Page 45 of Degradation

“They’ve told you little about the queen, haven’t they?”

“Just what they call her and that she was responsible for their curse.” I chose not to mention the bit about her killing small children.

Pogwid nodded. “They were very young when they were cursed. Henry brought them here, hoping that I could lift it, but I knew, at their ages, they wouldn’t be able to withstand the pain. Liam was still a suckling babe.” She shook her head. “They are not the only ones whose lives have been ruined by the queen. So many have lost their lives for one simple reason. The queen fears being overthrown as the previous King and Queen were—may their energy find peace. Any caster who comes close to matching her power is a threat and will quickly die.”

“That’s why you’re hidden while other casters are not? So she doesn’t kill you as well?”

“It is.”

The pieces settled in my mind. Pogwid was powerful enough to be a threat to the queen, and my well had more capacity than Pogwid’s. A spell to forget me wasn’t to keepPogwidsafe but me.

“Am I more powerful than the queen?”

She glanced at Garron then sighed and shook her head. “Power isn’t ability.”

“Knowledge is power,” I said, understanding. Pogwid had the knowledge, but with her cracked well, she would never be able to face the queen, who liked to kill small children.

She nodded. “And you are woefully uneducated.”

“Then educate me.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “I think we’ve covered enough today. Cast your spell to ensure I forget you if I’m ever questioned; then go home and cast your protection spell there.”

She crossed the room and stood before me.

Rather than speaking the words aloud to clarify my intent, I touched my energy to hers and said them in my mind.

For the people she lost, let her light continue to shine. Mend her well with the energy I confine. Let her continue with grace and gratitude, to protect those who need protection and keep her from the queen’s detection. If she’s taken at the queen’s behest, she will lose all memory of me at my request.

I sent my energy into her well as I clasped both her hands. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Her pain reverberated through me, but I held tight, focused on mending what her desperation had destroyed.

Crack by crack, I used my energy to repair the well from the bottom. Like distant war drums, my pulse pounded in my ears, growing louder as I worked upward.

“Kellen!”

Garron’s hands gripped mine, trying to tear them from Pogwid’s. My magic held firm.

Light flickered just beyond my peripheral as I reached midway. My lungs grew tight. Each breath hurt. But I refused to quit when the energy in my well remained unchanged.

A glint of blue sparked in Pogwid’s brown gaze, and I flew backward.

Darkness closed around me before I hit the wall.

CHAPTERNINE

“Do not raiseyour voice at me for saving that girl from her own folly, you royal pain in my arse.” Pogwid’s tone matched the anger she felt, but it also masked her fear and guilt toward me.

I struggled to open my eyes. Everything hurt. Especially the back of my head—and I groaned softly.

“She’s awake,” Garron said.

“Good. Get her to drink the tea. All of it.” Something crashed. “Did you have to choose a simpleton with no sense of self-preservation?”

A cup pressed to my lips. At the same time, Garron slipped an arm behind me to help me sit. The move, along with the horrible scent of tea, made my stomach roil.

I gagged.

“Drink, girl!” Pogwid barked.

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