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Norivun crouched at my side. I leaned into him, and his hand pressed into the small of my back, steadying me and drawing me close.
But it wasn’t until my side met the firm warmth of his thigh that I realized I was allowing the bond to soothe me when I should be anything but calm right now. I snapped upright. “What’s happened here since we left?”
The prince’s eyes glittered. “The villagers say the crops had been thriving since you used your affinity, but then this morning, they woke up to this.”
My jaw dropped. “The plants diedovernight?”
His single nod had my heart clenching. Leaning forward, I shoved my hand into the soil.Where? Where are you?
When I’d left this field two months ago, pulsingoremhad beat through it. But now...
My breath stopped.
Nothing.Nothingrippled beneath my palm.
I moved my hand, frantically searching the soil for something,anything. I called upon my life-giving affinity and willed a heartbeat of life to tingle back into this land, but the second my magic surged forward, it collided with something that bit back at me. The shock of it was so sudden I nearly fell to the side.
I yanked my hand back. “What in the realm was that?”
The prince frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something here.”
Norivun’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
Tentatively, I laid my hand back on the ground and closed my eyes, then searched for thatzapI’d just sensed, that strange barrier, but...it didn’t respond. Shaking my head, I opened my eyes.
“I don’t know. I could have sworn I just sensed something, something that punched back at me, but maybe I didn’t. Maybe my magic is all tangled up right now. I’m nervous about the second test, but Mother Below, how can this field be dead again?”
He raked a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. “I wish I knew.”
My braid settled on my shoulder as I stared at him with pleading eyes. “Is everything we’re doing hopeless? Have all of these weeks that I’ve spent visiting fields been for naught?”
Outside of my bubble, the wind raged. A moment of helplessness hit me when the absolute bleakness of our climate met me with full force. Life here on the northern continent wouldnevergrow without the aid of magic. This land was too cold, too frozen to ever foster plants naturally.
My mouth twisted with concern. “Will I never fulfill our bargain? Will our fae ultimately starve no matter what I do?”
Norivun loosed a breath and drew me close. His aura thrummed beside mine, but when he met my gaze, I saw the answer in his expression before he said, “I’m starting to wonder if we can be saved.”
* * *
Norivun mistphasedus back to the castle, and we re-emerged in the castle’s main courtyard. The other three Trial females were already present, along with Sir Featherton, the queen, and the king. Standing just behind them were all of the territory archons, but there weren’t any other spectators today or guards. Not even Nuwin was present.
“Ah, there she is!” Sir Featherton said dramatically. “We feared we would have to disqualify you from the second test if you didn’t appear soon.”
Everyone glanced between the prince and me, some not bothering to hide their snickers. My cheeks heated at the conclusion they’d obviously reached that explained my tardiness.If only...
“Norivun, what is the meaning of this?” the king asked, his tone amused, but his expression hard.
The prince’s shoulders tightened. “I escorted Ilara briefly to Isalee. A troubling event has occurred.”
“Oh?” Taberitha Wormiful pushed to the front of the group as her pointy chin jutted up. “What’s amiss?”
“Indeed,” Lord Crimsonale chimed in, “if something is causing you concern, surely the council should be made aware.”
Lord Woodsbury, the Isalee Territory archon, cleared his throat loudly. “Excuse me, fine fae, but if something is problematic within Isalee, then I believeI’mthe one who should be consulted.” He stared down at me with narrowed eyes. “Report if you would, Lady Seary.”
Prince Norivun growled. “Speak to her with more respect, Lord Woodsbury.”
