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I blinked. “So she sent you first—”
“And made sure Damien knew of your mission to the House of Harvest.” Elaran leaned back in her chair. “And when you left—”
“He never thought to suspect Curringham’s new bride,” I finished for her.
Gerarda bounced her leg. “Hildegard and I fabricated the reports about the Shadow and Curringham working together.”
“And your apparent trade connections to the other realms?” I raised a brow. “You are obviously not the daughter of a trade lord you sold yourself to be.”
“Threaten the right people and you can become anyone, especially with enough money.” Elaran shrugged. “I was quite good at it though, wasn’t I?” She wrinkled her nose as she smiled. “I always loved the undercover missions best.”
“I could’ve done without it,” Gerarda mumbled under her breath.
Elaran tugged on Gerarda’s hair and looked at me. “Ger’s still a little sour about it all. But I was born into the Guild. I knew what I might be asked to do when Hildegard started training me.”
I jutted my chin at Gerarda. “So you were recruited when you reached the Order?”
Gerarda shook her head. “No. I didn’t know anything about the Guild until the day you were named Blade.”
My jaw hung loose. “Why would Hildegard risk such a secret?”
“Because the king had ordered me to kill you.” Gerarda shrugged. “Aemon had stopped believing that you were a sign of magic returning to the land. I think he hoped that when he found a silver-eyed little girl that it meant he wasn’t going to die after all. But by the time he named you Blade, he had lost hope. He was willing to keep you as long as you stayed sharp and—”
“Loyal.” I finished. Aemon had ordered Gerarda to strike me down if I ever stepped into the Faeland.
Gerarda nodded. “Hildegard put together what Aemon had demanded of me and she decided to tell me the whole truth.”
“Against her better judgment,” Elaran injected with a teasing smile. “But fortunately Ger proved herself trustworthy.”
“She certainly has,” I agreed.
Gerarda shifted in her perch, uncomfortable, but she couldn’t hide the glimmer of pride in her eyes.
I crossed my arms. “Are there any more Guild members who are going to make their way to the Faeland?”
Elaran shook her head. “Hildegard always kept it small. Everyone who knows is either on this ship—”
“Or dead,” Gerarda finished bluntly.
Elaran’s head fell against her shoulder and she nodded. Gerarda’s entire body tensed. My chest tightened. I knew what it was to live in a world after the person I loved most was taken from it. I couldsee the fear swirling in Gerarda’s chest. She was filled with joy and relief, but terrified of ever feeling that grief again.
For her sake, I hoped she never would.
I stood from the desk. “There’s no place for the Guild where we’re going. A fragmented rebellion is one destined to lose.”
Elaran shook her head. “The Guild fulfilled its purpose. Aemon is dead.”
“Yet not by my hand.” My fingers flexed against the white hilt of the dagger that had been meant for him. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Hildegard was wrong. I am not a kingslayer. I am certainly not some savior meant to free the Halflings on my own. I never wanted that role and I reject it.”
Elaran bit her cheek but didn’t say anything more.
“But”—I held out my hand—“I will do everything in my power to bring magic back to these lands and end the Crown’s tyranny once and for all. And I would be honored if you joined me.” I turned to Gerarda. “Us.”
Elaran’s smile was demure, nothing more than she wanted to show. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
“DO YOU EVER SLEEP?” a soft voice asked from under my feet.
