“Spare me your fake pity.” Anger flashes in his eyes, though it’s not directed at me. I can tell that much.
“It isn’t fake,” I fire back. “I’m sorry. Truly.”
My sympathy stuns him. He staggers, taking so long to compose himself that I worry I’ve broken him.
“I…”
“You?” I encourage.
“I’m sorry as well, for what you’ve endured.”
A smile splits my lips. “Was that so hard?”
Eldas grimaces. “You really can be annoyingly insistent, you know that?”
“I’ve been told, usually by my patients.” I can’t help but laugh. “Though I prefer calling myself tenacious.” He snorts and, for a brief second, something I’d dare call peace flows between us. I’m hesitant to break it. But I must… “Is there anything else for the terms?”
“Yes. You will not attempt escape again for much the same reasons. The Human Queen isn’t meant to be seen before her coronation. It’s tradition, but also for your own safety so that no one might perform the Knowing on you or any other magic—especially before you have control of your powers and can defend yourself.”
“I can agree to that.” Though I think less sequestering would be better for everyone.
“Finally, you have until the coronation in three months to break the cycle.”
“Three months? What can I do in three months?”
“I look forward to finding that out,” he says, somewhat coyly.
Three months, I’ll have three months to find a way to free myself. “If I don’t succeed in three months?” I dare to ask.
“Even if I wanted to give you more time, I can’t. At the coronation you will be fully accepted by the world of Midscape—you will be part of Midscape more than the Natural World. Only our food will nourish you. Only these lands will be your home. While you will still return to strengthen your magic, it will be limited. Too much time beyond Midscape will kill you.”
“You’re saying after this coronation there is no going back,” I whisper.
“Save for a few days at Midsummer for the sake of your magic, yes.”
A shiver rips through me. I succeed, and am free. I can return to Capton. I can help the people I’ve sworn my life to.
I fail, and I’m trapped for the rest of my life. At least this way, there’s a chance. There’s hope.
Eldas’s eyes bore a hole into my skull, as if trying to gain direct access into my brain and see what my thoughts are. I’m torn between the urge to look away, and being stuck entranced by whatever magic his gaze has. “Tell me, do you accept my terms?” he asks, voice deep and ominous.
“All right, Eldas, you have a deal.” I hold out my hand. His long, chilly fingers clamp around mine. I barely resist a shiver at the jolt of magic that dances under my skin at his contact. Too late I think about the fact that I gave him the opportunity to perform another Knowing. But, in shocking respect to my wishes, his eyes don’t flair. “But I should warn you; I’m a very hard worker. Three months is going to be plenty of time. I will be free of this.”
“I dare say I am looking forward to what you can accomplish.” There’s an implication of respect there that steals my breath. “Let’s return you before anyone has a chance to notice you’re gone.”
Before I can react, a sudden jolt of power freezes me in place. I panic, thinking he performed the Knowing after all. Dark mist steams off Eldas, mingling with the Fade. It pools at our feet, encasing us. I want to scream, but I can’t. I can’t move at all. The only light in the darkness is the glow of his eyes.
The world shifts around us.
The stale air of my castle room fills my lungs as I exhale the Fade in plumes of black smoke. Tremors wrack my body, causing black ice to fall off my shoulders. The condensed magic evaporates to steam, dissipating.
“W-what?” I say through chattering teeth. I grip my knees, trying to catch my breath before righting myself. Eldas is unfazed. “What was that?”
“Fadewalking. It’s a skill very few are capable of.”
I wonder what other incredible feats he can perform. Before I can ask, the air at Eldas’s side writhes like heat off a brick street. From between the shadows and light, a wolf bounds forth. The now-familiar beast happily trots over to me, rounds my feet, and sits at my side.
“What the—” Oh, good, Eldas is as confused as I. The king scowls at the creature. “Yet another sign the Fade is weakening. It’s becoming unruly,” he mumbles. Then, louder, “Go, beast.”