Page 52 of Cursed Crowns

“Rose, you’re right,” said Shen, gasping as he looked past her. “If the forest is full of starcrests then there must be seers nearby.”

Rose tried to smile but her lids were drooping again, and it was taking every ounce of her energy to keep them open.

“Follow those birds!” said Kai, urging Victory into a gallop.

The birds swarmed overhead, leading them deeper into the wood, where the trill of their song hung like wind chimes. They followed it through the trees. Rose was so tired now; she wanted nothing more than to slide off Storm and curl up on the springy moss. It looked so warm and welcoming. So soft...

“Stay awake, Rose,” said Shen’s voice in her ear. “We’re almost there.”

“Mmm,” she murmured. “You smell good.”

Shen chuckled. “I doubt that. We’ve been on the road for two days.”

“You always smell good to me,” said Rose with a giggle.

“Yeah, she’s definitely poisoned,” said Kai.

After a while, Shen’s voice came again. “Sit up, Rose. Look. We’re at the edge of the wood.”

With great effort, Rose cracked an eye open. They were far beyond the Poisonweed Valley now. The trees had parted to reveal a stony basin cut deep into the earth. All around it, trickling waterfalls flowed down into crystalline pools, casting a creeping silver mist. Inside it, nine stone towers hung with trailing ivy climbed up toward the sky, where hundreds of starcrests soared in murmuration.

Rose’s heart lifted at the sight. “Wefoundit.”

“Something’s spooking the horses,” said Kai, cutting through the shining sense of wonder. The horses had stopped at the treeline and were refusing to go any farther.

“Then leave them.” Suddenly, Rose couldn’t wait a moment longer. She wanted to feel the spray of those waterfalls on her cheeks, to dive into one of the crystal pools and let it wash the clinging poisonweed off her skin. She rolled off Storm and stumbled toward the towers.

“Rose! Wait!” Shen jumped off Storm and ran after her.

“For the love of Eana,” muttered Kai, as he leaped off his horse and followed them.

Rose had barely taken ten steps before the ground gave way beneath her. One minute she was wading through a pile of leaves, and the next she was plummeting into a dark hole in the earth. Shen lunged, flinging his hand out to catch her, but the hole widened to swallow him, too. They landed on the hard ground with a thud, just as Kai came tumbling after them.

“Oh!” said Rose as she sat up. She knew she should have been worried, but she couldn’t help the giggle that sprang from her. “We’ve been caught!”

There came a rustle from above. She looked up to find an old man in a midnight-blue cloak staring down at them.

Rose waggled her fingers. “Hello.”

The man scowled at her. “You’re late.”

19

Wren

It was snowing when Wren woke up. Overnight, a thick layer of frost had settled over her window, sealing it shut. The world outside was hazy and white, the morning chill seeping through the walls and turning her nose numb. She pulled the fur blanket up to her chin, thinking of Banba freezing somewhere far below her. Her grandmother was hardy—life in Ortha had made her that way—but her bones had grown brittle with age, and her knees often ached in the cold.

Wrenhadto free her; there was no time to waste.

A maidservant arrived presently, carrying a breakfast tray of rye toast, smoked salmon, and scrambled eggs. No salt. Wren wondered if Tor had warned the kitchen of her subterfuge last night and was annoyed at the way the thought instantly stung her. She had to remind herself that the Gevran soldier didn’t owe her his loyalty, and yet she had hoped, at the very least, that he wouldn’t go out of his way to thwart her. The maid set the tray down on the dresser, leaving Wren to eat in peace as she readied a bath in the adjacent bathing chamber.

Wren demolished her breakfast in less than ten bites. Then she wandered into the bathing chamber, which smelled of cinnamon and clove, and surveyed the mountain of bubbles with some surprise.

“I’d advise you to dress warmly today, Your Majesty,” said the maidservant as she laid out a fluffy white towel. “We’re expecting a blizzard. You’re welcome to any of the furs and dresses in the armoire. And there are some warm boots in there, too. If you’d like me to help you to pick out something—”

“What’s your name?” said Wren.

The maidservant blinked. “Klara.”

---