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“And what did he do?”
“Do you see any life here?”
“The shapers.”
“This realm is dying. Not everyone wants to serve the Breaker, not everyone wants to see so much death. Some are willing to fight, but there’s no point trying to fight the Breaker here. He’s from the second realm, and can only be killed there.”
“I was thinking we should prevent him from coming to our world.”
“It’s unpreventable, Leah, and too late already. We’ll need to fight. You’re right. It could take years. Let’s hope it’s the case, so we can prepare. How many: Two? Ten? Fifteen? Whenever it happens, something will need to be done.”
“Something… that I assume involves me?”
“Or maybe another deathbringer, not that I think another one will come strolling by any time soon.”
“And what is it you want me to do?”
“I don’t want anything. I’m trying to save the people I love, that’s all, save my people.”
Leah felt a knot in her stomach, knowing that the white fae hadn’t been seen in almost twenty years, fearing that perhaps most of them had perished.
“What?” Iona asked.
“You heard of the fall of Formosa, and yet you didn’t know a deathbringer had survived.” It meant Leah could pinpoint the approximate period when this fae had come to this realm, which must have been right after the Umbraar tragedy, and before Azir had been appointed king.
“You must have been a young teenager. I didn’t know all the royal families in detail.”
The fae was way off in terms of time, thinking it had been some five years or so. “I have… some things to tell you, but you need to promise…”
“I already told you twice I won’t harm you.”
“Promise to tell me all you know.”
The fae rolled her eyes. “What does it look like I’ve been doing?”
“I mean… don’t conceal anything.”
“You’re the one to talk. I’ve been nothing but honest, while you’re keeping huge, dangerous secrets. I’ll help you much more easily if you tell me what you know. And yes, I’ll tell you what I do know, in case there’s anything I forgot.”
Leah took a deep breath, hoping this was really a fae and that her promise not to harm her would stand. If that was not the case, Leah could be in huge trouble.
* * *
Great.After being careful for so long, making sure he didn’t get caught, River ended up in a room like this.
No, he shouldn’t waste his time berating himself. Instead, he had to think. What was this stupid herb? Truly, it looked just like regular salatia, which grew even in the underworld, in the Ancient City, but if his magic was being impaired, then it obviously had some effect on him.
Then he sat as far away from those leaves as he could and tried to relax and regain his strength. All he had to do was get away, step into the hollow, and then he would find freedom—and his way back to Naia with a bunch of new information. Yes, because whatever this queen was dealing with, it was something big, dangerous, and that had to be stopped.
He glanced at that little statue and the table. Right. He could use them as tools to try to break the door—or he could smarten up once and not fall into a trap. Right? Not suspicious at all that he was left here alone with an evil statue. Perhaps the whole point in keeping him here was for him to touch it. When there was talk about the key and the vessel, he wasn’t going to fall for such a simple trick. If anything, that queen wanted something from him, so she would return. Then, if neither deals nor magic worked with her, he wouldn’t have much of a choice.
River sat by the door, then pushed that herb as far away from him as he could. The one thing he could do now was keep his strength and his wits, and wait for the right moment to strike.
Long hours went by and still he couldn’t manage to slip away. He wondered if the statue would talk to him, but apparently it wasn’t in a chatty mood.
When soft steps sounded beyond the door, he stood up, alert. This could be quick. The door opened, then, in less than a second, he had the queen pinned to the floor. No, not the queen. The youngest prince, Venard. River released his hands only enough to let him speak.
“I’m here to help,” the prince croaked. “Don’t kill me. I can’t help you if I’m dead.”
