The Wildling was almost killed.
I think about that, as I watch her throwing her blades. As I feel palpable relief in my bones that the Moonlings failed. For a moment, I wish I could be down there with her, in the sunlight. I wish I could see her eyes under its rays.
Then—him. Grimshaw appears, seemingly out of nowhere. I grip the windowsill, burning myself in the process. I lurch backward, cursing.
She launches one of her blades at him, and I mourn the fact that it misses his head by a few inches.
Aim better next time, love, I think.
I can’t hear them. Damn this curse. Damn the fact that I can’t go down there right now and take her away.
She leaves with him.
I can’t follow them, but I’m high enough to see their path. He’s taking her in the direction of Wild Isle. Did she ask him to take her there?
Why didn’t she ask me?
I wait impatiently for hours by the window, but they don’t return. At least, not in the same direction that I can see from this window. As soon as the sun sets, I leave the castle, flying toward Wild Isle, wondering if she’s still there, or maybe she returned ...
There she is. I spot her from above, outside the Place of Mirrors. She’s alone. I land near the bridge, before my powers can be muted, and go on foot the rest of the way.
By the time I reach the Place of Mirrors, she’s already inside, having left a trail of footprints for me to follow. I enter quietly, slipping to the back of the room. She’s too distracted to notice me—she’s staring at the back wall. She’s trying to open a door.
Interesting. I never knew it was a door. The Place of Mirrors is a place of mystery. I’ve rarely been back since the Wildlings left.
She seems intent on this one spot. She growls as she tries to get it open. If my powers worked in here, I might help her.
I stay longer than I should, watching from the shadows. Then I go to Star Isle, to meet the specter.
It took days for Enya and me to find her lurking in a pile of ancient ruins. It took even longer to lure her out of hiding.
She wouldn’t appear with Enya there, because of what happened last time. Enya just rolled her eyes and wished me good luck.
Today, I’m alone. I wait in the center of the ruins, thinking of Isla. Thinking of her trying, with all her might, to get that hidden door open.
The air goes cold.
“King.” The specter’s voice is like a bell, cutting a sharp melody through my mind. I turn to find her appearing from a column. She looks just like a normal woman—save for the glow of her skin, and her hair, floating around her as if underwater. She circles around me, far too close for comfort, gray eyes wide and glimmering with excitement. The specter has a strange fascination with me. I’ve never understood it and have avoided her at all costs. But for this, she can be useful.
She reaches out toward me, and I take step back. I get right to the point. “Do you know whether or not the heart of Lightlark is on Star Isle?”
She pouts at me, as if upset that I’m not just here for lively conversation. Then, after a long while, she finally says, “Yes.”
Truth.
I step forward. A wicked smile curves across her pale face. My desperation seems to please her. I don’t give a damn. “I’ll give you anything. Riches. Information ...”
That makes her laugh. “What would I do with riches? With books? No. I only want one thing. One thing, and I will give you what you ask for.”
“What is it?”
“I want to walk in a body.”
A chill rakes through me. “No.”
She’s undeterred. “For just a few moments.”
I think about the heart. About how desperately I need to find it. “Fine,” I utter with difficulty. I outstretch my arms, knowing for certain I’m going to regret this.
