“So am I,” she said, which just about yanked the bed from underneath me. “So maybe we can find a way to end it.”
I shook my head, clearing it of the fog of sorrow that threatened to cloud my judgment. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that Tannin came to me after you were captured by the Montroses. He asked about you, seemed to know all about you. I got the feeling that he wanted you to himself because of your abilities, and either he would have you, or no one would.”
“Abilities. Plural,” I noted.
Ehuna nodded. “Your ability to sniff out magic and wield it without a gauntlet.”
My eyes widened. “You knew about that second one?”
She huffed. “I’ve known you a long time, and you’re not the greatest at keeping secrets, Collie.”
I sniffled. “That’s…fair.”
"Tannin and a few of the other advisors only seem to be in the war for themselves. If we're going to rip the mask off these treacherous advisors and potentially end the war, we need a plan. We need evidence, something that'll stick to their slick hides like tar. Also allies. There are those within Tannin's own ranks who've grown tired of his scheming."
Her lips curled into a wry smile.
"It’ll of course be risky," she cautioned. "I’ll gather the allies. You can do the sneaking and finding. And when the time's ripe, I’ll 'capture' you and deliver you straight into the snake's den because that worked so well the last time. I’ll be sure to have more surprises up my sleeves this time, though, and you have to promise not to bring a whole fortress down on top of you to defeat him. When you’re up for it, of course."
I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar itch of magic beneath my skin.
“I’m not sure if he thinks you’re dead or not, but he won't expect someone like you to come at him a second time."
"Someone like me?" I swallowed thickly. "Impulsive, rebellious, and capable of starting a brawl in an empty room?"
"Yes, someone like you," Ehuna said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “May fortune favor your boldness, Collie.”
I had a sharper weapon than boldness.
I had a grudge.
It tookseveral weeks for me to find the strength to get out of bed and several more for me to walk the perimeter of our camp without losing my breath.
It would take an infinite amount of time to recover from my shattered heart, though.
At first, I felt numb, as if my mind couldn’t fully comprehend the reality of the loss. It was like a bad dream that I desperately wanted to wake up from.
As the days went by, the numbness gave way to an overwhelming wave of sadness. I would find myself breaking down in tears at the most unexpected moments.
I struggled with a sense of helplessness and guilt. I kept replaying the battle with Tannin in my head. I’d figured I was dead anyway. I’d just wanted him gone and for Legacy to be safe. If I could, I would go back and change every single thing I did wrong. The "what ifs" haunted me, and I often found myself beyond angry at myself.
Sleep eluded me most nights. I would lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts and memories. When I did manage to drift off, I dreamt of Legacy—sometimes comforting, other times so vivid that waking up was a cruel reminder of reality.
Ehuna tried to console me, but her words often felt hollow. She meant well, but no one seemed to understand the depth of my pain. I felt isolated, as if I was navigating through a fog that only I could see.
A part of me felt incomplete, like a piece of my heart was missing. I hadn’t been prepared for the profound impact that one person could have on me.
During that time, Ehuna and I hatched yet another plan, this one with much fewer holes in it than our previous ones.
I rifled through the cache of supplies, my fingers brushing over the cool metal of daggers and the supple leather of Caputo armor. The weight of my satchel tugged at my shoulders, grounding me to the purpose at hand. As if I needed the reminder.
"Are you sure you’re up to leaving tonight?" Ehuna asked.
"Better now than never," I murmured, securing a small dagger in my boot. "Besides, I’ve been cooped up too long."
Ehuna approached, the sigils on her skin glowing faintly in the low light. Her gaze swept over my preparations, assessing, calculating. “Just be careful.”
