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She didn’t understand how Morkai had taken over Teryn’s body, nor did she remember what she’d left behind that had made it possible. She knew there was…something. Some item that escaped her memory the more she tried to think about it. Whatever the case, she understood enough about the situation to guess Morkai had likely regained his strength after Cora left. He could be looking for her. Tracking her.
Which meant she needed a plan. Now.
A familiar presence entered her awareness, and thankfully it wasn’t a threatening one. Glancing up, she found a falcon-shaped silhouette circling overhead.
She followed us from the castle, Valorre said, coming up beside her. He lowered his muzzle to drink from the stream while Berol flew down and landed on a nearby rock. Her wings were splayed with agitation, much like they’d been when she’d barged into the tower room with Larylis’ letter—
The letter!
After everything that had happened since yesterday, she’d forgotten Larylis’ missive. It remained where she’d left it last, in her apron pocket. She remembered the words, though, his inquiry over Teryn’s well-being after Berol had brought him a scrap of his shirt.
Her eyes darted to Berol. “You knew it wasn’t him, didn’t you?”
She let out a sharp, keening cry.
Cora regretted that she couldn’t send a letter back. Not that she could fully explain what had happened. What could she even say?Your brother has been possessed by a sorcerer, but I cannot tell you how or why because some strange magic has made me forget. I promise I’m not crazy. Don’t come to Ridine, or your own brother will probably kill you—
Mother Goddess.
The signing of the peace pact.
Laryliswasgoing to Ridine. In fact, he might already be on his way. Verdian too. In a matter of days, Morkai was going to have every monarch who stood in his way in one location. They were falling right into his trap.
She had to warn Larylis.
Cora rose to her feet and tore a scrap of fabric off the bottom of her chemise. Then she scoured the moonlit ground nearby, procuring a thin stick. Finally, she hastily dug beneath the underbrush, turning fresh soil. Gathering a handful of water from the stream, she made a thick paste. Overall, her writing materials were crude at best, but she had no other option. And while blood would serve as better ink than mud, she didn’t dare use something of such value. Should Morkai get hold of this, he could use her blood against her.
With trembling hands, she dipped the tip of the stick in the dark paste and brought it to the fabric. She froze, still stuck with the same dilemma regarding what she could say. There was no way she could convey the dangers lurking at Ridine, especially with such limited accommodations. No matter what she said, she couldn’t caution him from going to Ridine. His wife was there. She didn’t know Larylis well, but if he was anything like Teryn, he’d make haste to reach Mareleau, regardless of the risk to himself.
Instead, she’d have to give him a warning that would allow him to make his own assessment.
Danger at Ridine. Teryn isn’t Teryn. Trust no one.
—Cora
It probably wouldn’t be enough, but it might at least put Larylis on guard. If anyone could see through Morkai’s ruse, it would be Teryn’s brother.
After letting the fabric dry for as long as she could stand being idle, she rolled it up and handed it to Berol. Only then did she ponder whether the falcon would heed her directions. Teryn had told her about the creature’s intelligence in listening to his directions, but would she understand Cora?
It didn’t matter. She had to try.
“To Larylis,” she said, handing the fabric to the falcon. Berol gathered it in her talons and flew off at once. Cora watched her until she was swallowed by shadows, hoping beyond hope her letter would serve its purpose.
Warn Larylis.
Maybe save Teryn.
Her chest tightened at the thought, and her mind blared with the weight of her panicked realization.
I left Teryn behind.
Mother Goddess, Ilefthim.
Guilt flooded her, even though she knew she’d had a reason. Yet whatever that reason had been was tangled up in the very thing she kept forgetting. What was thatthing? Hadn’t Teryn asked her to do something with it when he’d spoken to her as himself? And hadn’t Morkai threatened Teryn’s fate over that same nameless, shapeless, forgotten object?
She bit back a cry as she recalled the blood trailing from Teryn’s nose, the streaks of white hair at his temples. It reminded her too much of what had happened to Dimetreus, how he’d aged under Morkai’s control. Mother Goddess! She’d left her brother too. And Mareleau. None of them knew…
Cora cursed under her breath, truth dawning.
