Page 122 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

That blade had touched my flesh. What if a part of what I was had already departed into the ether somewhere? Was I even stillme?

“The king cut me with that dagger, Voron.” I gripped his hand. “Would I even notice the change if it happened?”

“No. Most likely you would not.” He squeezed my hand in response. “ButIwould. I know you well enough to notice if something was missing.”

I snapped my gaze to his. “And? Am I still me?”

“Delightfully so,” he replied with a shadow of a smile. “With all your parts intact, both naughty and nice.”

“Good.” I exhaled in relief.

But was it really a good thing? Maybe it would’ve been better not to comprehend the grim future that awaited me.

“Why did he need to bother with the dagger? He could’ve just kept taking my memories away. Did you know the king could take people’s memories just like you can?”

“I’ve heard he could.”

“Only you keep your ability a secret.”

“Not exactly asecret,” he argued. “I’ve just never taken anyone’s memories other than yours.”

“You haven’t?” I blinked in surprise. “Why not?”

“There was no need.” He shrugged. “Besides, it wouldn’t work on fae, anyway. Most fae wear something warded to protect them from magic. But either way, this ability can’t be used often. It’s not easy to meddle with someone’s mind. It takes a permanent toll on the one doing it.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Taking your memories was just a temporary solution for King Tiane. It didn’t grant him full control over you. Clearly, he wanted more.”

“He wanted to turn me into a mindless doll that would suffer prolonged abuse in silence.” I shuddered, glad I managed to escape that fate, even if I might be facing a death sentence for doing that. “Should I tell the queen the whole truth? Would it help if she knewwhyI did it?”

Voron considered my words for a minute.

“It may. But I advise you to speak with her in private first. Before any public hearing.”

“I will.” I nodded, feeling just a tiny bit more optimistic.

Queen Pavline had been mostly friendly to me. Maybe she’d be sympathetic, rather than seeking vengeance?

“Maybe if I promise to leave and never come back, she’ll spare my life?” I suggested.

The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Is that what you want? To leave Elaros?”

“To leave Nerifir altogether, Voron. To put this entire world behind me. I’d go back to the human realm if that’s the only way for me to survive. I just hope the queen will let me.”

“Sending you across the River of Mists will be almost the same as executing you. Once you leave, you’d never come back. For all of us here, in Sky Kingdom, you’d be as good as dead.”

It sounded so final.

“As good as dead.”

But leaving might be my only chance to keep on living.

I heaved a heavy breath. “Just as well.”

“If that’s what you want, Sparrow, then I will petition the queen to allow you to cross the River of Mists.”

“You will? Thank you.”

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