Chapter 22
“What do we do now?”I look between each of them.
“We’ve been working on a plan,” Davien says. His calmness is unexpectedly grating.
“I hope it’s a good one because I’ve no interest in dying.”
“I have no interest in seeing you die.” The muscles in his cheeks tense. “Besides, the king doesn’t care about you, he cares about the magic within you. The sooner we get the magic out, the sooner you’ll be safe.”
“Then I take it we’ve made progress on that front?” I look from Vena to Allor and back.
“We have an idea.”
I’d like something more secure sounding than “an idea” but if it’s the best we have right now… “Which is?”
“To the north of us, right at the edge of the mer folk’s borders, is the Lake of Anointing,” Vena says. “It is where all the old kings went before their coronation to bathe in the waters closest to the Ancestral Tree at the world’s edge. If there’s anything that’s going to connect you enough with the king’s power to pass it to Davien, it’s those waters.”
Ancestral Trees, world’s edge. I gloss over the elements that don’t seem to matter critically to keeping me alive. “Doesn’t Boltov think we’ll be heading there?”
“He won’t if I tell him you’re hunkering down here.” Allor shrugs.
“You have so much sway over the king.” I press my lips together to keep from scowling.
“I do what I can. He has no reason not to trust me.”
“Will you tell him that Davien and I are bracing for attack here?” Her earlier remark could’ve been some clever fae side-stepping.
“Of course I will.” She smiles wider. “Do you have any reason to doubt me?”
“Enough, both of you.” Davien sounds agitated.
I shoot him a glare. But he’s right. We have other, pressing matters. And even if Allor isn’t a real ally, there’s very little I’m going to be able to do about it to prove to them differently. That much has been made clear to me.
“Will Boltov be guarding the Lake?” I ask.
“It wouldn’t be worth the manpower to him. The path there isn’t easy. It was part of the trials of aspiring kings to traverse the haunted fogs—a rite of passage.”
“Oh, there’s also haunted fogs to get to the magic lake without dying at the hands of Butchers. Lovely.” I fold my arms.
“If you have a better plan I’d love to hear it.” Davien crosses his arms as well, head cocked to the side, staring down at me. Why does his smugness somehow make him both more frustrating and attractive in equal measure?
“You know I don’t.”
“Then it’s settled. You go and tell Boltov that we’ve been alerted to the movements of his armies and are bracing ourselves here for the attack, fortifying Dreamsong’s barriers,” he says to Allor. Then, he faces Vena. “Please prepare everything we might need for our journey, and then focus on readying Dreamsong for whatever Boltov might bring on our doorstep.”
Vena rests her hand on Davien’s bicep. “What our people need to protect us is a king—a true king, reunited with the trio of Aviness’s powers. Worry not for Dreamsong and focus on regaining your birthright, Davien. Return to us a conqueror.”
“I shall.” Davien stands a little taller.
“When do we leave?” I ask.
“As soon as we can.” Davien makes his way toward me. To my surprise, he takes my hand in his. I can’t stop the flush that rises to my cheeks at the unexpected touch. Him doing so publicly somehow feels even more intimate and desperate. “There’s not a moment to spare.”
* * *
Within the hour,four horses have been tacked. Their saddlebags are full of supplies that are only just finished being loaded as we emerge into the square. Hol and Oren have opted to stay behind and help defend Dreamsong—Oren will focus on finishing the evacuation tunnel and Hol will help the city guard. So it is just Shaye, Giles, Davien, and myself on the road.
The afternoon sun shines happily on the oblivious city. People are still going about their daily affairs as though nothing is amiss. The square is still set up for celebrations. There’s no sign of the impending battle.
