Cant I? He pointed at the door. Everyone on deck saw me do that. What am I supposed to do? Deny it?

Yes, actually. She raised her chin. I have explained to them that it was my doing. That I saw Felix from above hit you, and the reason I am here is to protect you. Of course they believed me.

He stared at her. They believe that you intervened with your own magic.

Yes.

And Im not to say anything about this.

No. Not a word. Her expression turned earnest. Its too dangerous. There are those who would target you, knowing that youre a mortal filled with immortal magic.

Immortal magic that I cant access. He stared down at his fist, remembering how it had glowed above deck.

You dont believe me, so you must see for yourself. She gestured to the door. Go ahead and try to break open this door with the air magic you so easily channeled the other day with Felix.

It sounded like a challenge. Jonas looked past Olivia and furrowed his brow with concentration as he raised his hand toward the door. He focused on the attempt to summon this magic within him so hard that his hand began to tremble, his arm began to shake . . . but nothing happened.

It means nothing, he grunted. I simply need to practice.

Perhaps, Olivia allowed gently. I only know what little Ive been told.

Disappointed, Jonas let his arm to drop to his side. Of course, we wouldnt want anything to be too easy for me. Being a witch, harnessing elementia at will . . . wouldnt want that, would we?

Actually, it would have been incredibly useful to you.

He glared at her. Youre not helping.

Apologies. Olivia grimaced. The others are concerned about you. Theyll be pleased to know that youve finally woken up.

Jonas went to the porthole and looked out at the expanse of sea. How much farther to Paelsia?

Were nearly there.

I slept almost the whole way. He let out a shaky breath as he tried to come to terms with everything hed learned. Denial would waste time they didnt have. What have I missed?

Not that much, actually. Taran continues to sharpen his blade in anticipation of killing Prince Magnus, Felix still suffers from his sickness of the sea, Ashur remains in his quarters much of the time, meditating, and Nic lurks around, and when the prince emerges, he watches him in a rather curious manner.

I did ask Nic to keep an eye on our resident prince. Best not to trust a Kraeshian, not even one who claims not to be our enemy. Jonas blew out a breath as he tightened the ties on his shirt. All right, nearly to Paelsia. Good.

Good? she repeated.

He nodded firmly. If theres a prophecy that requires me to be a full vessel of elementia, I want to know what it is as soon as possible. And thats not going to happen while were stuck at sea, is it?

No, she allowed. Its not. But truly, Jonas, I know nothing more than that. Im so sorry.

He nodded with a single jerk of his head. Whatever it is, I can handle it. Im sure Ive handled much worse in the past.

To this, Olivia had no reply at all.

Jonas tried very hard not to let that trouble him.

CHAPTER 12.

MAGNUS.

PAELSIA.

Since the journey to Basilia would take at least three days from the Reaches on horseback, there was no time to waste with constant stops for a dying king and an old woman. Selia arranged for an enclosed carriage to carry her and her son.

When Magnus suggested that Cleo ride with them inside instead of on horseback, so she wouldnt have to face the bracing cold, he was rewarded with a piercing look.

That would be a no.

Gaius directed them on a path that would take them each night through a town with an inn, where they rested, ate, and slept in separate locked rooms.

Seven long nights had gone by without falling asleep with Cleo in his arms, but each night he dreamed of her and the cottage in the woods. In waking hours, he chose not to share this with her. He didnt want her to get a swelled head about her effect on him, so he kept his near-constant want to touch and kiss her to himself.

In the last village they rested, Enzo and Milos task was to fetch the group clothes befitting innocuous travelers passing through Paelsia. They succeeded in finding cotton frocks for Selia and Cleo and plain leather trousers and canvas tunics for themselves, Magnus, and Gaius.

Magnus looked at his cream-colored tunic with distaste. Didnt they have black?

No, your highness, Enzo said.

Dark gray?

No. Only this color and a robins egg blue. I didnt feel that you would favor the blue. Enzo cleared his throat. I can go back to the shop.

He sighed. No, its fine. I will make do with this.

At least his cloak and trousers were black.

He emerged, ready to begin the last leg of their journey to the west coast city, to see that Cleo, looking like a beautiful peasant girl in her simple dress, was smiling at him from next to her horse.

You look like a Paelsian, she commented.

No need for insults, princess, he growled back, but fought his grin as they mounted their horses and started moving.

A small eternity later, which was actually no more than half a day, they finally"and thankfully"arrived at their destination.

Magnus had heard many stories about Basilia, the closest thing Paelsia had to a capital city. The city served ships visiting Traders Harbor and stir-crazy crew members eager to disembark their vessels in search of food, drink, and women.

The stories rang true.

At first glance"and smell"Basilia was vastly overpopulated and stunk of both human waste and corruption. Dozens of ships were docked in the harbor, their crews flooding the shores and mingling in the streets, taverns, inns, markets, and brothels of the seaside city. And it seemed every bit as hot as Auranos at the height of summer.

Disgusting.

Magnus glanced over to see that King Gaius had opened the carriages window to peer out at the city center with distaste. His eyes were bloodshot, and the dark circles beneath them looked like fresh bruises against the sickly paleness of his complexion.

I despise this place, he said.

Really? Magnus replied, guiding his horse alongside the carriage. I find it rather charming.

No, you dont.

I do. I like this . . . local color.

Youre not nearly as good of a liar as you might believe.

I suppose I can only aspire to be as accomplished at deceit as you have been.

The king glared at him, then shifted his gaze to Cleo, who was riding in front of Magnus and behind the guards. Princess, if I recall correctly, it was a market not so far from this very city where you found yourself with Lord Aron Lagaris and the wine sellers son he killed, yes?

Magnus immediately grew tense as he looked to the princess for her response. She didnt reply for several seconds, but he could see her shoulders were tense through the thin material of her dress.

That was a long time ago, she said finally.

Imagine how differently things might have turned out had you not been lusting after wine that day, the king continued. Nothing would be as it is now, would it?

No, she said, glancing over her shoulder to meet his gaze. For instance, you would not have fallen to your near-death after forfeiting your kingdom to a woman. And I wouldnt be watching your failure with the greatest joy in my heart.

Magnus fought a smile as he eyed his father, waiting for his rebuttal.

The only reply was the shuttering of the window, blocking the view of his fathers face.

The carriage rolled to a stop at a place called the Hawk and Spear Inn that, though it stank slightly of sweat and a mysterious kind of musk, Magnus deemed the most acceptable establishment in town. King Gaius, assisted out of the carriage and into the inn by Milo and Enzo, and trailed by Selia, quickly bribed the innkeeper to evict all of his guests so that the royal party could have ultimate privacy.

As the former guests filed out in a parade of grumbles, Magnus watched Cleo look around at the Paelsian inns meeting hall with displeasure. It was a low-ceilinged, large room that had many worn wooden chairs and chipped tables at which guests could eat and lounge with their companions.

Not up to your high standards? Magnus asked.

Its fine, she replied Its not an Auranian inn with feather beds, imported linens, and golden chamber pots. But it seems acceptably clean and comfortable to me.

Cleo turned from a table into which someone had roughly carved a set of initials. The glimmer of a smile touched her lips. Yes, to a Limerian, I suppose it would.

Indeed. The princesss lips were far too distracting, so Magnus turned and joined his father and grandmother, who stood by the large windows looking out at the stables where their horses were being tended to.

So now what to do we do? Magnus asked his grandmother.

Ive asked the innkeepers wife to go to the tavern down the road and deliver a message to my old friend to come here, Selia said.

You cant go there yourself?

She might not recognize me. Also, this is not a conversation to have where there are curious ears likely to overhear. The magic I seek must be protected at any cost. She put a hand on Gaiuss arm. There was a sheen of perspiration on the kings forehead, and he leaned against the wall as if it was the only thing keeping him vertical.

And until then what shall we do? Gaius asked in a voice that had weakened substantially since their arrival.

You will rest, Selia told him.

Theres no time for rest, he said grimly. Perhaps I will inquire if theres a carpenter nearby who can create a coffin in which to transport me back to Limeros.

Come now, Father, Magnus said, allowing himself a wry smile. Im happy to do that for you. You should do as Grandmother says and rest.

The king glared at him but didnt speak again.

Ill take you to your room. Selia put her arm around her son, leading him through the hall, toward the stairs, and up to the rooms on the second floor.

Excellent idea, Cleo said with a yawn. Im going upstairs to my room as well. Please alert me if and when your grandmothers friend arrives.

Magnus watched her leave, then nodded at Enzo to follow her. Hed asked the guard to take extra care in watching over the princess and keeping her safe. Enzo was one of the few he trusted with the task.

What shall I do? Milo asked Magnus.

Magnus scanned the hall, which also contained a small bookcase full of ratty-looking books, nothing like the vast selection hed come to value in the Auranian palace library.

Patrol the neighborhood, Magnus said, plucking a random book off the shelf. Be sure that no one has yet realized that the former king of Mytica is temporarily residing here.

Milo left the inn, and Magnus tried to focus on reading a tome about the history of wine production in Paelsia, which mentioned nothing about the earth magic that was surely responsible for the drink, or the laws preventing export to anywhere but Auranos.

After thirty pages of the dreck, the innkeepers wife, a small woman who seemed to have a constant, nervous smile fixed to her face, returned with another woman who was older, with lines around her eyes and mouth, utterly ordinary in appearance, and wearing a drab, unfashionable gown. This must be the woman Selia asked for, Magnus thought.

As the innkeepers wife disappeared into the kitchen, the older woman glanced around the seemingly vacant inn until her gaze fell on Magnus.

So youre the answer to all our current problems, are you? he asked.

Depends what your problems are, young man, she replied curtly. I would like to know why you called me here?

It wasnt him, it was me, Selia said, descending the wooden staircase at the far end of the hall that led to the private rooms on the second floor. And its because Im in search of an old friend. Do you recognize me after all these years?

For an utterly silent and excruciatingly long moment, the woman stared at Selia with a strange mixture of fire and ice in her eyes. Just as Magnus began to fear theyd made a grave error in trusting his grandmother, the womans cheeks stretched into a big smile, cheerful wrinkles fanning out from the corners of her eyes.

Selia Damora, she cooed in the candlelight, her tone much gentler than when shed first entered the inn. My sweet goddess above, how I have missed you!

The two women rushed to each other and embraced.

Shall I summon the others? Magnus asked. The sooner his grandmother got what she needed from this woman, the sooner they could leave this place.

No, this doesnt require a group discussion, Selia said without tearing her gaze away from her friend. I have missed you as well, Dariah.

Where have you been all this time? I lost count of how many years had passed so long ago.