“Why?” she asked. “Your kingdom is the Feywood. What is your interest in the Mystic Vale?”
He took a step closer. “My interest is in you, your highness. From the moment we met, we had a connection. I’ve never felt that with anyone before. I’ve never met another elemental. I did not know you were the target of the queen’s wrath until I took her the enchanted dagger she commissioned. Even at that moment, when I promised to kill you, I knew I could not. Because you’re special.”
He is correct. You are special, Faradill said.There are very few elementals in this realm.
“If I wanted to kill you,” he said, “I would have already.”
“I realize that. You had many opportunities,” she said.
“Then I ask you to trust me. Come with me to the villages, so you can see for yourself,” he urged. “They want the rightful ruler on the throne. Not this imposter.”
You must go,Faradill said.Her magic is strong. Her hatred for you grows even stronger. She must be defeated.
Snow said nothing as Faradill’s voice faded from her mind. She continued to stand there, staring at Roderick holding out the dagger to her as her mind worked to form a plan. Perhaps he was right in that she would find support for her cause in the villages of the Mystic Vale. She had never ventured outside the Wyldwood since she arrived ten years ago. Would they even remember who she was? Would they believe she was the princess?
She thought of the pendant at her throat, hidden under her gown. Reaching up, she tugged it out from under her dress and let the pendant rest in her palm, gazing down at it. She swiped her thumb over the rose and crown, the royal sigil of her family line.
“If I go with you,” she said, choosing her words slowly, “and we gain supporters, will you fight with me?”
“I will be by your side until the very end.” He moved closer, closing the gap between them. “I swear this to you.”
He glanced down at the pendant resting in her hand, then reached up and closed her fingers around it. It was as though he sensed her apprehension.
“They will know you by your pendant,” he said. “They will support you and your cause.”
“Are you certain?” She lifted her gaze and met his. It made her heart turn over.
There was an inherent strength in his eyes as well as determination and sincerity. With his hand on hers, she sensed the elemental magic swirling within him. It buzzed through her, connecting them together. As though they were meant to be.
“Yes,” he said at last. “I’m certain.”
He reached for her free hand and placed the dagger in it. She stared down at it as her gut clenched.
“The dagger?”
“It’s yours,” he said. “Your weapon to fight Seraphina.”
Faradill’s voice filtered through her mind.You have the power within you to defeat her.If you have need of us, call and we will answer.
She glanced up at the ancient oak, the leaves fluttering in the breeze.
“He’s right, you know,” Roderick said, his voice soft. “You have the power.”
She took a deep breath, expelled it. “Then perhaps the time has come for me to fight for what’s mine.”
Chapter 27
Itwasalmostnightfall.After the events of the day, exhaustion had set in, leaving her body fatigued. She placed the dagger on the ground next to her and pretended it didn’t exist. All she thought about, though, was what happened to Seraphina when Ardan stabbed her with his. The way her skin seemed to sizzle. She wondered if that would happen to her should she be stabbed with it. She shoved away those thoughts.
“We will camp here tonight,” she said. “In the morning, we will begin our trek to the villages to see if your claim about me is true.”
She gave him a pointed look as she settled down at the foot of Faradill, still trying to come to terms with her emotions. Grief over the death of Ardan. Anger at Roderick for coming to her village. Yes, Ardan defended her and the village from Seraphina’s attack, but none of that would have happened if it hadn’t been for Roderick.
Annilen curled up next to her on a bed of leaves making her body as small as possible to keep warm. Snow rested her back on the trunk of Faradill, spreading her cloak over her as a makeshift blanket. She used one corner of it to cover Annilen. The sprite looked up at her with sleepy eyes and gave her a grin, then yawned and pillowed her head on her arms.
Roderick pulled a bedroll from his saddle bags, then unfolded it on the ground opposite Snow, then laid down on his back, his hands under his head as he looked up at the sky.
“I am sorry, Snow,” Roderick said, his voice quiet in the gloaming. “I never meant for any of that to happen.”
