magic, there’s little I can do about forcing him to return. I have to believe I have things he wants, which is why he’s staying in town. There has to be a reason why he’s so insistent on having his house back.
Jaku and Nash on the other hand have no problem stopping him, both getting in his way to the door.
“You’ll have to wait until we can arrange for the guards to be with you,” Jaku says.
“Very well,” Daros replies. “But you won’t tie me up. I refuse to be bound again.”
Jaku looks at me. I give my consent. We leave and shut the door on Daros after the guards join him.
As I’m being wheeled away, I ask Jaku, “Who will you put on him?”
“I’d like the best, but they need to stay with you. I’ll try to split it in a way that you’re still protected, but Daros won’t sneeze without a blade making it to his throat.”
“Perfect.”
While we journey back, I think about magic. Is it true there’s a healing spell? One that can undo the damage Daros did to me? If there is one, I doubt he’d give it to me, since he was the one to put me in this predicament in the first place.
Back in my rooms, Jaku excuses himself, and I request that Nash roll me by the sitting room window. When I’m settled, he asks, “Would you like me to get everything together for the spell?”
“The sooner, the better. Also, I would like to speak to the Head Librarian.”
“Consider it done.” He draws nearer long enough to give my hand a squeeze and is out the door.
I want to ask him how he’s doing, if he’s handling things better, but I don’t think I’ll like the answer when there’s even less I can do about it now that I’m confined.
Moments later, Inkga enters. She is kind enough to chat with me a while, but it’s hard to focus on what she says. My mind is busy trying to figure out how making a protection charm or luck charm will help me defeat the First Queen. Why type of protection will it offer? And how will a luck charm help me if I can hardly move? I’ll have to concentrate on this as the first step and believe it will assist me better when we get to the harder spells.
Her presence is near, leading me to believe I won’t be able to keep this from her. What will she say about it when I go to sleep next? Will she even care?
No matter what she says or does, I should ignore her and enjoy the little time I have my free will.
I force myself into conversation with Inkga, getting away from thoughts of Androlla. There’s more there that I want to think about anyway.
Nash joins us after a while, laden with a bag and joined by a tall woman with big eyes that take everything in.
“This is Wula Hendri, the Head Librarian,” Nash says.
She gives a pretty curtsy. “How may I help you, Your Majesty?”
I glance at Inkga and make a quick decision. I’m not ready to tell her about the First Queen, but letting her know I’m interested in magic will be a good first step to see how she reacts. “I would like all the books you have on magic.”
“Magic? But that’s unheard of.” Wula puts a hand on her hip.
“Mostly unheard of,” I say. “It's not all gone as evidenced by Venda from Faner.” I should consider enlisting her help as well, if she’s willing.
The librarian lifts her eyebrows. “I heard rumors, but I didn’t know they were true.”
“Very. What I need from you is any and all books you can find on the subject.”
“I will do what I can.”
“As quickly as you can, please.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Will there be anything else?”
“That should do it. Please keep quiet about it.”
“Very well. I will personally deliver you what I can and will report back when I can’t find anymore.”
“Thank you.”
As she exits, I glance at Inkga. Her eyes are wide, but the rest of her seems calm. When she notices I’m looking at her, she says, “I didn’t know magic still existed.”
“It does, though there’s not much of it in Valcora at the current time.” It’s almost as if someone has tried to snuff it out. The First Queen, perhaps? If it’s the key to defeating her, I can understand why she would be reluctant to let it continue.
“That’s amazing,” Inkga says. “Can I learn with you?”
I can’t help but laugh at the eagerness in her voice. Maybe she’d change her mind if she knew it was to defeat an evil queen who’s been ruling for a thousand years. Or maybe she’d think I am crazy. “If you like. I’m trying to make a luck charm today.”
I explain to her what Daros told me about simple spells without divulging my source, without telling her it was Daros that did the telling, as Nash pulls items out of his bag and sets them on a nearby table. Once he’s finished, he rolls me closer.
“How are we going to grind the items down without breaking the mirror?” Inkga asks.
I’m more worried about having enough strength to grind them in the first place. “That is a concern. We’ll have to be careful.”
“Who wants to try first?” Nash asks.
“We should let Ryn try,” Inkga says.
Something in me doesn’t want to touch the stuff. Instead of giving into that feeling, I try to push myself forward and fail. “I’ll need some help.”
Nash nods. He grabs a sprig of rosemary and another plant I can’t place.
“What’s the other green plant?” I ask.
“Dried hathwa.” He sets them both on a mirror and pulls a pestle out of his bag along with a rock that he sets on the mirror besides the other two ingredients. “Here, Ryn.”
I love the sound of my name coming from his lips. There’s little time to ponder it, though, as he sets the mirror on my lap and helps me grab hold of the pestle. I flicker my gaze to Inkga, who’s watching intently.
Nash says, “Go ahead.”
I attempt my best to grip onto the pestle and move it toward the mirror. The jerky movement causes the pestle to go flying out of my hand to the floor. “This is going to take a lot of practice.”
Inkga grabs the pestle and places it back in my hands. “That’s all right. We have time.”
Nash winces. Time is one thing I don’t have.
I try several more times with the same results, and my hand feels weaker than ever. “Why don’t you give it a try, Nash? Or Inkga?”
He looks to her. “Why don’t you try it first?”
“All right.” There’s a hesitation in her voice, but she takes the mirror and pestle and begins to grind the plants up while chanting ohma lo. After a moment, she stops. “I feel a little silly, doing this.”
“You have to believe in it for it to happen,” Nash says.
“All right.” She resumes until the mixture is a fine powder, and then proceeds to rub the material into the stone while continuing chanting. A minute passes. Then another.
She shrugs. “Maybe I don’t have an affinity for magic.”
“Do you need it?” I ask.
“You just need to believe, I think,” Nash says. “It will work. It has to.”
His voice is so intense, I expect Inkga to question why it matters so much, but she remains silent. Nash goes through the process, starting with a new batch of hathwa, rosemary, and a rock. When he starts rubbing the mixture into the rock, I watch on with eager eyes.
Nothing happens.
After several minutes, he leans back. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
“Maybe we should request Venda’s help,” I say.
“Do you think she’d be able to guide us?” Inkga asks.
“She prevented me from dying with magic. I don’t see why she couldn’t help us along.”
Inkga hurries to the door. “I’ll go get her.” She doesn’t wait for me to respond; she leaves the door at an almost run.
Nash glances at me. “You think Daros kept something from us?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll whip him if he did.” The venom in his words matches the poison in my heart toward Daros.
“I wish I could help.”
His expression softens. “How are you feeling?”
“Truth be told, tired. It’s been a long day, though it’s still early afternoon. I’m afraid it’s taken a lot out of me.”
“Why don’t you close your eyes and rest for a while? Do you want me to take you to your bed?”
“I’d rather sit here with you, but maybe I will take you up on your offer.” I watch his soft smile, until my eyes close. The next thing I know, I’m waking to the door opening. A quick glance at the clock shows it’s been over an hour. I yawn as Inkga and Venda enter.
This is ridiculous. I’ve never been so tired in my life. I don’t think I was even this sleepy as a baby. I’d ask Shillian about that, except I’m not talking to her since Carver's betrayal. Trying to kill me for Daros. I want nothing to do with either of them.
“I found Venda,” Inkga says. “She’s willing to help us.”
“I hear you are trying to make a luck charm.” Venda’s voice is melodic as ever, but there’s an undercurrent to it that I don’t understand. A tightening that's not usually there.
“We are trying to learn magic in general. A luck charm sounds easy enough.” If it’s too difficult to learn, I can’t imagine I’ll get what I need in time to stop the First Queen.
“It is simple, once you understand magic.” She glances around the room. “Where is Puneah?”
“Probably sleeping in my room, on my bed or under it. That’s her favorite place.” She’s usually on it when I’m there, but it’s not a given.
“She must be comfortable with you, to have made your bed her nest.”
Charming. “Do you know what we need to do for the luck spell?”
“I do.” She glances down at our ingredients. “Hathwa?”
“We were told to use something green,” Nash says.
“From whom?”
We remain silent as she and Inkga look from me to Nash.
Nash finally says, “Our source that’s helping us with magic.”
She sniffs, lifting her chin. “If you need advice, you should come to me. No one in your country knows enough. Something green will work, but bark of an urta tree would work better.”
“An urta for luck?” Inkga asks. “Like the superstitions say?”
“Just like that,” she replies. “Superstitions exist for a reason.”
“I’ll fetch one, if I manage to find some,” Nash says.
“They are rare, but check with the cook’s assistant. I’ve been able to acquire several rare ingredients from her,” Venda says.
While he’s gone, Venda questions me about what I know of the spell, and I tell her all Daros explained to me. I’m getting good at it, now that I’ve heard it once and retold it twice.
“Very well,” she says.
“So this spell will really work?” I ask.
“With a few adjustments, yes.”
That’s a relief. If Daros is mostly telling the truth, perhaps we’ll be able to get to the bottom of this with Venda’s help.
Nash comes through the door. “The cook’s assistant didn’t have any but knew of a gardener that might have some, and he did.” He pulls a piece of dark bark from a pouch.
Nash pulls a piece of dark bark from out of a pouch.
“Very good. It is true that believing in it is an important part of magic, but you must also find a part of yourself to give to the spell. A part deep inside here.” Venda pumps a fist on her chest.
“What about ohma lo?” I ask. “What does it mean, and why must we say it?’
“In the ancient tongue, it means luck be given. You could say just that, but I and other enchanters feel the magic is stronger when using the ancient language. It helps you to concentrate. To focus on something specific.”
She gathers the ingredients on the mirror, forming a pile of each. “The pestle will help break down the rosemary but isn’t strictly necessary. It just takes combining them. Their oils, you might say. They should mix as you chant, and you have to feed them your belief and the part of you.” She smushes them together with her fingers, chanting ohma lo. After a minute or so, she takes the mixture and transfers it onto the rock, while she continues to chant. It takes a moment, but then the stone glows, and she stops, wipes the mixture off the newly made luck charm, and holds it up for us to see.
“I can’t believe it worked,” Inkga says.
“And that is why you fail.” Venda hands her the rock. “That is yours to gift to whomever you choose. You may not keep it for yourself or give it to Ryn until you make one on your own. It will mean more if you make it. It will still be lucky, just not as strongly. Since we are in Valcora, I would decorate the charm and tell the person you are gifting it to that it is something special you made them, and not that it is magic. People here do not like magic.”
Inkga takes it reverently. “It’s hard to believe they don’t like magic, when it can create good things.”
“It can also cause harm”—Venda looks straight at me—“but it seems your leader would like to bring it back to this country, which I commend.”
It is for the best purpose—to get Valcora out of the hands of a mad woman.