Page 90 of Degradation

“Would you happen to have a male staff member willing to sample a potion for me? It won’t harm him. I promise.”

“Of course, Princess,” he said.

“Would you care to share your plan?” Liam asked.

“Yes. If the trap is for me, she likely already anticipates I won’t be attending alone. However, your faces are now well-known.”

“If we appear as Garron did, we will still draw attention.”

“Which is why I need to perfect the spell before then.”

“I see.”

“IfI’m able to, you will need to attend with another noble house, or it will be odd for Philip to have such a bounty of heretofore unknown family suddenly.”

“And once we’re in the courtyard?” Liam asked.

“We will remove her casting stones from her by any means necessary. Without them, she will not be able to stand against me.”

“That is not a plan, Love. That is a desperate hope.”

“Do you have a better suggestion, or do you plan on standing in the throng and watching your brothers swing?”

He exhaled slowly, and I knew he was struggling against the storm of emotions my statement had evoked.

“As you said, I think this is a trap,” he said slowly. “She’s attempting to bait us into acting. I don’t believe she’s truly intent on killing Edmund and Brandle.”

“So do nothing? And what if you’re wrong?”

His frustration and helplessness simmered just beneath the surface. Leaning forward, I placed my hand over his.

“I’m not one to do nothing, Liam, am I?”

The frustration climbed a little higher.

“We both agree that we should attend. And we both agree that you and your brothers are too recognizable as you are. Send Getaina to me. While she and I will work on perfecting the spell we need, you and Philip can attempt to unite the nobles to stand with you should we need to make a stand today. Do you agree to that much?”

He nodded and kissed my knuckles.

“You are the light in our otherwise dark existences, Kellen. Thank you.”

I smiled, already thinking of how I might need to remind him of that in the hours to come.

When Getaina joined me, she walked into the kitchen with a surer step and a hint of amusement.

“The others have already sent letters of support this morning,” she said. “They will join us in the courtyard with their supporting families.”

“They will?” I asked in surprise. “I thought…” I trailed off, respecting Getaina and her vast knowledge too much to speak of her age as if I believed it was a deterrent. It had been her opinion, not mine.

“That tea you made did more than cure the aches from the spell. It lent me energy that I haven’t felt in years. I slept soundly, girl. Not a single ache to wake me in the middle of the night. Not even from my bladder.” She flexed her fingers, fisting the gnarled digits tightly. “I agree with Pogwid. Better to unite and face the end bravely. The others will be here soon. What do we need to do?”

“Perfect the spell I attempted the last time.”

Getaina’s brows rose. “I’ve already told you. It’s impossible.”

I went to the shelves and removed a pea from its bag. She watched me place it on the table. It sprouted and grew, first as a pea and then into a thick vine with thorns. Then into a tree whose branches netted out along the ceiling. Its leaves filled the room until not a hint of the ceiling remained. Its trunk bent and lengthened to the side, creating another work table. From the wood, I created several bowls and changed them from wood to stone.

“How can I make this all from a single pea seed? Is this not also against its nature? Simply because something has not yet been done does not mean it can never be done. Believe it until it becomes reality.”

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