I was glad I wasn’t facing Isla in that moment. The blast hadn’t been white. My silver magic had just been most of it.
“I’ve never seen that much magic all together at once,” Renna admitted.
“Me neither,” Isla agreed.
“Nor I.”
Isla peeked around Krew to look at me. “She has always had it out for you, Jorah. I’m sorry that happened.”
Thanks to Aiyana, all of Savaryn almost found out I had magic. I gave her a winced smile. “Me too.”
* * *
The peopleof Rallis had made signs. I was shocked to see that a few of them even had my name on it. Most said “Prince Keiran + Gwen” but a few had “Prince Krewan + Jorah.”
So they didn’t throw flowers at our feet, they made signs supporting the women of the lower levels of the kingdom. My heart warmed at the thought of the time and effort they’d put into making those signs. Despite knowing that they’d likely anger the other women, they’d done it anyway. In a show of support.
Of course, more than half of those people would likely be more suspicious of me if they knew I was Enchanted now too, but they also all knew whoever won each Assemblage was to be given a drop of magic anyway. It was the notion that someone from the lower levels of the kingdom could be good enough for the highest level.
If the Savaryn people were acting cheerful and frivolous, the Rallis people took it a step further. We passed a barrel of what I assumed was wine, and people were passing around cups.
They weren’t just cheering, they werecelebratingone of their own making it to the final three options.
We passed a clump of people, cups in hands, arms around each other as they sang some sort of song.
“They are crazy,” Isla said, speaking loud enough for us to hear her over the crowd.
A man spoke to a guard and then handed Renna up a cup of wine over the side of our carriage. She laughed. “And completely endearing.”
“That could be poisoned you know,” Isla said, clutching her chest.
Renna gave her a shrug and took a sip. “I don’t think they’re that foolish. They want Gwen to win, poisoning one of us would jeopardize that.”
Twenty minutes later as the carriage slowed for Gwen to greet her family, I looked at Renna in the eyes, then Krew.
I sent down the bond to Krew,How many disloyal are there right now just standing around?
Krew looked around, gray eyes scanning the area.Between ten and twenty. But word has traveled from Nerede to Rallis that the crown princes may be on their side. I suspect they are here for Gwen’s safety and a show of support, not for harm.
Says the prince who got shot with an iron laced arrow.
Krew smirked.Still mad about that?
Yes.
Me too.
My magic was much easier to contain since I had used it back in Savaryn at Aiyana. I wanted to feel bad for what was sure to happen to her. I wasn’t sure she deserved to be tortured or beaten by the king, but she had also chosen this violent road.
So I wasn’t going to let thoughts of her ruin a moment more of our day. I was sure Krew and Keir would have to deal with her plenty once we got back to the castle.
Owen’s horse weaved over closer to our carriage as Gwen loaded back up. “Ready for Nerede, Jorah?”
I grinned. The last few times I had been to visit, there was chaos. The attack. The fire. Hopefully this time there wouldn’t be any. I thought back to Krew’s and my trip for the harvest festival and how much fun we’d had with the people of Nerede. “Yes.”
As soon as the wall was in view, my heart stuttered. This was the very wall my father had worked on. His noble decision on this wall being the reason for his death.
But beyond that wall had been the only life I’d ever known. And in a few short months I had gone from loathing the other levels of the kingdom and all Enchanted, to becoming one of them. I didn’t belong in Nerede any longer, yet somehow, I did. It was a juxtaposition I just didn’t know what to do with.
