Page 26 of Tanglewood Magic (The Three Sisters 2)
“Treason?” Circe had no idea what the woman was talking about.
Zelaria pivoted and held the door open. “Bring her.”
She was hauled roughly by the arms. “I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
Outside, she was thrust toward the open door of one of the royal carriages. She stuck out her foot and braced it on the door, making it impossible for the soldiers to force her inside. When Zelaria didn’t answer her, Circe finally lost her temper. “I demand an explanation! When my sister hears about this—”
Zelaria gave a wicked laugh. “Oh, dear Circe, Medea and Tavyss are gone. Fled to Paragon, where Tavyss conspires to become king and then annex Darnuith using Medea’s claim to the throne. The wizard council of Darnuith had already been notified. They will not succeed.”
“That’s not what’s happening at all, and you know it!” Circe barked.
Zelaria drew her wand and sent a ball of orange light hurtling toward her head. Circe grunted as the magic plowed into her. Then everything went black.
* * *
Circe woke somewherehard and cold, in a place with dank air that smelled of molding hay and animal dung. The lashes of her right eye brushed stone as she blinked, her face pressed into the floor. Slowly, she lifted her head, and the room came into focus.
“If you can stay asleep, I highly recommend it,” Isis said somewhere behind her. “The real world isn’t a fun place at the moment.”
Circe pushed the rest of the way up. Isis was beside her, sitting on the stone floor with her knees pulled into her chest. “She got you too?”
“Yep.”
“What is happening? Do you think Medea and Tavyss know what Zelaria is doing?”
“Shh.” Isis’s dark eyes flicked to the side. Circe followed her glance to a guard at the end of the hall. Isis threaded her fingers into her sister’s.
Can you hear me?
Circe’s eyes widened at the sound of her sister’s voice inside her head. When had she learned to do that?
Something I read about in a book,she answered.I’ve been practicing on Brody. We’re in real danger here, sis. I think Zelaria is the one who told Eleanor about Tavyss and started this whole mess. If she’s working with Paragon, this is a huge setup.
“Why?” she asked.
Isis’s gaze swiveled to the guard. “Concentrate on the connection,” Isis whispered.
Circe narrowed her eyes and focused on the feel of Isis’s hand in hers. The bond she shared with her sister was like no other. She sensed it now inside her like a string that traveled from within her to somewhere within her sister. She concentrated and silently pushed the words along it.
Why… would… she… do… that?
Good job. I can hear you.Isis nodded her approval. With Medea out of the way, she probably thinks the Fates would choose her as the next queen.
Circe shook her head and pushed the words through, faster this time.Medea has the golden grimoire. She and Tavyss will grind Zelaria into dust the moment they return from Paragon.
Isis squeezed her hand harder.Don’t you feel it? Try to sense Medea.
She centered herself, reached out with her Tanglewood senses. They’d been born together, triplets with a magical bond forged in the womb. When she closed her eyes, she immediately sensed Isis like a black flame beside her, but Medea’s light was harder to detect. Her light was weak, distant, flickering.
She’s in trouble! We have to help her!
Yes, I feel that too. Medea and Tavyss traveled to Paragon on a peacekeeping mission to do exactly what Eleanor asked them to do. But they took everything the queen of Paragon said at face value. What if she was lying? What if they walked into a trap?
Circe bounded to her feet and paced the cell, wanting to blow out the walls. On an impulse, she grabbed the bars but screamed when a shock ran up both arms. The guard in the hall laughed at her. “Enchanted, sweetheart. Don’t even try it.”
She ignored him and slipped her hand back into Isis’s.How do we get out of here?
They took our wands. Our cell is enchanted to keep us from using our magic. We need a plan. One that keeps our heads attached to our shoulders.
