He kept his hand on the wall anyway, and trudged on.
Where was Marjani? Had the goblins captured her while he was lost in this endless white world?
If only he hadn’t accepted Sindre’s geas. But he had, and a geas was almost impossible to break.
Even if he did manage to break it, he’d lose everything: his job as an envoy, the money he’d earned since accepting the bargain. Worse, he’d be shamed, known throughout the magical world as a vow-breaker.
The shame wouldn’t fall on just him, either. It would attach to his dad, Arne, and maybe even Roald.
Back when he’d accepted the geas, ninety-nine human years hadn’t seemed that long. But now the years inched by…and he still had thirty-nine to go.
“Sleep,” a woman murmured. “You’re safe.”
“No.” He shook his head from side to side. “I’ll die. And the king will get Marjani.”
“Is that what’s bothering you? I’m right here. Safe. We’re both safe.”
He opened his eyes. Marjani’s face swam into view, but he didn’t trust his eyes. It would be just like Sindre to taunt him with the one woman Fane most wanted.
“Jani?” he croaked. “It’s really you? This isn’t some trick?”
“I’m here.” A warm hand settled on his chest. “See? You can feel me, right?”
“Thank the gods.” He gripped her fingers…and the world whirled away.
He’d walked for another endless day when the wall disintegrated into a chilly white mist that slowly engulfed him. He tried to outrun it, but it was all around him.
No. It’s a trick.
He lifted his chin. “Mind over matter, Fane.” Because if he could somehow see through the illusion, it would disappear.
The fog covered his face. Reaching his arms out in front of him, he stumbled blindly forward until his legs gave out.
So much for mind over matter.
“At least,” he told Sindre as the blackness came up to meet him, “you don’t have Jani.”
He could swore he heard the king chuckle.
“I’m here,” she said. “I’m here.”
He didn’t know how long he was out—an hour? A day? But when he came to, the fog was gone and he was curled up on the stone floor, shivering.
He groaned and wrapped his arms around himself.
“Easy, now.” Gentle hands lifted him onto a lap, stroked the side of his face. A woman, but it couldn’t be Marjani. After what he’d done, she must be far away by now.
His eyelids seemed to have been glued shut. “Mom?”
“No. It’s me—Jani.”
He pried open his sticky lids and focused on the woman gazing down at him with a furrowed brow. “Jani?” Relief washed through him. “You’re…okay. It wasn’t a dream.”
“Shh—don’t talk. Drink.” She slid a hand under his head to lift it, and then set a cup to his lips.
He gulped the water greedily, draining the cup. “More.”
“Okay.” She set the cup down and started to move him off her.