His question surprised me. There was no reason for him to get acquainted with me. In fact, it was in both of our best interests if he simply left right away. My heart drummed in my chest as I tried to consider the fastest way to persuade him to leave.Maybe if I answer his questions, his curiosity will be satisfied and he’ll leave.I shuddered at the idea of letting him stay long enough to play out my vision.
“If you must know, I’ve lived here since I was an infant,” I explained plainly. “My parents died during the siege in Sybettal, and the king took mercy on me. He has allowed his servants to raise and educate me on this kingdom ever since. My hair has been a vibrant silver since birth, and he feared I would live a life of torment if I wasn’t raised in the right environment. Without his aid, I would be nothing.” The truth of my words sank into me as I spoke them aloud.
That’s right, Elle... You’re where you’re meant to be, and that’s okay.
My thoughts distracted me long enough that I didn’t even hear the prince approach me from the side. He brushed a finger against the edge of my blindfold, and I nearly jumped ten feet from the unexpected contact. “Easy there, sorceress.” He chuckled. “I’m not going to stab you. I was just wondering why you wear it. The blindfold, I mean.”
My hand flew to my thumping heart, and I gave the man another glare that he couldn’t truly see. “I wear it to keep my powers under control,” I snapped impatiently. “It’s very important that I keep it on at all times around people. So, I would very much appreciate it if you didn’t poke around at it.” I felt my way around the floor with my exposed toes until I found my worn arm-chair by the art supplies. If this imbecile was going to snoop around my tower, then at least I could sense him coming from here.
His feet wandered around more, exploring all four corners of the room. “That’s rather remarkable actually,” he said with a fascinated note in his voice. “You’ve truly been up here your entire life? And no one has ever known except for my father?”
I couldn’t quite pinpoint his emotions, but for a brief second, I thought he sounded angry. As if he felt betrayed or tricked for having a secret held over him. I shrugged. “You can clearly see for yourself, I’m not permitted to leave the tower due to my inability to control my visions. Only the king is allowed to make use of my magic. Anyone else might use the power for malicious gain.”
The prince let out a sharp laugh. “Did the king tell you that?” He clapped his hands with a loud snap in amusement. “My realms... What else has he told you? It sounds to me like he’s had you as fooled as the rest of us. No one is meant to stay locked up in a tower all their life, even an overly powerful mage. He probably just wants to keep your magic all to himself.”
A blend of anger and hurt churned through me, causing me to spring out of my seat. “You’re wrong!” I fumed, taking a clear step toward his laugh. “The king wants nothing but to protect me and his people. He has never been wrong before... never.” My anger dipped, and I felt the pain of this morning resurface, starting up a soft quiver on my lower lip.
The prince went silent again, but it didn’t feel as if he was looking down on me like before. There was an odd peace to his quiet this time, and when he finally spoke, his words were much softer than before. “Crystal, don’t pretend you know my father. I’m his son, and even to me, he’s a viperous stranger. Tell me, do you stay here because you want to, or because he tells you to?” There was a growl beneath his voice, but he actually sounded genuinely interested in knowing my answer.
Why does he seem so irritated about the situation?
I considered his question, then thought back to my terrifying experience with the outside world. “I stay because I know it’s what is best for me,” I answered honestly. “I cannot control my visions, and that makes it difficult for me to live around others. Plus, I’m forbidden from seeing any futures other than the king’s.”
“But... you saw mine earlier. Didn’t you?” His mischievously perceptive tone sent a nervous chill down my spine.
He must have noticed my hair light up earlier.
I turned back to my armchair and sank back nervously as I fought my mind to keep the images of the vision from replaying. “Yes... I did, but it was a mistake,” I said, starkly. The king would never forgive me if I told the fate of his sons to anyone other than him.
The prince’s feet scampered closer, and I stiffened as he stopped just short of my seat. “Mistake or not, you saw it, didn’t you?” he asked eagerly. “You must tell me what you saw. My father may have convinced you he’s the only one capable of protecting Ashbourne, but he’s wrong. If you don’t help me, then my despicable older brother might steal my throne.”
I flinched at the mention of Prince Conan, and I felt Miron shift against the floor at my reaction. I had seen a vision of the king congratulating Prince Conan for slaying a neighboring king once. King Darius assured me that the king was a menace and it was in Ashbourne’s best interest for him to be slain, but the prince had seemed so pleased with himself that, even to this day, the memory made me sick. I had always wondered what his future would look like if he was granted permission to see me. The thought had never been comforting.
But not as uncomfortable as Prince Miron threatening my life...
I swallowed nervously and gripped the arms of my chair tightly. “I cannot tell you anything.”
The prince let out an irritated huff. “I know my father has forbidden you from using your magic on others, but that won’t matter if you help me become king. Help me, Crystal, and I’ll set you free from this prison.” His determination was thick in his tone, and I felt my own irritation rise in response. The prince carried on anyway, completely clueless to my growing frustration. “Ashbourne will be at war soon, and with your help, we can turn the tide and ensure our kingdom’s victory. Just tell me what you see in my future, and I’ll use the information to ensure that a crown never touches Conan’s head. Simply tell me—
“Enough!” I bellowed. My patience had officially run dry. This prince had already forced me to break the king’s rules, and now he was trying to pressure me into doing it again. I may be naïve, but I’m not a child. This man wasn’t going to break into my tower and boss me around like a lowly slave. “I already told you, I don’t want to leave. I have no interest in aiding you, and I refuse to tell you even a second of what I saw. The king has already warned me that I’ll be seeing visions of a war soon, so I’m certain he already has the preparations under control.” I stomped across the room until I was in front of the door he had entered. “You need to leave. I can guarantee you will be getting no further information out of me today. Go find another sorcerer to pester.” I pointed irately toward the door with a fierce scowl.
More silence unfolded and for a moment, I wondered if I’d developed a new power to make people disappear into thin air. “Are there other sorcerers?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.
My frown deepened.What other nonsensical questions could this prince come up with?“Of course not. Well, maybe there are more throughout the realm, but I’m certainly the only mage in this tower.” I jeered my finger at the door once more, attempting to reaffirm my insistence that he leave.
A few soft footsteps drifted toward the door, but it sounded more like thoughtful pacing than the hastened exit I’d hoped for. “So, there aren’t any other people in those other rooms, then?” the prince questioned pensively as more steps trailed across the room.
I furrowed my brows. “What other rooms? Are you speaking of the lower levels of the castle? I couldn’t tell you about any of the ongoings outside of this tower.”
“But they are in your tower,” the prince said assuredly. “There were at least five other doors aside from yours on this mysterious floor. Did you not know about them?” He sounded genuinely interested in my reply, but all I could give was a blank expression.
There were more rooms up here? Mabel had never mentioned them before.“I didn’t know any rooms existed beyond my own up here.” It had never occurred to me that the king might visit the upper floor of the castle for any other reason than visiting me, although I suppose it made sense considering I’d heard noises in the hall on days he didn’t stop in.
Prince Miron approached the door a little more directly this time. “Interesting,” he said ominously, stepping beside me. He was close enough that I could pick up on his scent—he smelled strangely warm, like cinnamon and oak. “It seems clear that I can’t force you to share my future with me, but perhaps I can share a piece of your own before I leave.” My brow rose behind the shield of my blindfold and I jolted as the prince touched a gentle hand to my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “If you only trust my father, then I can guarantee you that your future will be as empty as he is. He only sees people as tools. Believe me, I’ve worked the job for years.”
His breath tickled my neck as a fresh shiver chased down my spine. He pulled his hand from my shoulder and fiddled with the door handle. I listened curiously as he presumably picked the lock open from the inside. I turned to where he was crouched low, gazing down at him blindly through the silk.
“And what would trustingyougain me? Other than a potential execution if I’m ever caught?” I asked grimly, the memory of my own scream trailing through my mind.