Page 49 of Aofie's Quest
“Trust me. And wear something to cover your hair.”
A sliver of fear went through me. We’d just arrived and yet, a midnight meeting spoke of danger and secrets. “Is this dangerous?”
His gray eyes bored into mine as he studied me. “Don’t forget,” he said, “I know who you are. You can’t forget that knowledge either.”
A finger of ice touched me, and I found myself nodding. There was more I wanted to say, to ask, but Romulus stood. “I must go, but I’ll meet you in the hall outside your room.”
* * *
Moonlight shonein through the crystal roof, and I dressed under the watchful eye of Mother Selas. By my request, Tiwyn had brought me a dark cloak, although why I’d have need for it under the warmth of the summer sun, she did not ask. Tucking my short hair into the hood, I pulled it over my head and stilled myself. Was I foolish for a midnight rendezvous? Now that I’d spent a week learning to control my magic, the colors did not flare up in front of me; I only had a twisting sensation in my gut that something was wrong. Again, I reminded myself how kind Romulus was to me, my first true friend, and the way my body warmed around him. Perhaps tonight he’d finally take a kiss, and that thought chased away my fears.
Opening the door, I slipped out and almost ran into a shadow. A flash of white revealed Romulus, also hidden under a dark cloak. His fingers slipped down my arm and threaded around my hand, the warmth of our palms sending a delicious sensation through my body. He pressed a finger to his lips in warning, and then took off, pulling me behind him.
We fled through the hall like disobedient children; all the while I was aware of the moon watching us. But a thrill rose inside me, to be running, gleeful, under the cover of night. My hood fell back once we were outside and the peaceful sounds of night surrounded us. The flapping of a great bird, the squeal of an indignant creature, the lowing of beasts, and the soft murmur of the water made me tilt back my head and breathe in deep, pulling Romulus to a stop beside me.
There was magic in the air—I was sure of it as I stood, almost tasting the fragrance of lavender on my tongue. “It’s so beautiful here,” I breathed. “How can you stand to be away?”
Romulus’s arm curved around my waist, pressing me against his body. He brushed the back of his hand against my cheek and I bit back a moan, flustered at my behavior and the carnal throb within. “Do you know what makes this place strong?”
“No.” I watched his lips, unable to meet his eyes.
“It is Queen Iris. You’ve seen her, experienced her power.”
Suddenly I drew back, reminded of what I did not want to be reminded of, because she’d forced me to speak, forced me to unveil my secrets before the entire assembly. That moment was embarrassing, and I resolved never to use my magic to conduct such an act against those younger and weaker than myself.
“She is the one who created this place, this haven. She is ageless and powerful, but I did not come here to talk about her. I want you to see.”
“See what?” I glanced around, noting how the crystal palace gleamed in the moonlight, turning a shade of blue.
Romulus squeezed my hand and drew me onward, past other buildings. Occasionally I thought I heard the low murmur of voices, but it was hard to distinguish them among the other sounds. Romulus led me up to a great tree, opened the door, and slipped inside.
It closed behind us, but instead of darkness, a cascade of winking white and yellow lights lit up the tree, showing a wooden staircase that spiraled upward. Heart in my throat, I climbed, awed at being inside a tree that seemed like a tree and not a tree all at the same time.
Before we reached the top, Romulus opened a window. “Careful now,” he said, climbing out onto a thick branch.
Curious, I climbed out the window, catching my cloak on a twig. I tugged it free with some fiddling and crawled after Romulus. We were high in the air and quite close to the palace. The branch waved in front of a room, and as we neared, I made out a faint glimmer of bloodred.
A warning hummed through me, but it was too late as Romulus perched on the narrowing edge of the branch and pointed. “Tell me what you see.”
My ears rang, and I barely heard his words. Suddenly I knew why he wanted me to come, to sneak out at night, to understand. It all made sense, the dark hunger in his eyes I glimpsed at times, the lust for power. It wasn’t for himself; it was because he found me, and he understood, perhaps more than even my mother had, my potential if I followed through and took up the quest that had been laid out in front of me. Why else would he woo me with his presence, with his kind words, when he wanted to gain my trust and show me the one thing I’d been warned against?
It was Takari who told me I should never take up the red sword, and yet it hung in front of me, behind a wall of crystals, and perhaps more. It floated, suspended by magic, glimmering in a pool of its own red light. And when I looked on it, a sudden urge like nothing I’d experienced before swept over me, and I knew, without a doubt, I looked upon a blade that should be mine.Claíomh Dearg.The red sword.
“Thisis what you wanted me to see?” The question came out shrill, accusatory.
“Just to see.” Romulus waved his hand, encouraging me to lower my voice. “It dwells in the queen’s Hall of Magic Weapons, but this one you can see from this window, at this angle. The others are hidden in the hall, but the red sword is a legendary magical weapon with endless magic. The one who wields it will be invincible.”
Confusion swirled through me. “I heard a tale that the sword controlled the one who wields it, not the other way around.”
“True.” Romulus stared back out at it, as though he did not wish to take his eyes from it. “Many have been tempted by its prowess, but only one with great magic can wield it. When first I heard about you, Aofie, I thought you were merely royal blood. I was unaware you had magic, and now that I know of your origins, I know that you, and perhaps only you, have the power to take up the red sword and use it to destroy your enemies.”
I bit my lower lip, fighting between anger and curiosity. Takari’s dark words had resonated with me, and even from a distance I felt the pull of power. It was dangerous.
“You heard what the queen said,” I told Romulus. “I cannot use it or scheme to take it. You are putting us in danger by bringing me here. If someone finds out…”
“Hush.” Romulus’s whisper was raw, and he gestured for me to move back.
Slowly I crawled back along the branch, peeking back behind me. As I did, a shadow within the palace passed by the window, and suddenly two eyes looked out. I froze, wondering if the moonlight would give us away, but the shadow continued, gliding away while my heart pounded in my throat. My eyes were wide as I turned back to Romulus, whose face was pale and gloomy.
