My heart stops at the mention of my mother’s name. “My mother was yourleader?”
Vaduin nods. “The last true leader of the Worldkeepers. The last to survive from the previous world, to know the truth of what changed. She rebuilt our order from nothing after Naethor’s wish changed everything.”
Which means none of these people standing before me have ever survived a world-changing wish. They all took their oaths and got their marks after Naethor became king.
“If she was so important to you, why didn’t you save her when she was at the Descent?” My voice is brittle with the control I barely keep on it.
“We tried,” Vaduin says quietly. “But we arrived too late. The Ventalls’ agents had already done their work.”
It’s further confirmation that Lady Ventall is behind my mother’s death. As if I could have any doubt after Emilia…
“If what you’re saying is true,” I begin carefully, “then what do you want from me?”
“You are the only one alive who knows how to ink the vessel card—a sacred art historically passed only between the leaders of the Worldkeepers,” Vaduin says, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your mother taught you, didn’t she?”
The memories of sitting at Mother’s side are hazy: Watching her trace intricate patterns over and over again. Her whispers of encouragement. Telling me to feel the designs. To commit the power to form.
“She taught me many things.” I attempt to deflect.
There’s a shine of excitement in Vaduin’s eyes. He believes I know how to ink this card.And maybe I do…But if I was forced to, right now, I’d hardly be confident in my ability. I’d need time to sort through my recollections to try to find the right lines she showed me all those years ago.
Still, let them think I can.I’m more valuable that way. Which means they’re that much more likely to help Arina and me.
“Does that mean you expect me to lead?”
“If you are deemed worthy. We are not Oricalis, or Revisan. Our leaders are chosen not through bloodlines, but through meritdetermined by one’s peers.” The way he says it tells me more than one individual is annoyed at my mother teaching me what she did since I wasn’t elected as a leader. I just can’t tell ifheis one of those people annoyed. “But before any such vote can happen, you would need to be initiated.”
The mention of initiation reminds me of something else Bristara told me during the one opportunity we had to speak about the Worldkeepers. “If I’m so important, why keep me on the outside? Less than a year ago, I was too ‘untrustworthy’ to even know about your organization. Now you’re telling me your history and showing me your hideaways?”
“It was idiotic of us to think we had the luxury of doubt,” Vaduin says gravely. “Our already-small numbers are half what they were last year.” The ones trying to kill the king on All Coins Day were Worldkeepers, I’d bet my life on it.
Which makes me think that the people I see now are all, or nearly all, the Worldkeepers who remain. Hardly an inspiring sight.
“What is it that you want from me?” If they don’t expect me to lead—at least not right away—and they aren’t forcing me to ink the vessel card this instant, there’s something else.
“We want to summon the World for ourselves and use the wish to rebuild the Worldkeepers to be all that we should be.” Vaduin straightens in his chair.
“And I’m the only one who can make that happen,” I realize. He lowers his chin slightly. “I’m the only one who knows how to ink the vessel. And…I’m the only chance you have at getting the golden cards.”
“We know Kaelis has them now.”
Not all of them,I think. But I do not reveal the golden card still pressed to my side. That’s another advantage I will keep for myself alone as long as possible.
“Sounds like you need me a lot more than I need you.” I lean back in my chair. “Why would I give the power to remake the world to anyone else?”
“Clara…” Gregor says warily from where he stands off to the side. There’s much that can be read in his tone, and I refrain, keeping my focus on Vaduin.
“Because you need us as well.” Vaduin steeples his fingers. “Tell me, Clara, how should you prepare the paper for the vessel?” I narrow my eyes in response, and he smiles slightly, resting his palm on a folio at his side. “These are all the notes we’ve compiled on everything your mother told us before she died. Notes on the vessel. What we could remember. What little information persisted between worlds for us to research. But we lack two critical things: the design, and the core ingredient for the ink.
“We know where the vessel must be made. And upon what paper it should be inked. But those things do us little good if we don’t know the ink to apply and in what design. I believe the missing ingredient is somewhere within the halls of Arcana Academy. I’ve traced its path that far. But I’ve not been able to find it. And there’s one person who I think would know.”
“Kaelis,” I say for him, ignoring how one of the younger Worldkeepers flinches at the mere mention of the prince’s name. “You want me to use my proximity to him to not just steal the golden cards he has, but get whatever information he has on the vessel—or the ingredient itself.”
“Precisely.”
“And if I do find out what this secret ingredient is, then you’ll give me the paper and take me to this special place where it must be made,” I continue, the words tasting like ash. “But only if I take your oaths and swear to use the vessel card, and the World, for your wish.”
“I always knew you were a quick student.” Vaduin seems oddly pleased, as if he can take credit for my performance.
