Page 63 of Untamed

I nodded.

Laude bounced on her toes. “Oh Princess, I knew she shared new information. I just knew it.”

Like the other ship, sailors cleaned and busied themselves on the decks ofLa Lavia. We strode past the Dotado with extraordinary hearing, Ignacio, avoiding eye contact, and entered the dark passage to our small room. Every step forward heightened my anticipation until I raced into the small room at the end.

Laude bounded inside and slammed the door. “What did she say? Are we in danger?”

“Who knows? Keep your voice low.” I mouthed, “Ignacio,” and worked my hand up my sleeve, untying the leather straps. “She made me promise not to look at it in the palace.” My fingers fumbled with the cords, tightening and loosening them. Finally, the pouch fell from my skin, and I retrieved the warm leather.

Yanking the papers from within, I opened them and was met by another map, a letter, and a scribbled note.

“It’s like last time.” Laude’s words came out breathily.

“No, the map is different.” I turned the parchment to get a better look. A path was marked in red from Pedroz to Aracibel, and another from Aracibel to a chain of small islands. In the corner, someone had drawn a map of the island. A line snaked tothe center of the land. Around the parchment read a copy of an ancient poem:

What lives forever in perfect peace?

As doves swoop over bloody ground

Caught in the tender summer breeze

Protected because they are found

“What does it mean?” Laude crinkled her nose.

“I wish I knew.” I switched the parchment for the letter and read:

Dear King Sebastian of Aracibel from the Black Knight,

All arrangements have been made to attend the masquerade. Make sure to sit apart from your Giddelian guests. We must work quickly to detain them and bring them to justice. They refuse to allow open trade or to admit their hand in stealing the relics. Certainly, they search for the last relic to attain its power too. I have given you a map specifying the location of the new headquarters. From there, each kingdom will be given their portion in the last relic and will pledge allegiance to the New Alliance. Be on your guard for Giddel’s treachery.

I am sending the Black Prince ahead of me to make sure all plans on the masquerade night go smoothly. He wears the sigil of the double moon.

With new hope,

The Black Knight

The new galleon must be the Black Prince’s. Our enemy could already be lurking in the palace.

“Ai-yi-yi! We should go home. I can’t imagine what they’ll do to us.” Laude held a hand over her heart.

“Now would be a great time to let me in on any information you have yet to share. Perhaps regarding your involvement with the Dotados.” I pursed my lips.

She let out a nervous giggle. “You promise not to get upset?”

My eyelids dropped in a slow blink. “Should I lie?”

“No, well, it’s just—” She wound a red curl on her finger, a nervous gesture.

“Speak.”

“What about the last note?” She pointed to the third sheet, plucked it from my grasp, and read, “Beatriz, I wanted to apologize for putting you in such a strange position. I wrestled with whether or not to tell you about Aracibel’s planned betrayal. So that we are clear, the missives were cursed by whomever wrote them. The only way to share their content is to show someone the letters or write it down. Find a way to flee before the masquerade. They plan to kill Cosme and you. Sincerely, Monserrat.”

“Fermín burnt the original letters yesterday. Isn’t that exciting?” Laude hung her head over my shoulder. “Did you notice that nothing tethers our tongues any longer. Let’s test this letter. The New Alliance mee—”

The air in my lungs stilled. One of the letters was certainly cursed. Pressure mounted at the base of my head, hearing my fears read aloud. Should I run to Cosme and insist we leave today? Even so, we’d be ignorant to the villain who threatened us.

I snatched Monserrat’s note. “Light your finger.”

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