I crawled closer to Dorwan’s prone form and, to my great disappointment, found him still breathing. I shook my head, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

Before either of us could do anything, the doors to the chamber burst open with a cloud of fire. I shielded my eyes from the intense light and heat.

“Lass!” Owain appeared out of the cloud of dark smoke, sword in hand. He coughed, waving a hand to clear away the smoke.

“We’re here!” I called, and he rushed toward us.

A group of two dozen wizards flooded into the room. Owain knelt beside me. He pulled off his leather glove to hold against my wound, but it did little to staunch the flow of blood.

I’m in a room full of wizards, I thought, and none of them have even looked my way. North’s bracelet really was a gift.

“What are you doing standing there like gaping idiots?” the queen shouted. “Someone take this man and throw him in the dungeons! If he’s alive, make sure there are at least ten men on him at all times. Are you out of your minds with shock or stupidity? For goodness’ sake, someone get the healers! If she or any of my guards bleed to death, it’ll all be on your heads!”

It might have been exhaustion or the loss of blood, but I let out a laugh. Queen Eglantine turned toward Owain and me.

“And who says these wizards are invincible foes?” she asked.

“You made quick work of him,” Owain noted in approval. “Cracked him on the head. Good girl.”

I watched as Dorwan was carried from the room, bound and gagged even in his unconscious state, and for the first time in weeks, I felt safe.

A small group of healers appeared at the door a few moments later. Most of them attended to the wizards that Dorwan had attacked, but one, an elderly gentleman, went straight for the queen.

“She’s the one bleeding, not me!” Queen Eglantine sighed. “Honestly!”

The healer went to work immediately, cleaning my cuts as best he could. “I’ll have to stitch these,” he said, glancing up at me through his spectacles. “It’ll hurt something fierce.”

I must have made a face because Owain suddenly slapped his hand on his knee and said, “Lass! Have I ever told you the story of Vesta’s glorious birth? It started on a cloudy fall day, several years back….”

It was enough to distract me from the needle, but I wasn’t sure which was worse.

“—and it felt like coming home, lass, such a beautiful moment.” He finished at the same time as the healer.

Meanwhile, Queen Eglantine was deep in conversation with two wizards. Finally, she glanced my way.

“Sydelle,” she said, coming over to me. The two wizards trailed her like dogs. “I’m curious. Is this the same wizard who was involved with the king’s death?”

“Both kings,” I said. “He was the one who poisoned your husband, but he was also with me in Auster.”

“A king slayer,” Queen Eglantine said. “I don’t think there’s a punishment worthy of that crime.”

The idea came so suddenly that I sat straight up. “I can think of something, though you might not relish losing your chance to punish him.”

“I don’t follow you,” the queen said.

“Write to the Sorceress Imperial—no, write to her son,” I said as the healer finished bandaging my arm. “Tell them that you have the man responsible for killing Auster’s king, and they can punish him as they see fit. Trade him for peace between the kingdoms. That’ll be retribution enough for Dorwan.”

Queen Eglantine favored me with a brilliant smile. “I like the way you think.”

When the message was written, she waved one of the wizards over.

“No,” I said quickly. “Queen Eglantine, you have no better messenger than this man right here.”

Owain leapt to his feet. “Lass—”

“It’s true,” I continued. “Let him take the letter to the port, at least. Have you heard of his horse, Vesta? There’s no faster girl around.”

Queen Eglantine smiled and seemed to understand me perfectly. “I’ve been in need of a new messenger. Are you someone I can trust, sir?”

“Your Majesty,” Owain said, dropping into a clumsy bow. “There is no man and horse more faithful or willing to serve.”

“Then I’ll have you,” she said. “I’d like you to take the letter to Auster yourself, to make sure it reaches Wayland North’s hands directly—not the Sorceress Imperial’s. If she protests this move, remind her whom she serves.”

Owain’s smile faltered. “But I made a promise to protect this one right here. Can’t go back on that oath.”

He rested a hand on top of my head, and the queen let out a laugh.

“I think she’s proven to be more than capable of taking care of herself, don’t you?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I rested, I ate, I rested again—for the next five days, I did little but sleep. There were times I woke in the middle of the night, surprised to find myself in a large, soft bed instead of on the hard ground. If I hadn’t the scars to prove otherwise, it might have all been a dream.

I thought of Cliffton often, even as I walked through Provincia’s crowded markets—not with that old, sharp sense of longing but with sadness and curiosity. Had the soldiers been called back? What did the valley look like now? Was it spotted with every shade of green imaginable? Had it rained since I had been gone?