“Because a lot of witches overly rely on their magic,” she says.“And if our enemies can map our runes, then they’llknow whereto target toincapacitate us the quickest.”
I frown.“But if you know you overly rely on it,thenwhy do you?”
She looks over her shoulder at me with a smirk.“Because it’sa lot easier to stab someone with your sword if you can wrap vines around their legs to hold them in place.”
My eyes widen.“You can do that?How long does it take?Can you do it at the same time as swinging a sword?”
“Not all witches can, but I can.”
“Wait.Isn’t itdangerous for you to tell me what you can do?”
“Secrecy is always best for a witch, but I’ve used that spell enough times for people to know I can do it, so it’s not really a secret anymore.”
We step onto the balcony,and as I’m guided closer to the edge, I realise that we’ve picked up a lot more guards along the way.Almost all of the ones that I thought we passed in the hall are now out here with us.Ten women, two men, plus the four guards who always stand at the balcony.
Another woman joins us, heading straight for Saragese.“King Richard’s been informed of where we’re going,” she murmurs to her.
“Has he given us leave?”
The guard nods, and Marrabel lifts me,cradling meinher arms.As she spreads her wings,I swallow down the introduction I was about to give to all these new people.Squeezing my eyes shut, I tremble against her.We take to the air, and I yelp, then start to pant.
Marrabel’s voice hits my ears, flat yet stern.“You better relax, Your Majesty, because I amnotfingering you.”
Oh my gods.Just drop me now.“How far is it?”I squeak.
“Not far.The royal floor isat thetop of the castle, and Aurelia’s Library isn’t far above it.”
I nod, feeling sick.I try to fight the fear as much as I can, but after only a few more seconds, I’m scrambling in her arms.While clutching at her as hard as I can, I try to get my head off to theside.
“What are you –” She breaks off as I vomit on a groan.
“Aw, gross!”someone below us shouts.
Marrabel cackles as she flies faster.“We’re almost there, Your Majesty.”
When she sets me down on the library’s balcony, she makes sure I’m not facing her.As I fall to my hands and knees, she kneels down beside me, holding my hair back.
“Please tell me you have a slide or something for the way back,” I rasp as I suck in harsh breaths.
“Sorry.Having wings kindof negates that need.”
I moan.“Can you bring my bed up to the library?I can sleep here from now on.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I know the answer is ‘no’.
Sighing, I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth, then push myself to my feet.She releases my hair.I tell her thank you, introduce myself to the new guardsone by one,learn all their names,apologise to Sarrabel for throwing up on her, and then I turn towards the library, and –
Oh.
My.
Gods.
Screw a certain shirtless man with a dreamy chest.Thisisbeauty.
Six toweringpillars reach high above me,their columns a spiral of carvings that depict the flowers of the forest.I walk up to them, my mouth hanging open, my neck craning back as I take it all in.Above the pillars is a second floor, with statues of ravens facing out, overlooking the city of Kholar.
Two large wooden doors sit behind the pillars, and I walk up the few steps towards them.There’s not a single smooth bit of wood on the door.It’s all carved with little shapes that tell a story I don’t know how to readdespite how simple it seems.
