Page 60 of Once Upon a Crown
“The catacombs that run under the palace.”
“Anything interesting down there?”
“It’s mostly just my ancestors who are buried there. Maybe an heirloom or two.” He shrugged.
“Do you think it could be used as another way for us to enter undetected?”
“There are so many tunnels down there, it would be easy to get lost. Not even I know the way.”
“Once we’ve taken back the palace, what happens next?” The winter wind sang outside the tent. It was to be another dreadfully cold day.
“We wait for the rest of our army to arrive, and then we start planning where and how to attack Aries.”
Even as he said it, I could see the hesitance on his face. He’d have had it any other way if possible. So would I.
I might have lived through a rebel uprising. But it would be nothing compared to facing the armies of Argon on the battlefield. Still, we had no choice but to try to save our kingdoms.
“Speaking of which,” I cleared my throat, “Rhen might have found something in the diary.”
At this, Cai’s expression changed to interest. I’d wanted to tell him last night, but Cai fell asleep so early and I didn’t want to disturb the little rest he managed to get these days.
“He said that he found the entries where King Evrin wrote about the Myrgonite mines and how Queen Riona had taken three of the stones and had a goldsmith forge the objects for her. The king didn’t know what kind of magic was used yet he’d warned Riona not to meddle with ancient magic. But she wouldn’t listen. She wanted to be the most powerful queen history had ever seen. Initially the objects seemed to give her protection and immense luck. But the good effects were soon overcome by something much darker. Magic that old could not be used freely and without consequence. The king described it as if the magic was taking away from her soul. She became obsessed with gaining more power and using the objects, no matter what was at risk. The more powerful she became, the less she was herself.”
“So, it’s as bad as we thought, then.” He ran his hand through his golden hair, which had grown much since we’d last been in Norrandale.
“Does the king mention anything about what the objects were or was even his diary not privileged with that information?”
“No, he did say what two of the objects were.”
Cai looked at me expectantly.
“Queen Riona was very fond of wearing a certain necklace. One laced with many jewels and that contained a Myrgonite stone in the middle.”
Cai pulled the nearest chair closer and slowly took a seat. “Well, I guess that answers that question, then.” He rubbed his jaw where a few days’ worth of stubble coated his face.
“And the other?”
“Apparently she never had any kind of weapons when it came to exerting her power, apart from one very specificdagger.” I pulled out the knife Cai had gifted to me on my birthday.
“One with gold detailing on the hilt.” I rubbed my thumb over the small jewel encrusted in the dagger before placing it on the table.
“Where did you get this again?”
Cai leaned over the table, picked up the dagger and inspected it. “On the day I first entered Everness, there was an old woman in the woods. She looked like some kind of pedlar. She gifted me the dagger because we’d given her some water to drink.”
I remembered the dream I had while in the forest. King Evrin had buried Riona with the dagger.
“Do you think at some point it was stolen?”
“Maybe,” Cai said in contemplation. “But there was something strange about her.” I didn’t reply, silently urging him to continue. “She knew I was the prince despite the fact that we weren’t dressed in any uniforms or royal attire. She had no way of knowing my title.”
“That is strange,” I agreed.
“And she told me to go to this pool where I would see my future. I didn’t believe her at first but then I saw a silhouette in the water.”
“You’ve never told me about this.”
“It was a silhouette of you,” he said, meeting my gaze. “On the day of the rebellion, when you came back.”
