Page 73 of Carousel

“You felt what I felt.”

“The sparks.” I nod again. “I’ve felt them when we touched before. But you didn’t seem to. Until now.”

“Do you have talents?”

Blood magic.

“None,” I reply. “Other than the language ability.”

His voice ripples out slowly. “But you didn’t know about that, until Dezeeves told you.”

“No…”

“The Queen has a unique talent,” he states, in the same quiet, careful tone. “Not known to many.”

“What is it?”

Drake flicks his eyes like throwing a stone, indicating an area opposite us. I follow his line of sight. See Riss, who has turned to face us.

She’s clearly listening. Her pale forehead is furrowed, deep in thought.

I hadn’t thought about her. I should have considered that she would be able to eavesdrop.

“I can’t say, here,” he replies, now speaking in Rhavnan. “I’m not sure of the full nature of it myself. But just be cautious. Of things you think you know.”

He sets his drink on the table – just as Cosmer’s tall, lean frame plops down into Dezeeves’ seat.

“What are you two whispering about?” he asks forcefully.

“Ask Riss,” Drake says. “She heard every word.”

Cosmer’s voice is cool. “Yes. She said you two were scheming about something. That’s why I came over.”

“We’re not,” I tell him, sincerely. “We’re just trying to get through this. Pass the test. And we don’t know if we did.”

“You must have done. We’re all still alive. Dezeeves seems happy.” Cosmer shuffles in his seat. “Good thing it’s over, really. When they brought out the swan with the knife, I thought…”

His words – their meaning – are like a slap to me.

“Thought what? That we’d throw it?” I ask, flat. “Or start trying to stab you all? Which is it? Because I’d love to know.”

He opens his mouth, then snaps it shut. His freckles seem to scrunch into each other.

“We’re not that stupid,” I spit, picking up my glass. “And I thought you would have had a better opinion of me and my character, Cosmer. Since you were my friend for two years.”

“Ara. That’s not… You’ve misunderstood me.”

I finish my drink in one gulp.

“I understood you perfectly. You can go back to your seat now.” I throw, as a parting shot, “Leave us dirty Rhavnans to our scheming.”

Cosmer’s eyes linger on me a second.

But his back arches, and he gets up.

I try not to stare at him as he goes back to his table. Since the moment I came here, it has seemed impossible to not be aware of wherever he is in a room.

I hope it will pass.