Page 89 of Lake of Sorrow

“Yes. But we can’t do that if you, or, uhm, the curse, kill our potential customers.” Kaylina didn’t mention that the queen and the city’s entire guard regiment wanting her dead was also an impediment. “Is there any way we can lift the curse? Or that you’ll at least work with us to allow the business, the visitors? Without…” She waved downward to indicate the vestibule but didn’t know if the plant could interpret her gestures. She didn’t even know for certain that it understood her words, but it had seemed to before. “Without killing people. At least not people coming to enjoy our food and drink.”

That one sought your death.

It was the same voice as before, but it startled her since it came outside of a vision. Had feeding the plant the honey fertilizer given it more power to communicate?

Descendants of the Daygarii must be protected, the voice added.

Kaylina touched her chest. Did that mean her? Was this confirmation that she somehow had a hint of the ancient druid blood in her veins?

The plant didn’t respond to her gesture.

Aloud, she asked her more pressing question. “Does that mean you’ll allow visitors if they don’t want to kill me?”

Those who are not a threat to you may enter your abode as long as you reside here and care for the sentinel.

“The sentinel? Is that you?”

Frayvar’s eyebrows arched as he presumably only heard one side of the conversation.

Those who are not a threat to you may enter, the plant repeated.

No vines stretched toward Kaylina, but another vision crept over her. Shorter and simpler than the others, it showed Vlerion on the cobblestone street outside of Stillguard Castle with a knife thrust into his chest. His dead blue eyes were open to the sky as snow fell, dusting his body.

Kaylina drew back in horror. Before the vision faded, she recognized the hilt of the blade embedded in his chest—piercing his heart. It was her knife, the one she used for peeling fruit and cutting meat at the dinner table. It wasn’t for killing people, especially not friends.

You must slay that one before he slays you.

“That won’t happen. He’s not a threat to me.”

But he was. She knew it, and the plant knew it.

It repeated the vision of Vlerion lying dead, then showed her dozens and dozens of people sitting at the tables inside the castle and in the courtyard, drinking heartily and laughing and enjoying themselves.

“Is that a bribe?” Kaylina demanded. “If I kill him, you’ll help me be successful with my meadery? Look, I don’t care what blood I might have. I would never?—”

Frayvar touched her arm, and she stopped.

He held a finger to his lips as he tilted his head toward the plant. Had he also received that vision?

“If that’s the deal it’s offering us—you,” Frayvar said, “then we must consider it.”

Kaylina realized his words were for the sake of the plant—it clearly could understand them—but she couldn’t keep from scowling. No dream would be worth killing someone over. Especially not Vlerion.

Had she believed for a second that Frayvar would consider that idea, she would have knocked him on his ass. But it was moot anyway. It wasn’t as if either of them had the fighting prowess to kill a ranger. And Vlerion was far more than a ranger.

“Let’s discuss it further outside,” Frayvar added.

“Fine.”

Leaving the pot of honey water behind, Kaylina swung down through the hole to the floor. She almost landed on a chair that Frayvar had dragged down the hall to help him up. He dropped down, using it for a stool, before joining her.

She strode out of the keep without saying another word to him. It wasn’t his fault the plant had offered that awful suggestion—or deal, as her brother had said—but frustration and anger made it hard for her to be reasonable.

Frayvar followed her into the courtyard, then out the gatehouse to the river trail. Even there, Kaylina wasn’t sure it was safe to talk, that the plant wouldn’t be able to hear them, but her frustration boiled over and she whirled on him.

“Did you get that vision? And see what that awful plant wants?”

“I saw,” Frayvar said. “I don’t understand why it would single out Lord Vlerion specifically though. Why him over the other rangers?”

---