Page 43 of An Archer's Reckoning

I found myself standing at the door to Justin’s room. I turned the knob and walked inside. No one had been in here since he died.

Neatly folded breeches and shirts lay in short stacks on the dresser. Two elegant doublets hung beside a riding coat in the armoire, its doors left carelessly open. Two pairs of boots and a set of formal shoes lay perfectly in a row like little polished soldiers awaiting inspection. I drew a deep breath to steady myself, and the faint hint of Justin’s scent found its way to me. My icy composure shattered as my mother’s heart finally acknowledged the price I had paid for power.

My baby boy.

I fell onto the bed and wept, a woman exposed and adrift.

A mother without her child.

I closed my eyes and saw Justin’s face before me again, smiling lovingly. My hand reached out, and I felt a wisp of hair as I pushed it from his forehead. I cupped his cheek, and he leaned into the gentle caress. Love and pain rolled through me, twin storms warring in an enraged sky.

“Enough!”Irina’s barbed voice scraped across my wounded heart, ruining my intimate moment.“You are Queen, not some simpering dog!”

Justin’s image vanished.

I jolted upright, startled by the intense rebuke Ifeltin my core. Chastised, I wiped the tears from my face.

Focus. Focus only on what matters. Only on what needs to be done. Secure the throne. Find Jess. That’s first.

I had sent search parties in every direction, but none had returned with even a sighting. How hard could it be to find a girl, an old man, and an oafishly tall Melucian? Frustrated withthe Royal Guard’s lack of progress, I had given command of the search over to Danai. He had always been highly effective, but dealing with Jess might need my personal oversight. I would have to correct that.

My second quandary was how to get my army through the mountain pass in winter. Irina’s voice thrummed with confidence, insisting that it could be done, but my advisors were emphatic that the snows would be too deep, the cold too harsh. General Marks believed winter would last five or six months. I could not stomach the thought of sitting in this inn, reminded of everyone who had once surrounded me, for that long. The bland food alone might drive me mad.

There had to be a way.

I received a host of new magical Gifts when the final sacrifice was completed. There had not been a moment to consider them, much less learn the extent of their power. I decided it was time to take inventory of my new arsenal.

My innate Gifts were Fire and Clairvoyance.

Hmm, Fire. I could certainly melt the snow and make it warm for men to pass, but how far could that extend? The pass winds through too many mountains and valleys. There is no way I can extend my power that far.

“And you would create rivers of mud that would snare men and siege equipment. That will not work. Move on,”Irina snapped, her voice jarring.

I shook off the feeling of being watched and turned to the Gifts I received through the sacrifices. With each offering, the Gift of each sacrificed spirit flowed into a diamond on my crown. The headpiece was Enchanted so the wearer could wield all seven captured Gifts, in addition to their own. That gave me access to nine Gifts.

Nine! I have nine powers!

I knew the ritual would grant new abilities, but I had not fully appreciated how many that would entail. A broad smile crept across my face until Irina’s voice scraped against my mind again.

“I had ten. Stop gloating and get on with it.”

I was beginning to despise my patron spirit.

I sucked in a breath, then ticked through the list.

Enhanced Strength was the first new ability I actually used to toss the Royal Guard out of the way at the inn. Between the bulk of the men and their armor, I manhandled hundreds of pounds of muscle and steel like it was nothing.

I had used Enchanted items many times—the charms that allowed me to Travel were my favorite—but I hadn’t tried using my new Enchanting ability. I could nowcreateEnchantments, but I did not even know the rules of that game. Could I only give an item the magical powers I possessed? Or could I do more? This could be an incredible asset to my army as they faced the Melucian Mages. I needed to ask my Mages to learn more.

Telepathy was a high-value ability. I could certainly use it to strengthen my command structure. My orders could be carried to anyone I had come in close contact with. If only it would work both ways and allow them to speak back.

Then again, I like it when my men do not talk back.I smiled at that thought.

Charisma was interesting. I had always been persuasive, helping Alfred wrangle the unruly pack of lords and advisors and their wild schemes, but having a magical boost for my efforts to influence would definitely help the cause. Was this something I had to proactively cast, like a spell? Or was I simply more likable, more believable? Had I actually used Charisma when I spoke at Alfred’s funeral? That was another question on the list for my Mages.

Then there were Animal Communication, Healing, and Empathy.

“Healing is fine. The others are useless. Move on,”Irina snapped impatiently.

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