Page 160 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

Sumac stepped forward, examining the scholar’s book. “What of weapons? If they’re sylph, they’d have a gift from Illya.”

“Primitive would be my best guess. I don’t think they’ve got a contract with the Highlands or the gnomes of the Cheyne Mountains. But you could ask for their records.”

Doubtful either would give him information.

“Thank you, Master Marcus, that will be all.”

The scholar bowed. “Any time, your Highness.”

After he’d gone, Hopper said, “We obviously can’t let you go to the Court of Screams. You’re much too valuable. And we don’t even know that’s where they’re taking Aelia.”

“I’m almost certain that’s where they’re taking her.” Tharan took a swig of his cider, trying to still his nerves. He knew his friends would try to stop him, but there was no changing his mind. He would not fail Aelia again.

“Why would the Trinity hide one of their Wells in a place that doesn’t even worship them?” Amolie wondered aloud.

“Sounds like the perfect place to hide one,” Roderick said. “Think about it. They don’t worship you, so they’d never go looking. And neither would anyone else because they’d be risking their life.”

“So what are we going to do?” Amolie looked at Tharan.

“Hopper, send a raven to theking. See if he’ll grant me an audience.”

“I don’t even know where to send the bird. There is no castle. No town that I know of.”

“We could go to the border,” Tharan suggested. “See if anyone knows anything. Surely, the Court of Honey or the Court of Whispers must trade with them. Even if it’s off the books.”

Roderick rose.

“I’m from the Court of Honey. It would be my pleasure to have you as my guest. I am friendly with their queen.”

“Very well then, send a raven,” Tharan said. “We’ll leave as soon as we get word.”

“If I may, your grace,” Roderick said. “I think it would be better if I carried the news. Amolie and I can go ahead and ask in person. They have a portal here that we can use. It’ll be faster than a raven. Amolie will portal back with news.”

“Very well,” Tharan said. “We eagerly await your return.”

Amolie and Roderick said their goodbyes and went to prepare for their trip.

38AELIA

Pain searedthrough every limb of my body. I didn’t want to open my eyes, but I knew I had to. Vultures circled overhead. Their black bodies contrasted against a gray sky.

“Good, you’re awake,” Baylis’s voice rang in my ears.

I didn’t respond at first; the shaking of the rickety cart made my head hurt and my stomach turn.

“Where are we?” I said, my voice hoarse from disuse.

“We’re on our way to the Court of Whispers.”

“Why?” I eked out.

“We’re meeting Erissa there.”

My chest tightened, and I shut my eyes once more. I didn’t want to think about what awaited me. The Court of Whispers was a poorer court whose mere existence depended upon sacrificing people to the Night Folk. Why would anyone want to live there? I had no idea. Pride, I guess.

I tried my best to sleep for most of the trip, but the shackles around my wrists and ankles made it difficult. They’d purposefully put the shackles on to inhibit my healing. Smart on their part, I’ll give them that. The smell of hops and barley wafted through the air. We must be in the Court of Malts.Technically, a Wild Court, if I could get to a town, they would shelter me. That was a bigif.

We pulled into some brush for the night.

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