Page 85 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“What mortals toil to the coiling thread.
Why weave the same when knots form in the line.
The loom feeds a snag in Fate looming.
So seek first those of second death.
Find tears in time before time unravels.
The weave undone. To walk away. To stay.
Embrace death by the first fallen leaf.
Tie ends or end in Void.”
Her voice didn’t have the weight of a literal god, but her charisma passive perk was a good mortal comparison. Julian had to repeat the words over with a clear mind,withoutAlice’s personal inflections.
“Do you see?” The guild mistress refocused, shooting Rowen a scathing look. “Youare a tear in the weave. There was no timeline in which you were meant to survive, and you being here might destroy us all. So think aboutthatwhile you go live yourHappily Ever After—however long it lasts.”
The fox kept a smile on their face, but their hands were clenched. “I see how you interpret this, but between the two, I would say Shadow is clearer. So Iwillthink on it while I go about living my life, and Iwill notlet you continue terrorizing the continent with your fears of ‘what if.’”
“You know I’m right,” said the celestial, her blue eyes flashing to the magical wall. “And so do they. What happens when things start to go wrong? Will they turn on you if the system fails them? Shadow just said thatShadowwon’t doom the world. He does not speak for all. What if Fate forsakes us? Everyone will know then that you choseyourselfover the world.”
“Enough,” Their Royal Highness snapped, their aura fluctuating behind their fake smile.
Julian pitied Rowen, seeing the words having an effect on the old fox. The idea that his own family and friends would be put at risk did play across his mind, but Julian refused to pander to the guild mistress before a second opinion. Something about Alice just felt …chaotic. Where Gerda had all the answers and a careful plan, Alice did not.
Julian knew he wasn’t being entirely fair. There were reports that the Blackfoghadmanaged to accomplish many things in the past. But no matter how he saw it, Julian would trust Gerda before Alice any day. Besides,ifAlice had her way, then his sister-in-law might not live very long. Chloe was a part of his family now, and that meant protecting her just as much as Julia.
The celestial shrugged. “You have been warned.”
“Then I guess it’s my turn to warnyou.” Rowen’s voice dropped ominously as the smile slipped from their face. “Mine and my own are no longer going to play a role in your plans.” The fox shot Julian a look and asked, “You are keeping Guild Mistress Alice until the first leaf falls?”
She cut him off before Julian could answer.
“He’s keeping me until I escape.” She glanced around her, scrutinizing the mithril enchanted room. “I give it three days.”
“Her fate will be decided by the council,” Julian told Rowen. To Alice, he raised an eyebrow in challenge. “You couldn’t escape the sanctuary; do you think that Fate will help free you now?”
“Who needs a goddess to escapethis?” Alice countered. “You know I’m the highest-level Spy class on the continent? Eventhesewon’t slow me down.”
She lifted the Veralyn’s Enchanted Restraint Manacles on her wrists. They were still secure. The keys were in Julian’s storage, and he checked to make sure they were there.
His small desire to release her wasalsostill there, which was why he hadn’t handed over the key to anyone else. No sense tempting fate with someone less guarded.
“I’ve only answered your questions because I’m beingnice.” The celestial huffed. “And I washopingyou would see things clearly.”
Rowen considered, then smiled again—a very pointy-toothed grin. “Why don’t we ask Miss Gerda whatshethinks on the prophecy, and if you will escape?”
Guild Mistress Alice sucked in a breath at the troll’s name, her face twisting into an ugly fit of rage. “Let that monstertryto stop me.”
“She’s bested you before,” Rowen pointed out, digging into the wound.
“I can summon her,” Julian agreed. Hereallywanted to hear her opinion on Fate’s message.
Who better to ponder over a riddle than a bridge troll?
“While you do that”—Rowen took a seat at the table, their eyes glinting with playfulness and a hint of something darker—“I’ll start my own interrogation. I’dloveto hear more about your time in Peldeep, Guild Mistress.”
