He glances at me, and I swear there’s a flicker of something like amusement in his eyes. “Fine. One. Question. Then you’ll stay quiet until we stop for lunch.”
I think for a moment, weighing my options. It’s actually the best offer he’s given me. “Deal.” The question topples out of my mouth without even having to think. “Do you think I’ll be able to use that magic again?”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation, his tone definitive.
I snort at his short answer. “That’s it? Just yes?”
“Yes,” he repeats, with a hint of a smirk. “And that’s technically two questions.”
I roll my eyes, exasperated. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re insufferable,” he retorts, the barest hint of humour in his voice. “But at least now, you’ll be quiet until lunch.”
With a huff, I settle back into silence, but I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. Despite everything, despite the fear and confusion, there’s something oddly reassuring about the confidence with which he’d answered my question.
Suddenly, the horizon looks limitless.
“What happensto the Offerings that the king’s Collectors take during Collection Day?” I ask as soon as we’re back on the horse after our lunch break. “Where does all that magic go?”
“That’s two questions.”
“We didn’t make a deal for after lunch. I can ask as many questions as I like now.”
He doesn’t respond right away and shifts in the saddle, his chest pressing harder against my back, a waft of his scent washing over me. “The magic is distributed to strengthen our army, earth magic is used to fertilise the ground, water magic creates wells in areas of drought, that kind of thing. Depending on what Strength offerings are made. Whatever the king deems the most important.”
That’s pretty much what we’ve always been told. “It’s notright.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
“What’s not right?” It’s the first time he’s expressed any interest in my answer.
“The Collections. Of people’s magic. It’s not something that should be bought and sold,” I say under my breath. “The gods blessed the person with their Strength. It’s theirs.”
He mulls it over and then asks, “Then shouldn’t they be allowed to do with it as they want?”
I shrug. “I can’t explain it. It seems too… sacred for that. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe you don’t really appreciate the value of something until you no longer have it.” He doesn’t say anything, but I watch as his hands tighten on the reins. He disagrees. And that’s fine by me. But I move on while he’s feeling chatty. “And the Collectors who were with you at the village? Where are they now?”
“They went on to the next village where another unit of guards will meet up with them.”
“You didn’t want to go with them?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“I… had a different mission to complete.”
Me. I’m the mission. I almost laugh that little Eirabella Kaye, nobody from Larilea, could be worth a unit of four guards. It almost makes me want to stay with him just to find out what this is all about.
I waketo the sensation of something rough and cold wrapping around my ankle. My heart jumps into my throat, and I jerk awake, instinctively trying to pull away. It takes me a moment to even remember where I am.
In the woods.
Somewhere, who knows.
Surrounded by King’s Guards. And we’d stopped sometime after twilight for the night.
And now, someone… or something, is dragging me through those same woods, my stomach grazing against dirty snow, jagged rocks, and breaking twigs.
Panic surges through me, and I thrash wildly, kicking and clawing at whatever has a hold of me. “Let go!” I scream, my voice hoarse with fear. The dwindling campfire is disappearing fast from view as I’m taken deeper into the woods, casting only faint shadows across the clearing. In my fear, I glance down my body to make out a dark figure with its hand around my foot, face hooded in darkness.
“Stop!” I scream, desperation edging my voice. But he doesn’t stop. He only pulls harder, the muscles in his arm tensing as he drags me across the rough ground. I scramble for something—anything—to hold onto, my fingers scraping against rocks and roots, but nothing slows him down.
I’m about to scream again when I hear the sound of steel clashing, the unmistakable ring of swords meeting in the dark.
