Page 38 of Once Upon a Crown
“In exchange for the information, he wanted one of the three Myrgonite objects.”
“Please do not tell me you agreed,” I practically pleaded. “We need to destroy those things as soon as we can.”
“I’m afraid they can’t be destroyed. It would kill you and anyone close by.”
“And I suppose Lance told you that? How do you know he wasn’t lying?”
“Are you really willing to risk it?”
“I don’t think we have a choice.” I wanted to believe there was some way to destroy the objects without putting anyone in danger. But then I thought back to that book I’d come across in the library where I first read about the king’s diary. It might have mentioned something about being unable to destroy the stones. Maybe I just didn’t want to truly believe it.
“We need that key, and you know it. And since we can’t just destroy the objects, we need to keep them separate and hidden. Lance suggested we each have possession of one.”
I couldn’t understand her reasoning. Did she still not realise how dangerous this was?
“Lara, the only reason we’re looking for those objects in the first place is to keep them out of the wrong hands.” The fact that he was her brother be damned. This was a lot bigger than bloodlines.
“Would you calm down?” Elara looked left and right, lowering her voice. She pushed me back into the nearest guestroom and closed the door behind her. Had it not been forthe severity of the situation, I would have made some flirtatious joke.
“We’re not actually going to give him anything,” she explained, continuing to keep her voice low. “I just need him to believe it for now. I told you Lance knows a lot about the objects and the history of the realm. Even if we don’t like it, we need his help. After all, he’s been looking for them a lot longer than we have.”
“Which is exactly why he shouldn’t come anywhere near them.” Never mind the fact that if someone as determined as Lance hadn’t managed to find all of them, what hope did that give us?
“Look, we are the only two who suspect what at least two of the objects are. And we’re going to keep it that way.” She tried to reassure me. “All we need is the diary to confirm it and then hopefully it will lead us to the third.”
“Then once Lance knows we have it, we still need to prevent him from getting it.”
She frowned, not pleased with my words. “I already told you, I’m not going to come through on my promise.”
“Do you honestly think he would just give up, especially knowing they are now within his reach? Why did you tell him about the objects anyway?” We mentioned nothing in the meeting apart from the gemstones.
“What do you mean?” she said, slightly defensively. “Lance has known about them for years.”
“Yes, but by giving him that fake necklace at Woodsbrook, he seemed to give up on it a little at least. By agreeing to give him one of the objects, he knows we believe they exist and we wouldn’t do so without reason.”
“Are you seriously blaming me for this right now?”
“No, I’m saying we need to be careful. The more people know, the greater the risk.”
“You think I don’t know that?” She no longer bothered keeping her voice down and took a step back. “You still don’t see me as a proper queen, do you? I’m still that naive girl who has no idea what she’s doing.”
“I did not say that.”
“But you were thinking it,” she threw back.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I said we should be careful, not that you’re incapable.”
She shook her head and turned to the door. “Whatever, Cai. I’m going to try and get that key, and you can do whatever the hell you want.”
“Whoa, whoa,” I said, stepping towards her. “You’re not actually going there yourself, are you?”
“Well, I don’t see how we have much of a choice.” She made for the door, and I took hold of her arm.
“Just think about this for a moment. We don’t even know if it’s there. This could all just be some story.”
“My mother believed it,” she responded with some offence, which was hard to argue with.
“It’s too dangerous and I will not have you go back there.”
