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“Anaria the thief.”
My breath caught in my throat as I faced the Fae King’s High Seer.
“We do not have much time.” Her eerie white eyes bore into me, as if glimpsing my very soul. “How much have you figured out, girl?” When I just gaped, she snapped, “About why you are here?”
“Nothing.” I admitted, rubbing my sweaty palms on my dress. “Or little enough it might as well be nothing.”
The look on her face…I couldn’t remember anyone ever looking so disgusted with me.
That lookshouldn’t even matter, because I could not trust this unnatural creature. I should not even betalkingto her. Seer’s bent the rules of the physical world, and chances were, her loyalties lay with the undead in the Great Beyond.
Not with anyone from the land of the living.
“You turn eighteen in four days, at which time you come into the full power of your magic. Which means you have four days to decide if you live or die.”
I shook my head, trying to make sense of what she was saying, though I could hardly concentrate over Tavion’s pounding. “How would you know when my birthday is?”
“Because I was there when you were born, foolish girl. I have bought you eighteen years of life, but your time is running out. Once the king performs the Harvest, everything I have done will be for naught.”
“What’s the…Harvest?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. You were a fool to arouse Solok’s suspicions by sneaking around, you’ve only made everything more difficult. Now he will not let you out of his sight. This meeting was difficult to arrange.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what that means.” I spread my hands helplessly, the commander cursing as he beat against the door. “I just want to get out of Tempeste.”
“That’s the first intelligent thing you’ve said. The Shadow King will give you asylum, but you have to reach the Northern Road.” I glanced to the door, shuddering beneath the commander’s fists.
“The mercenaries who attacked us on the way here…they said they were to take me to the Shadow King.”
Splinters of wood showered the alleyway as the seer’s face paled. “What happened to these mercenaries?”
“I…I killed them.”
“What did they look like?” she hissed, and I gave her a brief description, leaving out the part where Solok and the Mistress ate them. Her eyes narrowed; she straightened her shoulders. “Then you must….”
The door burst open and I threw up my arms against the storm of wood and metal, and when Tavion gripped my wrist, hard enough to leave bruises, the High Seer had vanished.
From the other end of the alley, Solok stalked toward us, such cunning evil on his face, I knew my every fear was about to come true.
“Take our guest back to the palace, commander.” The Axe ordered softly, Tavion’s hand squeezing tighter. “I wish to ask the little thief a few questions.”
“You don’t wish to escort her yourself?”
Solok’s gaze was fixed on the ruined door. “No. I believe I have some questions that need answered first. Let’s hope the shopkeeper is in a talkative mood, or this will get messy.”
16
ANARIA
Ifought Montgomery the entire way back to the palace, Ember dragged behind, hemmed in by a bevy of guards who were more than eager to test the sharpness of their blades on our flesh.
What had the High Seer been trying to tell me?
That ambush had the makings of certain death written all over it, and I very much wanted to stay alive. But if she told the truth, I’d been born here, in Caladrius.
Impossible.
But there had been no lie in her voice and part of me wanted to believe her claim was true.
