Her face paled. She understood what he meant and eyed the dagger once again.
“This dagger…this enchanted dagger was meant to kill you.”
“She sent you here to kill me, then,” she said. “Because I am a threat to her and her throne.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “But I’m not here to kill you.”
“Then why are you here?”
He dropped to one knee and held the dagger up to her. “I’m here to bequeath this enchanted blade to you so that you may defeat the queen and regain your throne.”
She froze, gaping at him in disbelief. Her eyes met his, glittering with skepticism she no doubt felt.
“How am I supposed to defeat the queen with nothing more than a dagger?” she demanded.
“I will help you.”
She huffed out a breath, then pushed her fingers through her long, tangled locks. “Get up.”
“You are the rightful ruler of the Mystic Vale—”
“I know who I am. Getup, please.” Frustration edged her voice.
He stood, unable to stop the flood of disappointment. She had refused the dagger. Was she also refusing the call to reclaim her throne?
“There is much you don’t know,” she said. “Much you don’t understand.”
“Then tell me. I wish to understand. To know. Iwantto help you.”
“You don’t even know me,” she snapped.
“That’s true. But I know what the people want. I heard it throughout the villages as I traveled to the castle. They want Seraphina gone. And they long to have their rightful ruler back on the throne,” he said. “They aren’t sure if you’re dead or alive. They hope you’re alive.”
“All of this is too much.”
She turned away and started through the forest, her bare feet near silent along the bracken. He marveled at that a long moment before he was spurred into action. It was then he noticed she wore a shift and a dressing gown over it. She had fled her house in the middle of the night and hadn’t bothered to dress. Something about that endeared her to him.
Still holding the dagger, he followed her as she made her way through the woods with a clear path in mind.
“You don’t understand anything about me or who I am,” she said.
Her pace was quick. She wasn’t even winded as she made her way through the trees, holding up the edge of her gown to keep from tripping.
“Returning to reclaim my throne is not as simple as everyone seems to think.”
“Everyone like who?”
“You, Master Harwin, the dark wizard.” Realizing what she said, she snapped her mouth closed, pressing her lips into a thin line.
“Who is Master Harwin?” he asked, still following her. His booted feet crunched over the bracken.
She halted, turned to him in a huff. “You walk too loud.”
Then she picked up her skirt and ran. He was so shocked by what she said, he didn’t think to follow her. He stood there, watching her long wavy hair bounce up and down her back as she made her way through the trees, her white nightgown a beacon in the night.
Finally, he spurred his feet into motion and ran after her.
He found her kneeling at the foot of a large oak tree, one palm flat on the trunk and her eyes closed. He halted. She seemed to be in some sort of meditation. After a long, quiet moment, she opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on him.
