Page 112 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“If youmustknow, he’s off saving Valaria. Or preparing to, at least.”
“Valaria needs saving … and you trustMaster Thomasto save it?” He couldn’t believe that. The mage was insufferable.
“Valariaalwaysneeds saving.” Gerda scoffed. “From pirate attacks to dungeon breaks to political uprisings … Why do you think I started Madame Potts’s Casts? My skills let me know who’s the best for the job, and I poke them—which is why I’m leaving the world-ending disasters to the mage. Unless you know a better master-elemental, high-tier magic-circle user?”
“Miss Gerda, I believed you when you told us yesterday that interfering with Master Thomas would have dire consequences for my home and my son,” Calisto spoke quietly; they both turned to face her. “But youcannottell us that there will be acontinentalcatastrophe and expect menotto inform theContinentalCouncil.”
The bridge troll’s shoulders tensed. “That is why I didn’t want to say anything.”
“Why did you?” The words escaped him.
She looked at him with exasperation. “Because you asked.”
That hit him hard, and he had to look away for a second to calm the warring feelings inside.
His mother spoke firmly. “I am speaking to you with all due respect and consideration when I ask you, Miss Gerda, as the grand duchess of North Sumbria and a representative of the Continental Council tasked with keeping safe and secure all of Valaria—what is your official report on Master Thomas and his current course of action?”
“Master Thomas must be left alone to complete his current work, or a great calamity will befall Valaria,” Gerda stated firmly, invoking her fortune-telling Madame Potts’s voice. She added in her normal voice, “Hereallydidn’t do well with others in his space or interfering with his work—even when that interference was trying tohelp. That route had a bad ending in season one. Has your Mistborn Wand been stolen?”
Julian looked to his mother for the answer. Calisto frowned. “Was that young Master Thomas?”
“See, you’ve already helped him.” Gerda tried to make light of the theft. “If he managed to steal MistbornwithoutHenrietta’s help, he’s well on his way to completing his master spell circle, and we really should just leave him alone.”
“Until his task is complete, you say?” His mother smiled in such a way that made Julian want to run. He didn’t, though, of course; he wasn’t ten years old anymore. “And then there is nothing stopping me from having a long, polite chat with the young man?”
“Yes,” Gerda confirmed.
“Someone should inform the mage about what is expected of him as a standing member of the Continental Council. Thoroughly.”
“Can you chastise him after Feliwyn wakes up?” Gerda asked.
His mother considered the troll before nodding. “I can.”
“Thank you.” Miss Gerda smiled softly. “By then, everythingshouldbe complete. I haven’t been paying much attention to Servalt since the rains were going strong, but that is as it should be; Ihatewalking in the rain.”
Julian asked after something she’d said earlier. “Are your visions of the futurealsolimited to the seasons of the year?”
“Sort of,” the troll replied. “I am shown things about certain people and upcoming world-changing events. Since I’m not in the storyline myself, I can try to force a different path.”
“But youarein Fate’s story,” Julian countered. Gerda looked at him as he tapped a finger to his chest. “You foretold that I would be shot—and I was, redirecting the arrow fromyourown heart.”
Gerda’s casual demeanor cracked, her eyes locking on his chest in uncertainty and confusion. And a touch of fear. Her hands flinched, and then she firmly fisted them in her skirts.
“I guess I went too far this time …”
Julian felt a twist in his stomach. She’d been outed as Madame Potts while helping his family, and that was going to change everything for the troll. It might be too late to go back now, but he would be here to assist her in any way he could.
He told himself it was because he still owed Gerda … but he knew it was just an excuse.
And Julian wanted any excuse.
CHAPTER 63
Ask for a Favor from the Nice Bridge Troll
Gerda
Five years ago, I had to make the most important decision I would have to face after waking up as Gerda. I’d set out to change the story—but kept myself separate from it.
