The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset

by Rebecca L. Garcia

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s better you don’t know. Just promise me you won’t use that magic again, Winter.” She shook me again. “Promise me.”

  “Okay, okay.” I exhaled shakily. “I won’t use it again.”

  “Good.” She huffed. “With only one spell, I may be able to have the dark magic lifted from your soul but if you use black magic again it will never be able to be removed.”

  I shuddered. “I won’t use it again.”

  “Now, let’s get you another staff. There is an entrance to Ash Forest about four miles east of here.”

  ***

  Frost covered every surface as we ventured east. Tall trees loomed overhead, and skeletal leaves lined the path that disappeared into undergrowth. “Morgana,” I said, catching my breath when I treaded over uneven roots. “You’re a staff maker.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “You’d know then. Why don’t some lunas have staffs? I mean, they may have lost them, and couldn’t have them replaced, but I found it odd how not even one homeless person I saw had one.”

  Her breath fogged the air in front of her face. “It’s about time you knew the truth.” She cast her eyes downward to the mossy tangles over dead twigs. “For the longest time, since I was a child, staffs are given to those who can afford such luxuries. Staff makers have clear instructions: cater to those who can pay the coin only.”

  “How much does it cost? I thought they were given out for free.”

  She scoffed. “Nothing in this kingdom is given with charity. Unfortunately, Winter, the system works to those like your father. The poor cannot rise without magic, and the rich benefit from it too much to go against the monarchy. He protects his crown by keeping the poor, poor. That means no magic. Staffs cost one hundred gold coins to be made.”

  My eyes bulged. “That’s insane. Our people wouldn’t revolt against us.”

  “Why wouldn’t they?” she questioned. “Some of them have nothing to lose. There’s a lot you haven’t seen, well, now you have.”

  “Tell me then,” I begged. “It’s barbaric to not let them use magic. It’s every lunas right.”

  “It is a delicate system. I do not condone your father’s methods.” She scrunched her mouth in disgust. “Being a ruler means making the difficult decisions. You need to be able to anticipate the branches that will come from the tree of every decision you make.”

  “It is a weight I will gladly bear.”

  “It is a gift bestowed to you. As a leader, you only hold the power the people give you.”

  I scoffed. “Like my father?”

  “He won’t be king for long.”

  I inhaled sharply. “You had a vision?”

  “Things can change,” she said to remind me. “We must stay focused.” She looked at a clearing past a collection of smaller trees. “We are here.”

  Morgana kneeled onto the hard, cold mud. Running her hands over the area, I felt the connection with our ancestors deepen. It attacked the dark magic clinging to my soul. I reached up to my throat, then gasped for air.

  Morgana looked over her shoulder at me. “Winter?”

  I struggled to breathe. “Help.” I gasped.

  She looked at me perplexed as I gripped my throat. After what felt like an eternity, which was more likely a couple of minutes, the heaviness lifted, and I could breathe again.

  The darkness in my body dissolved.

  Morgana bowed to spirits I could not see, then turned toward me. “The ancestors ripped the magic from your body.”

  “How?”

  “They’re powerful and you are one of them, but be warned. If you thought that was painful, imagine the pain of having more than one spell’s residue taken from your body. It would tear you apart, kill you, in fact. It’s why you must not ever touch that magic again.”

  “You said you were going to do one.”

  “I know how to manage it,” she stated. “I’m careful, and my link with the ancestors is stronger than yours.”

  Her wild hair danced around her face as a wind blew through dead leaves. Bones that hung from trees rattled. Others had performed rituals in these woods. The evidence was all around us.

  “I wish I could do more. I have so much to learn, unlike you.”

  “How do you think I have learned all I have? I turned to elders, others with foresight, those who held the knowledge, and I humbly listened. I find out something new every day. Do not get discouraged. Instead, keep an open mind. If you do, then you will become a great queen and you’ll be able to do so much more. To help.”

  “If I ever become queen.” The anxiety riled up again.

  “Have faith, Winter. When you take the throne, I will be at your side to guide you when you need it.”

  Her words comforted me. She grabbed a bone from the ground. “Aha, a fox’s. It will do.”

  The winds silenced when she placed it on the forest floor. She placed her hands on a tree, and a branch fell with a thud to the ground. She picked it up. Flames licked along the wood from her hands. Branches twisted around each other, finishing it into a point.

  Morgana inhaled slowly, her chest rattling with each breath. The cold had peaked with the middle of winter fast approaching, and bare trees held snow over our heads. Ash Forest ran all the way through Magaelor, from the south to the tip, where it merged with Hangman Woods by the mountains separating us and the fae. It was named for its ash-colored bark.

  Despite my upset toward Blaise and his betrayal, I was still thankful to him for abandoning his plans to burn our forest. Maybe it was why the ancestors had helped me, by taking away the dark magic. I’d proven my loyalty to them.

  I looked around us, my breath turning to fog when I exhaled. “I honestly thought I could trust Blaise.” I admitted after some moments of silence.

  She offered me a kind smile. “I like to think of it as one broken heart closer to fulfilling your destiny.”

  “Thank you.” I took the staff in my hands, smiling when I felt the familiar pulse of magic. “Now that I have my magic back, we can go to the castle. Let’s finish this.” I closed my eyes for a second, then looked up at the swirling black and gray sky. The stars showed themselves through the dissolving cloud cover. I heard Morgana rustling. I let her finish what she needed to and took a moment to enjoy the night.

  I jolted forward when an animalistic scream erupted from behind me. I whipped my head around and saw Morgana holding a dead fox. Blood dripped from its orange fur onto a pile of twigs she’d arranged into different symbols. On top of them, she placed two stones. The crimson liquid dissolved when it hit the smooth surface, then smoked.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Protecting us from him being able to see our next actions from this point onward. This spell protects us from foresight.”

  I closed my eyes. “I wish you hadn’t. You said yourself how deadly that magic is.”

  “Sacrifices must be made for the greater purpose,” she said solemnly and placed the fox’s body onto some leaves. “I send your soul into the earth. May you find peace,” she whispered and turned her attention to me. She handed me one of the stones, while pocketing the other. I took it and placed it in one of the pockets of my black pants. “As long as you keep the rune with you, you cannot be detected by any seer or nymph. Onward we go. It is time.”

  THIRTY-THREE

  On the journey, I filled Morgana in on everything from Blaise’s plans to Aquarius’s rescue. Once I’d finished, she tapped her finger against her chin. “This Licia character, did he admit to collecting wishes to fuel a necromancer?”

  I shook my head. “He evaded, as they always do, but I’m sure I’m right.”

  “It gives me a lot to think about.” She shared my need for knowledge and used her sister, who was an alchemist, to fund her experiments. “We should discuss a few things before we go inside.”

  The stables were quiet. We had avoided being seen so far, but we traipsed on carefully. The tunnel, connect
ing the stables to a tapestry in one of the quieter passageways, was open. “Through here,” I whispered.

  Morgana linked her fingers with mine and gripped my hand with ferocity. The darkness was comforting in the current state of things. The elves lingered in my mind. I couldn’t completely turn my brain off the matter. They were always there, hovering in the back. A reminder of my stupidity.

  I had to do better, and my father would pay for his reach for more power. If he had found the ring of immortalem, I would rip it from his finger and watch him crumple like Jasper had.

  Like André had when fighting by my father’s side.

  If he didn’t have it, then I’d drive the dagger Bella gave me through his cold, calculating heart.

  “When you do this,” Morgana whispered, “you cannot take the throne straight away.”

  My eyebrows pulled downward. “That’s the whole point of this.”

  She paused, stopping us both in the narrow tunnel. “It is treason to kill the king, even as the princess. You are no longer the heir. Edgar is. He will take the crown. You must be smart about this. If you kill your father, you can then win the throne from your cousin. The kingdom will rise in your defense. You are the true blood, but not a soul can know you had a hand in your father’s fall.”

  “Where will I go?”

  “Far away from here, until the time passes. Edgar will not be able to make any major changes while the kingdom is in mourning. That gives you a couple of weeks away, then come back innocent.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I had to reveal this to you when you would be most likely to accept it. I needed to get you this far. You know I answer to destiny.”

  Tears pooled in my eyes. “I’m tired of running.”

  “Do this for your people. Edgar can be king until you return. He is only the crown prince because everyone believes you are dead. That is the official story anyway, but if you’re seen in Magaelor or at the castle, they will suspect you of his murder and hang you for treason.”

  The memory of the rope flitted into my mind. I pressed my hand against my throat.

  “Are you sure I can return after Edgar is king and that I will still get the crown?”

  “It won’t be easy, but the people will be behind you as the true heir. They are your power, Winter. You can find mercenaries near the port. For enough gold, they’ll take you anywhere and protect you.”

  I pressed my lips together, then licked them. Running my hands down my chin, I looked in the eyes of the woman I’d known since I was child.

  “Okay.” I breathed slowly.

  We kept walking until we emerged by the secret door. I pushed it open, and the stone ground against the ground. I looked around. We were alone.

  “Let’s go,” I whispered, pushing the tapestry that covered the door out of the way.

  We hurried down the empty passageway and rounded a corner.

  I spotted Daric first, the fae ambassador. He was talking with a lady with light-brown hair and menacing eyes, under the guise of safe cover in the shadows. The walls closed in. Polished stone sucked all warmth from the long corridors. Portraits of kings and queens from my bloodline stared out with strong features and big eyes.

  “Where does Edgar sleep?”

  Morgana pulled me to a stop. “Why?”

  “I could just remove both obstacles in the way of my throne. Save myself the hassle.”

  She dug her nails into my wrist and clenched her jaw. “Don’t be reckless! You would kill two people in one night, one of them an innocent? Where is your morality?”

  “Mine?” I scoffed. “What about theirs?”

  “Edgar is innocent. Besides, don’t you think it would be obvious if suddenly both died in the same night? Do you believe that when you returned, you wouldn’t be instantly suspected?” Her eyes were wild under the dim glow of the lamps. “Next to Edgar is your second cousin, and he is much fiercer than Edgar. He has a lot of support. Would you prefer to go against him in the fight for the crown?”

  “I’ve always hated Louis.”

  “Me too,” she admitted. “Therefore, it would be counterproductive to kill Edgar. Trust me with our plan.”

  “How will I get close?” I asked.

  She looked down the dark corridor to where the passageways connected to the royal rooms. “If he gets word that you are here, he will want to see you in private… to kill you without anyone seeing. When you’re alone with him, you can make your move. I have something that will help you defeat him.” She pulled out a vile of black liquid. “Mer venom. Fatal to a mortal without fast treatment.” Her eyes widened. “Lace your dagger with it, and it will ensure he will not survive. You must be fast. Do not let him get the upper hand.”

  I clenched my fists to stop my trembling fingers. “How do I get to him to let him know I’m here?”

  “That would be where I come into it.”

  “He will kill you!” I warned. “You said he will know you’re helping me.”

  “Perhaps, but he will be more interested in getting to you. Have faith.”

  I swallowed hard. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “I will go to the guards, tell them I need to talk to the king about an important matter. They will wake him, and I will lure him to you. Go to your old bedroom. I will tell him you’re waiting there.” She squeezed my fingers. “I know you can do this.”

  “I really hope you’re right.”

  I took the vial of venom and watched her leave. Running through empty corridors, I found the door to my room. People had left roses against the wall, with notes wishing my soul peace. I hated roses, but at least some people pretended to care.

  I pushed open the metal-embedded wood, and it creaked into my dusty, unlit room. I quickly lit two of the candles on my dresser. After, I walked to the stretched window on the back wall and looked out over the breathtaking landscape. I’d often caught myself dreaming of being queen while gazing at the same horizon that now knotted my insides. I didn’t understand then what wearing the crown truly meant. I had to lead, and I never in all my years thought I’d have to kill my father to do so.

  My eyes flitted to the wedding dress Blaise had returned. Curiosity burned. He presumed I’d read the note and it was why I had returned, but it wasn’t. I opened the little envelope and pulled out the parchment. You are the closest I’ve come to feeling anything. If you come back and ask forgiveness, I will still honor us.

  My heart skipped a beat, sending numbness through my chest and into my stomach. I folded the paper and shoved it into my empty pocket, pushing away my feelings with it.

  In the distance, the land seemed to merge with the sea. Not far from there was Inferis. My mother was on that small island, wondering where I was, rotting away from loneliness. I’d have pitied her if it weren’t for her cold and callousness.

  Moonlight spilled in, illuminating the large red rug. Placing the vial carefully on the ledge, I unstopped it. The putrid stench wrinkled my nose. I pulled out the dagger from its case and poured the venom onto the blade. It latched onto the metal.

  I examined the purple liquid and hid the dagger behind my back. My staff was on display in my belt. He’d feel safe if he couldn’t see my hands and could see my staff, which was my advantage.

  I just needed to get close enough.

  My mind ticked over every possible scenario. The door screeched open, and one of the roses lying on the ground outside was kicked across the floor. King Amos stepped into the room wearing blue silk robes, holding his staff in a white-knuckled grip. The blue sapphire glistened under the candlelight.

  “Good evening, daughter.” He lifted his chin and relaxed his shoulders back. “It was foolish for you to return. I know all about your dealings with the Lazarus boy.”

  “Blaise is the least of your concerns,” I warned, taking one step forward. He didn’t flinch. “You are the one not fit to rule. Your search for power has turned you cold, and what
is the point of a heart if not to love?” I stared at his chest. I’d need to go up and under the ribcage to reach the most vital organ with the blade.

  I was still too far away.

  He closed the distance between us, his eyes fixated on mine, ones I had inherited. I remembered when they once sparkled. Now they were dull, lifeless.

  “I cannot let you live. You must have known this when you returned.”

  “I knew what I was getting into,” I said. He’d killed Jasper without hesitation, sent his own son to be slaughtered, yet he did not cut me down.

  “Why did you come back?” he questioned.

  I could sense his paranoia. “You’re afraid of what I have done, what I know.”

  His eyes flitted down to my staff, then to my hands, but they were hidden behind my back. “I am not afraid of a girl who knows nothing of the world.”

  I lifted my chin and squinted. “I’ve been out in Berovia, then in Niferum. I have almost died countless times and met many different people. I have seen the towns and villages, the truths and injustices. I probably know more about the world than you do.”

  “You are a naive, spoiled child. You know nothing.”

  I shook my head slowly, my stare not leaving his. “You got André killed! How does it feel living with the knowledge that you’re responsible for the death of the only child who ever loved you?”

  His chin trembled. It could have been a trick of the light; it was so brief. “He chose to fight—”

  “No!” I shouted. “You forced him out into that battle, and now he’s gone.”

  It was the first time anyone had placed blame aloud. The words penetrated his thick skin. I watched him flinch. “You were always jealous of him.”

  “No. I loved André.” I cried. “You lost him, then me and Mother, and now you have a twenty-something bride, who is using you for money and power, and no one you can trust. It must hurt being utterly and absolutely alone.”

  He gripped his staff tighter, lifting it into the air. His lips curved into a cruel smirk. “I heard the elves fought valiantly. They didn’t see us coming.”