“In all likelihood, they wouldn’t listen to you anyways,” he says, so smoothly he leaves no room for questioning. My blood boils. I want to tell him that he’s wrong, but they already decided in Barivum that I was a witch. Why would they listen to me now, when I miraculously survived another attack, and watched the ship go down from a dragon’s back?
“I’ll give you two options,” Roiven says. He holds up his index finger. The enchantment lines cover his palm and one dark ink ray runs all the way up the tip of his finger, accentuating its length.
“You can stay here, confined to this courtyard and your room, while you remove the rest of the enchantments on me.” He holds up a second finger. “Or you can form a bond with me, and gain the freedom to move about however you please, whenever you please.”
I clench my teeth. So he wasn't joking, even though the idea is insane. I’m not going to submit to one of their spells. Even if Roiven promises nothingunsavoryis involved.
“But you won’t take me back to Barivum.”
“No.”
“What about the Bluff?”
“You aren’t leaving my side until I’m done with you, knight.”
His orange eyes burn straight into me. I lean on one elbow and frown down at my plate, then take another slow bite. Flavor bursts over my tongue.
I glance to my side, at the cheerful yellow flowers, the young potted trees, the mass of greenery surrounding us. The courtyard is so beautiful it makes my heart ache. And it’s so different from the Bluff, or the island Sava took us both to at first, which were nothing but barren black rock and pools of rainwater, and miles of empty, treacherous sea.
If Roiven is to be believed, none of it used to look that way.
“I’ll think about it,” I mutter.
21
The next morning, I unlatch my door slowly, then kick it open. I’m not going to be caught unawares again.
The door flies open and thunks against the wall. I can’t see anybody outside; no sword is pointed at my face. I relax slightly and step over the threshold into the courtyard. The sun has only been up an hour, and the whole courtyard remains shadowed and cool. The stone table where I ate with Roiven yesterday is empty. Everything is damp from rain.
I could spend a whole lifetime in this tiny garden, just admiring these plants that were strong enough to grow in the Wild Seas. And for a few minutes, I do, running my hands over them and breathing the smell in deep.
If Roiven won’t take me back, do I owe it to Malkin’s memory to find out if I can steal a ship of some kind? I’d surely be too slow to make a difference. With how long Sava flew to reach this island, and with how much swifter she is than any ship but a Hellion, I might not even get to Barivum before the War-Father attacks the Tower and drains all the Enchanted.
At least I could still tell the truth about what happened at the Bluff. But when I think about it like that, and remember Roiven’s point about them not listening to me, I can’t imagine anyone will care what I say. Not if the witches are already dead.
I should still figure out where I am. The open archway into the next courtyard is too big a temptation to pass up. Moving quietly, I head for it. Maybe I can find a way to the shore and see what they have in the way of boats.
I had a stack of clothes to choose from, delivered last night by the blonde witch Roiven called Nor, and I wish they were sized better. The trousers I’m wearing sag around my hips. They’re the kind of clothes that could get in the way in a serious fight.
I step through the arch and find myself in another courtyard, identical to mine, down to the open arch on the far side. But I can hardly admire any of it, because Avreen perches on top of this courtyard’s central table, using the bench as her footrest.
She’s eating an apple. A wave of emotion roars up over me and threatens to pull me under. Avreen looks so casual, but Malkin was willing to risk punishment just for a taste of one.
“You again,” Avreen mutters as I stare at her in dumb shock. Avreen scowls at me and hops off the table to stride toward me. Today she’s dressed in crimson leather armor studded with gold metal accents, from head to toe.
“What are you staring at, knight?”
“Nothing,” I whisper. If I told her about Malkin, she wouldn’t understand. She’s a witch.
“Go back to your room.”
I pause where I am and tug my baggy trousers higher, wishing I had a belt.
“The second dragon. Was it yours?” I ask. Avreen’s eyes narrow. “Wouldyoufly me to Barivum before the enchantment comes back up?”
Avreen’s lower lip twitches.
“You want me to fly you home, into enemy territory,” she says. “Sure. Gladly. Have you lost your mind?”
