Page 51 of Heart of the Summer Queen

“I did,” she says. “The Sword of Veliantis, capable of absorbing any magic. Allowing you to get close enough to a witch to kill her.”

“Is this sword still in your possession?” I ask.

Belinda’s eyes glint. “It is.”

“And might you be willing to lend us this sword in order to kill Isidore?”

“For the right price.”

Elaric swivels around to me, grabbing my shoulder. “Adara, this plan means placing yourself in great danger. I cannot stand by and watch you be harmed because of me—”

I brush his hand from my shoulder. “It isn’t because of you,” I say, looking at Belinda rather than him. “I’m doing this for Dalia alone.”

It’s a lie. A horrible lie. And yet it’s one I must make. I’m doing this for him, as well as Dalia. He deserves to visit his sister’s grave without fear of freezing all of Netham. He deserves to be freed from Isidore’s chains and to live a normal, happy life. To marry a beautiful princess from a faraway land. To marry her because he wishes to, and not because a curse forced him to.

But if he knew any of this, he’d never let me go ahead with this plan. He’d haul me over his shoulder, march me out of Belinda’swoods, and fly me back to the Crystal Palace, binding me with his power. That’s why it’s best he believes I’m willing to fulfill whatever bargain Belinda demands of me—to face the Isidore’s wrath—because of Dalia alone.

I don’t need to look at him to feel the pain emanating from him. Even Belinda likely notices, despite Elaric normally keeping such tight rein over his emotions. The fact he can’t restrain his reaction shows how deeply I’ve wounded him, and it makes me feel awful.

But I don’t retract my words. Nor do I make any attempt to soften their blow.

I will repay him for everything I’ve ever done by breaking his curse, this I swear. I will not ask for his forgiveness, but I promise I will end the nightmare he has endured for these past three centuries.

I lift my chin and look Belinda in the eye. “Name your price.”

A smile stretches across the witch’s lips, and she is quiet for a moment, savoring the satisfaction of the bargain she has wrought. Then she knits her fingers together, resting them upon her lap and starts, “Deep within the kingdom of Dastrya lies a forest in the valley between the two mountains known as Valgus and Roswin.”

So far beyond our kingdom, the names of these mountains are not ones I recognize. Maybe Elaric does. Perhaps he visited that region during his time traveling as a young prince. Judging from the lack of confusion upon his face, it seems he’s likely heard of them. But convincing him to take me there will be another matter entirely.

“This forest is known as Brimlore,” the witch says, “and inside it, one can find a lake.”

“A lake?” I repeat.

Belinda sent Elaric to retrieve wyvern poison in exchange for the sword, so what will she name as her price this time? A magical pearl, or perhaps rare seaweed?

No, it’s more likely that a powerful, ancient beast dwells inside that lake, and Belinda is sending me to collect its gills. Or fangs.

“That is what I said.” Belinda’s mouth pulls into a tight smile, one which makes me wary of interrupting her again. “Now, within this lake, lies the entrance to a cave where an elusive herb grows. It is known as brambleweed.”

While I’m not surprised by Belinda’s interest in an herb, given the countless leaves and roots and flowers which fill the jars and pots on her shelves, I wasn’t expecting her request to be so straightforward. But I very much doubt her words convey the entire truth.

I wait for her to continue, but she does not.

Warily, I ask, “You would lend me the Sword of Veliantis for a mere herb?” Maybe I shouldn’t ask this, in case she changes her mind and alters her request to be far more dangerous.

“Brambleweed is no mere herb, my dear. It’s a vital ingredient for many powerful healing potions. But more importantly, this herb is not one which can be commonly found. It is a finicky plant, refusing to grow anywhere which isn’t dark and damp enough for its liking. Even the faintest glimmer of sunlight causes the plant to wither and die. Like many others, I have tried to cultivate it in my own garden, but never have seedlings survived beyond sprouts. Due to its usefulness and scarcity, this valuable plant has been harvested to near extinction.”

“Then this cave is one of the few places left where it can be found?”

“It is,” Belinda says, “and is known to few, its location well hidden from the rest of the world.”

I frown, thinking it all over. “Will the lake itself be easy to find? Or if the forest has several lakes, how can we be certain that we’ll have found the correct one?”

“It is located just a short walk from the Ruins of Festyn.”

I turn to Elaric at that. “Do you know where that is?”

Elaric hesitates before saying, “I do.”

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