Page 67 of Queen of the Night
“Same reason I do: to bridge. According to the journal, which holds my grandfather’s account of Lucentia from long ago, we know that all of us gained the ability touseLucentia’s magic once she gifted it to us… but her Tulips are special. It seems as though they carry a direct link to Lucentia herself. If they bridge with one, it’s assumed it could weaken Lucentia enough to defeat her and her lucent.”
I swallow tightly as a vivid image of the seer vision comes to mind.Oh no.
Chapter 39
Ikar
We left the nymphs three days ago, and while I fully expected to be attacked by more gloam masters, all has been quiet—our return trip almosttoouneventful. It’s left me with too much time to dwell on the way my magic reacts to Vera and the fact that we will soon part ways. We busy ourselves separately before the fire, but I can’t help catching a glimpse of her every now and then as I try to memorize her features… as if I haven’t already.
Rhosse sharpens and cleans his weapons meticulously, and Vera sits a few feet away from him watching Rupi attempt to thwart a spider. From the way she dodges, hops, and her feathers continue to quill up, combined with angry chirps, it appears the spider is winning tonight. Darvy is seated nearby, a bit of charcoal in his hand that is quickly forming what looks to be Rupi in a small book he carries. The tulip, cradled safely in its box and secure in my pack, has occupied my mind since Rupi dropped it in my hands. Vera may not be my biggest supporter, but Rupi adores me. The hope and confidencebrought on by having a tulip in my hands has doused further doubts about my ability to save my kingdom. Rupi finds me worthy. If I were to say that aloud, I’d be mocked, but there’s something about that tiny bird that seems toknowthings. To me, her opinion counts. And Vera’s story about simply finding Rupi in the forest? I’m still not sure I completely believe her. But those details are minor compared to the other information I need from her.
I mentally switch gears from searching out a flower to searching out a Black Tulip. From the look of betrayal in Vera’s eyes when Rupi gave me the flower, I don’t think she’ll be open to me asking about the list again, but I have to. I’m quite aware of the feelings that simmer between us—if my pet gave Vera a flower that would bridge her to another man, I would also feel betrayed.
The thought tightens my chest almost painfully with sorrow. I don’t know how I’m supposed to make a life with another woman when the only one I can think about is Vera. But constantly the people of my kingdom weigh on my mind.Always, duty first.
If all goes as planned, tomorrow we will find sharp flyers waiting in the field where we began. I have no more time to wait for her to share what she knows… Maybe this isn’t the kindest way, but what other choice has she left me?
I pull out the journal, flip to the back where several empty pages remain, and frown at the empty space. It feels wrong to write in my grandfather’s journal. I slap it shut.
“Darvy, your charcoal and book?” I reach a hand out toward him.
He finishes a few more sweeps along what is becoming Rupi’s back and hands it to me. “You want to draw?” He appears confused—as he should be.
Even Rhosse raises his gaze to see what I’ll do. They both know how nonexistent my art skills are.
I smirk, unable to resist goading Darvy. “Maybe if you’d skipped more of your art lessons to practice weapons, like I did, you’d be as good as me.”
I pull out my sword the same time Darvy does. We’re both up from our seats, our weapons smashing together amidst my laughing… until he nicks my hand, and the laughter dies in my throat. Metal rings in my ears as he blocks my swing. We continue that way, both blocking the other, no one getting the upper hand, until Rhosse calls the fight several minutes later.
“It’s a toss-up. Sit down before one of you gets injured,” he says gruffly, but I hear the smile in his voice.
I run my forearm across my brow and grin at Darvy, who grins back, breathing heavily.
“We had to settle things,” Darvy says matter-of-factly, as he sheathes his sword and heads back to his seat in the dirt, leaning back against a fallen tree trunk, looking pleased with himself.
“Nothing is settled. I still stand by my comment,” I argue as I once again take a seat on the fallen log and grab Darvy’s book.
Darvy gives a smug smile. “Who got first blood?”
“That’s only because I wasn’t taking it serious?—”
“Men,” Vera mutters.
My lips lift in a half-grin at her comment. She would be amazed how quickly problems between soldiers are solved—this was nothing. But I force myself to focus; the journey ends tomorrow.
I open Darvy’s book and flip to a blank page, readying the piece of charcoal between my fingertips, and hoping I can write legibly with it well enough.
“On a serious note…” I look between Darvy and Rhosse. “Weall read that list of Tulips. We should have done this sooner, but there’s no better time than now. Let’s make a list of the names we can remember.”
Vera stiffens as she scoops Rupi from her game with the spider and holds her in her lap, stroking her feathers—something I’ve noticed she does when she needs comfort. My heart begins to soften at the evidence of her stress, but I squash the feeling of compassion. I need answers.
Darvy begins. “There were seven.”
I nod, remembering the same, and number the list before me.
“I remember a Patricia, or maybe it was Tetra?”
Rhosse nods. “Petra. I remember that one, as well—it was the first one. And Nova was on the list. It’s my aunt’s name—it helped me remember.”
