Qualify? The rules are simple. No one who participates can—
“You have an heir,” I say, the words spilling out of me in surprise.
“Hadone.” She stands tall. Her tone is cold as a glacier. Still, I see now that something about her has changed.
My mouth tightens, understanding immediately.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, meaning it. She says nothing. “Why return?”
It’s no secret that Moonling’s curse is one of the milder ones. It only affects Moonlings foolish enough to go near the sea on a full moon.
She looks at me for a long moment. “The day the curses were cast, the oracle spoke a prophecy.”
Of course. We all know it. It’s why we’re here.
“Then ... she told another to me alone.”
I sit up. This is the first I’m hearing of it. The oracle is Moonling ... she lives on Cleo’s isle. It never occurred to me that the oracle might be loyal to her.
“What did she say?” I demand. Another prophecy could change everything. A surge of anger crests, cursing the fact that she hasn’t said anything sooner, but I wait for her to speak.
“Many things. One of which spoke about the significance of the half millennium.”
“What did she say?” I repeat, hearing the desperation creep into my tone.
“She said five hundred years later, everything would change. Again.”
“For better or worse?” I demand.
Cleo smiles ruefully. “Both.”
I grip the sides of my throne in frustration. “Are you here to break the curses, Cleo? Are you here to help us end this?”
“Of course I am,” she says, and I taste sweetness.
“Get your nobles under control, then,” I say. “They went rogue after your absence. We’ve had ... situations arise.”
Restlessness. Rebellion. Random killings.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Tell them to stand down. This Centennial is going to be difficult enough without them trying to interfere.”
She bows. “Of course, King,” she purrs. Then she walks out of the throne room.
“Calder,” I call out, and my friend emerges from the back hall, where he was waiting. “Keep an eye on the Moonling nobles, as much as you can.” I trust Zed’s spies ... but I trust my friend more.
He nods and strides out of the room.
Only then do I fold forward in pain, my skin stinging as I feel the blue mark spread.
WATCHING AND WAITING
First, the Wildling lets me win the duel. Then, she uses me as a target for Azul’s demonstration.
I suspect she’s working with Grim ... but that’s not all. I know it in my bones. She’s hiding something. I’m sure of it. And I’m going to find out what.
I could have asked Zed to trail her, or contact his network of spies, but this feels personal. Isavedher, after all. Will I again regret helping a fellow ruler?
