Page 90 of House of Ydril

We’reoutinthegarden, Nuala and I, leafing through a stack of books lying next to our splayed-out bodies. The warm June sun is making the grass glisten and somewhere much closer to the sky, the birds are filling the air with their song. It’s such a seemingly peaceful day and it’s been almost two months since it happened. Since I got attacked with mind magic and left to bleed out in some long-forgotten broom closet.

But we’ve been kicked out of the Main Hall to allow the staff to get it ready for the Grand Ball, the one that’s held at the end of the Third Round. Which is tomorrow. And there’s someone out there who wants to use the opportunity to do something unspeakable, and that person is the guy I almost let myself fall for.

So as much as I’d like it to be, simply relaxing and enjoying the day is just not possible. My mind buzzing, I force myself to keep turning the pages in search of anything that might help us. Sure, I’ve managed to unlock my second Rune, Genesis, which gives me quite an advantage, but I still have no idea what the Stone really is, what it does, how it behaves…

I let out a sigh and look up from the book I currently have before me,Geology of the Western Scion Lands. I see Nuala scrolling on her phone.

I frown, saying, “I don’t mean to be a slave-driver, Nuala…”

She looks up, her face flushing. “I know, I know.” She hesitates before she adds, “But there’s a lot of stuff being written about the Trials. Apparently, even the Keeper is going to be there tomorrow.” She glances at her phone. “And they’re talking about you again. Saying all sorts of stupid shit.”

“I told you I don’t want to know any of it,” I protest. “Unless they mentionhimand where he’s disappeared to, I don’t want to hear another word.”

“Alright, alright,” Nuala says, raising her hands in defense and then picking up her own book again.

And I try to turn my focus back onto mine, but it proves to be impossible. Because now I can’t stop thinking about where he could be. Ever since it happened, I’ve only been working on three things. Looking for information on the Stone, training to get good enough to be able to defeat him and trying to find out where he’s been hiding.

“It just doesn’t make any sense, does it?” I hear myself say and I see Nuala look up from her book. “That he wouldn’t just kill me and continue as planned.”

My friend presses her lips tight. “Unless he wasn’t the one who did it.”

“It could’ve beenno oneelse,” I insist, for the millionth time. “I honestly can’t believe you’re still defending him.”

I pause, my eyebrows pulling down. “Nuala, do you know something I don’t?”

She frowns. “What’re you talking about?”

“I did think it suspicious, after the Second Round,” I start, squinting at her, “when you said you went for a walk and just ended up at the graveyard.”

She lets out a nervous laugh. “What, Quinn, you thinkIwas the one who tried to kill you?”

I just throw her a look.

“Fine,” she says with a sigh and digs something out of her pocket. Something small, wrapped in a piece of cloth and tied with a rubber band. “You’re right, I didn’t justend upat the graveyard. I went to look for this.”

I take it, turning it between my fingers as I give it a closer inspection. I find that it reeks so I hold it closer to my nose. Then it hits me. “Salvia luna? One of the shift inducing plants I read about in the Restricted Section?”

My friend nods. “I guess I figured, maybe you’re right, you know, when you say I’m suppressing things I shouldn’t be suppressing. And who knows what this bloodbath thing will bring.”

I grin. “I’m so happy for you. But why didn’t you tell me about it?” I protest as I give the little package back to her.

She shakes her head and lets out a sigh. “Because I didn’t wantthisto happen. I’m still not planning on using it unless absolutely necessary. And I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

I just look at her for a second. I’m literally itching to tell her I think she should just try it, but I’ve learned my lesson. My friend doesn’t appreciate being pushed into things. “Fair enough,” I choose to say.

“Anyway,” Nuala says, obviously wanting to change the subject, “I still think that Andreas couldn’t have done it. When I found the eyes at the graveyard that day, they were still burning and he was at the Trials, possibly even in the ring.”

That makes me feel frustrated with her again. “Nuala, he’s a prince. He could have easily gotten someone else to do the Blood Ritual for him.” I keep talking, now more to myself than her. “And let’s not forget the fact that he didn’t attack me just once. If we’re counting the time he tried to steal Moswen.”

A realization suddenly hits me and I almost jump up, making Nuala squint at me with worry in her eyes.

“What happened with Faust, the same thing could be happening with the Stone,” I blurt out. She just looks at me, frowning, so I rush to explain, “For a very long time, the mistake we were making was looking in the wrong place. We were following Leo instead of Faust.”

“I’veliterallyno idea what you’re talking about,” my friend drawls, looking at me like I’m crazy.

“I just need to get one book,” I say as I get up off the ground. “Meet me in my room in ten.”

And it takes me a little longer than that, but Nuala has her own copy of my key so once I get there, she’s already sitting on my bed, looking up at me with growing curiosity in her eyes. Probably because I’m shaking with excitement.

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