“To reiterate, in case the information was lost during your fit ofirrationality, you have been gifted three constellastones by the Goddessof the Mind, Blythe.”
I nodded in affirmation. No matter how many times I heard the words, it didn't lessen the blow of them.
“Do you understand the magnitude of your gift, or shall I repeat the information?”
“No need, Your Highness. I understand.” My eyes followed his finger to the Kingdom of Draemor on the map.
“The King of Draemor,Cyprian Beaumont, has been making claims of another war ever since we defeated them all those years ago. He promises that he will claim the territory they lost, along with taking over Caelestis.” He pointed to the land in discussion. “Recently, King Beaumont has strengthened these threats. We do not know when he plans to strike—it could be days or it could be years.” He raised his eyes to me. “As I told you, despite your powers being unknown, you are no doubt the most powerful soul in the kingdom.”
My heart began to beat rapidly and an unpleasant feeling filled my empty stomach. I knew where this was headed.
The king's gaze narrowed on me. He let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair. “Maeve, you are a gift to our kingdom, and we must not let your name make its way to Draemor. You have something that no Draemornian could ever have, and I fear what they may do if they discover that you have the power of Blythe. I have not made the citizens of Caelestis aware of your gift, but when I do, it will be extremely clear that any traitors to the throne will be executed.”
I gulped. He said the wordexecutedas if it was something he did more than occasionally.
The king watched my reaction, allowing me a moment to process, but not enough time to allow me to get a word in before he spoke once more. “In regards to your safety, you will be watched over at all times by one of the finest soldiers in our kingdom. Once you complete your two years of academy training and are sworn in as a soldier, we can reevaluate your need for protection.”
Now that statement—out of all the bullshit information I had received so far—was the sentence that made my blood boil. I may have been new to this world of magic and battle, but I sure as hell didn't need someone protecting me at all hours of the day.
“Absolutely not!” I shouted, shooting out of my seat.
Here I go again, raising my voice at authoritative figures.
“It's bad enough that you're holding me here against my will, but now I need to be supervised at all times? No. I am not okay with that.”
Sebastian, who hadn't made a noise since we entered the room, kicked off of the door behind me and moved to stand by the desk. “Unfortunately, it isnot up for discussion.” He glanced at the king while making air quotes with his fingers. “I already tried.”
Mouth agape and shamelessly stunned, I returned my attention to the king as he spoke again. “Sebastian is correct, it is not up for discussion. We need to take every precaution available to us in the event that Draemor does hear word of your power. I cannot risk you being seized right out of our hands. We must take the proper measures to ensure your safety.”
“So you're saying that if hewereto find out about me, he would do what? Kidnap me?” I scoffed, putting my hands on my hips. That was ridiculous.
King Hawthorne nodded. “That is exactly what I am saying.”
This man was insane. And I was livid.
“So what if he does?” I asked, regretting the words as soon as I heard the answer.
Sebastian shuffled uncomfortably and dropped his gaze to his boots.
The king cleared his throat, then lowered his voice. “If that occurs, then what happens to you is completely out of my control. There is no saying what he may do to you. It ispossible he may let you live freely in his kingdom, or he may go so far as to try andstealyour magic.” His eyes thinned. “That, my dear, is something you never wish to endure.”
I knew what he was talking about. I had heard the story. I just never realized it was true.
Delani had once told me a fable about a set of twins. A sister and a brother. On their twenty-first birthday, the sister found that she was gifted by Emrys, but her brother was not. Out of rage and jealousy, the brother cut his twin's ruby from her flesh and implanted it into his own with the aid of a healer and enchanter. The act of cruelty left her weak and powerless, but her brother was able to wield her magic as his own. It was the one loophole to not being gifted, but it was a horrifically gruesome act. For obvious reasons, it was punishable by death.
The story had many more graphic details, and I squirmed trying not to think too hard about them. “Why would Beaumont want me, anyways?”
“Why wouldn't he? You have something no one else in the world has. If that isn't reason enough, then revenge would be my second guess,” the king replied.
“Revenge for what? For the war?” It had been twenty years.
Way to hold a grudge.
“For the war, yes. But I may perhaps be the reason he had to take the throne at the ripe age of twenty-one.”
My eyebrow arched.
“He killed Beaumont’s parents,” Sebastian added nonchalantly when he noticed the confusion on my face.
