Page 39 of Tanglewood Magic (The Three Sisters 2)
“As such, King Brynhoff has issued a decree forbidding the mating of dragons and witches. Although the attack by Darnuith was thwarted, and the kingdom’s new ruler, Zelaria, promises peace, relations between the kingdoms have never been worse. Witches living in Paragon have had their property seized and been asked to return to Darnuith. Although some trade is still happening along the Sanguine, the future of diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms is anyone’s guess.
“The two sisters of Queen Medea are still at large. Queen Eleanor has offered ten thousand dragmar for anyone who can bring them to justice. Rest assured, citizens of Paragon, we are in good hands with Eleanor and Brynhoff on the throne.”
Power built in the air like a gathering storm. The three sisters clung to one another. Rhys had never seen Circe look so angry. Medea’s skin glowed ominously. And the room filled with the whispers of shadows that twisted and tangled around Isis.
Daluk lowered the scroll. “You are, of course, welcome to sanctuary in our temple for as long as it takes for you to find a permanent place to settle.”
Circe scowled. “A permanent place? Who else would take us in after that? Who could we trust? Ten thousand dragmar? All of Ouros will want our heads!”
Medea folded her arms over her borrowed robes. Her voice was calm and commanding as she said, “We must go back to Darnuith.”
Circe gasped. “Are you mad? I understand you wanting to see Tavyss again, but I won’t let you commit suicide, Medea. Darnuith would be suicide.”
Medea’s gaze locked on Rhys’s, and a chill traveled through him at what he saw there. “We must find a way, Rhys.”
“Why are you looking at him? Keep him out of this. He’s a wanted man there as well,” Circe protested.
“I’m looking at him because as an apothecary, he knows the woods of Darnuith. He knows every inch of those mountains. Every river. Every stream. Every edible plant.”
Rhys nodded. He did know those things. Isis may know her hunting grounds, but Rhys collected herbs and roots from the furthest reaches of the kingdom.
“Why do we need to go back at all, sister?” Isis asked.
Rhys was wondering the same thing. She couldn’t be under the delusion that she could wrest the kingdom from Zelaria’s grip. The former adviser had too much popular support.
Medea’s face was somber as she answered. “We have to retrieve the Tanglewood tree.”
Circe’s hand went to her mouth. “We grew a new one before.”
“It can be used against us. I had it moved to the gardens at Maelhaven. Zelaria knows it is important to me. It’s only a matter of time before she discovers why.”
Isis cursed.
“What’s the Tanglewood tree?” Rhys asked.
Circe looked as if she might be sick as she answered. “Remember how I told you my sisters and I were born in the Garden of the Hesperides? A tree sprouted from the earth in the exact spot of our birth, watered by our blood. Our magic is tied to it. Our wands are made from it.”
The pieces came together for Rhys, and he understood why the sisters had to get it back. In the wrong hands, the Tanglewood tree could be analyzed, the magic used to create spells to find and to bind them. If Zelaria understood the tree’s magic, she could make slaves of the sisters.
He cracked his neck. “We can cross the border behind Franwise Farm, hike through the gila vine field, then traverse the Ice Forest. It won’t be easy, but no one travels that route.”
“I can carry us by shadow from the Ice Forest to Maelhaven,” Isis said.
Medea nodded. “Daluk, can you procure suitable clothing for our journey?”
“Crafted from the finest elf-made materials.”
“Then we leave in the morning,” Medea said. Circe and Isis agreed.
“I only have one question,” Rhys said. “Once we have this tree, where exactly do you plan to go with it?”
* * *
That night,Rhys couldn’t sleep. He thought about using some of the herbs from his apothecary’s basket to make a sleeping tonic, but since it was already the middle of the night, he was worried he’d be groggy in the morning if he did. He had to be at his best. All of them did, if they had any hope of making it on to palace grounds and retrieving the tree. And that was just the beginning. Then, somehow, they needed to make it somewhere safe.
Where would they go? The Temple of the Sacred Pools wasn’t a permanent solution. What would happen to his apothecary? He was sure he loved Circe, but this situation seemed impossible. His mind spun and raged against the changes ahead.
A soft knock came through the darkness. If he’d been asleep, he doubted he’d have heard it. He climbed from his bed and unlocked his door.
