Page 53 of Queen of the Night
“Don’t we all?” Vera responds simply.
Her gaze is challenging and guarded, and she doesn’t seem to realize how hard her knee digs into my leg. Odella triggered something, and I’d like to know what it is, but somehow I already know Vera won’t be telling me a word.
Odella glances at me but speaks to all of us. “The Black Tulips will either save our kingdom… or be our downfall. There is a formidable enemy after them. Ensure that enemy doesn’t get one of the Tulips, or all could be lost.”
How am I supposed to ensure that when I can’t even findoneof the blazing women?
I frown. “What enemy?”
“Gloam, the god of shadows, and his people.”
They were banished long ago, and I haven’t ever seen one, but my firm nod seems to appease Odella.
She continues. “I can tell you where to find the Field of Tulips, but the rest you must do on your own.” She looks pointedly at Vera, but I’m unable to decipher what she might be communicating, and Vera’s gaze reveals nothing. She appears so bored that Iknowshe’s hiding something. I’m left completely confused—it irritates me when so much depends on the success of this mission, and I appear to be missing details that could help.
“The Field of Tulips, can you help us reach it?” I ask.
Another flower begins to bloom on her dress as she smiles, distracting me slightly. “One of my Naiads will help you.”
“Naiads?” Darvy asks, glancing around to see if he’s the only one who doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
“River nymphs,” I say.
Darvy still looks confused, as does Vera.
Odella simply nods. “They, and I, are the reason the river is still lucent here. But once it passes my boundaries, it will return to its poisoned state. I will provide a boat and a Naiad to guide you, but only so far as she is not in danger.”
I nod. “That’s all we ask.”
“I recommend you leave the river as soon as possible once you’ve left lucent waters,” she advises with warning in her voice. “And if the boat makes it in one piece,”—Odella and I both glance at Vera with concern as she chokes on her drink before Odella continues—“leave it for your return journey. I’ll leave the border open for two days.”
“Your kindness is appreciated,” I say.
“We need lucent restored as much as you do, King Ikar.”
I nod, then the same nymph that led us here appears as if from within the tree itself.
She curtsies. “I’m here to show you to your places of rest for the evening.”
“Darvy, I need to speak with you. Rhosse and Vera, you can go ahead; we’ll be along soon.”
Rhosse nods, and Vera scoots her chair back and offers Odella a polite smile. I feel the stark absence of her knee pressed against my leg when she stands and walks away with Rhosse without a backward glance. My magic aches uncomfortably as I watch her go, and I find myself wondering with a clenched fist if I am doomed to feel this way for the rest of my life.
“You have feelings for her.” Odella speaks so softly that if I didn’t have excellent hearing, I would’ve missed it.
I jerk my gaze away from Vera’s retreating form and laugh dryly. I’m not inclined to lie to this ancient ruler, so instead I deflect her comment. “Any advice on how to fix broken magic?”
Odella laughs, and it feels like listening to a warm summer breeze. “Magic does notbreak. If you learn to listen, it will teach you much.”
It will teach me more self-control than I ever wanted.
“I’ll work on… listening… then.” I nod, though I have no idea what she means, and I still intend to speak to Darvy about it.
She merely smiles. “I will see the four of you tomorrow.”
With one last nod, I catch up to Darvy who waits near the path that Rhosse and Vera disappeared down.Odella may believe that magic doesn’t break, but minehas. I’ve gone back and forth over whether I should mention it to Darvy. Hishealing is for the physical, as far as I know, but maybe he can help, and this is the first chance I’ve had to ask.
We walk along the wide vine-woven path through the trees for a while in silence, and my jaw works as I try to figure out how to begin. “Darvy.”
