She left the building without waiting for a response.
Jonas stared after her, stunned. “She means to heal me with cow dung.”
Lysandra patted his good arm. “And you’re going to let her.”
• • •
Olivia returned with a bucket of her foul-smelling findings. She ordered Jonas to take his shirt off completely and peel away all the bandages when she was ready to begin.
Lysandra peered into the bucket of brown muck. “So that’s it, is it?”
“It is.”
Jonas gritted his teeth. “Let’s get it over with.”
“Lie down.” Olivia reached into the bucket and drew out a handful of the stinking mud.
Jonas lay down on the sturdy table before which he’d previously been seated. He reached for Lysandra, who took his right hand in hers. “Ready,” he said.
“Think healing thoughts,” Lys suggested.
“I’ll try my best.”
The witch began to smear the healing mud over his shoulder. Even the slightest touch was painful, but the mud felt cool against his burning skin.
“More,” he said.
“Yes, you’re definitely going to need all of it,” she agreed.
This was very different from when Phaedra had healed Jonas with the grape seeds. Olivia’s magic gave him a cool and pleasant sensation, whereas Phaedra’s had felt like lava had been poured down his throat, only to go shooting through every limb.
“This feels so nice and soothing,” he said. “Is that what it’s supposed to feel like?”
“Soothing?” Olivia frowned. “I don’t think that—”
Jonas lurched up and cried out in pain. It was as if a soldier had grabbed hold of his arm and tore it right out of its socket before setting it on fire and throwing it to the wolves. He flailed, desperately trying to wipe the burning mud off his skin.
“Hold him down,” Olivia barked at Lysandra. “We can’t remove any of it yet.”
Lys immediately did as the witch ordered. They each took an arm and held Jonas down against the tabletop while he writhed in agony.
“She’s trying to kill me!” he exclaimed. “Lys—Lys, stop her!”
“Hang on,” Lys whispered. “Please, just hang on a little longer.”
He felt the mud sink deeper into his skin, burning through every layer, eating right down to his muscle and bone. It sliced through his shoulder like the razor-sharp bite of a demon.
But then, as suddenly as it came on, the pain vanished completely. He felt his body grow slack again in the girls’ grips, and all he could hear was the sound of his own ragged gasps.
“It’s done,” Olivia said, letting out a long, relieved sigh. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Bad? It was worse than bad. It was torture.
The witch disappeared into the back of the shop. Lys grabbed a cloth and shakily wiped at Jonas’s shoulder.
“It worked,” she said, clearly amazed. “She didn’t just help you . . . she actually healed you.”
Jonas managed to push himself up to sitting. He took the cloth from Lys, wiping the remaining mud away from his shoulder, revealing an unblemished patch of smooth skin. No wound, no infection.
But . . . how? Jonas might be a converted believer in Mytican magic, but he hadn’t thought a witch could be capable of a miracle this perfect.
Bruno was the one who’d said a witch couldn’t heal an injury this bad. But perhaps the old man had just never met one who could.
Lysandra grabbed him and hugged him tight. “I thought I was going to lose you. Don’t scare me like that again, got it?”
“I got it,” he whispered into her hair.
Olivia returned, wiping her hands on a towel. “All better?”
Lysandra rushed to Olivia and placed her hands on her shoulders. “To think, only a little while ago I didn’t believe a word about witches or magic, and here you are . . . and you’ve done even more than I ever could have wished for. Thank you. Thank you so much!” Then Lysandra pulled the girl into a tight hug.
Olivia’s brows raised with surprise and she awkwardly patted Lys’s back. “I’m grateful I was able to help in time.”
Despite his previous misgivings, the witch had more than proven herself to him. “My deepest gratitude to you, Olivia,” Jonas said. “I owe you my life.”
She gently pushed Lysandra away from her. “Yes, I suppose you do.”
He waited for her to name her price, probably some outrageous request that he’d never be able to grant. “And . . . ?” he prompted.
Olivia cocked her head. “And . . . I must be on my way now. Farewell.”
She turned toward the door.
“Wait!” Jonas said. “Where are you off to? Got some other random strangers to heal around town?”
“Perhaps,” she allowed.
The girl was a true mystery. But, really, all Jonas needed to know about her was that she could work real magic.
“Come with us,” he said.
She frowned. “Where?”
“The Limerian palace.”
Olivia crossed her arms and studied him for a long, silent moment. “Jonas Agallon, a failed rebel leader whose life purpose is to destroy King Gaius and bring peace and freedom to Mytica again, wants me to join him in a journey to the Limerian palace.”
“Actually, I’m going to start by destroying his son. And, yes, I do want you to join us. Lys, what do you think?”
Lysandra met his gaze. “You’re right, we need her.”
“Am I to become your newest rebel recruit?” Olivia asked.
“You did just save my life, knowing who I am,” Jonas reasoned. “And knowing my goal.”
“And you’d like me around to save it again, if need be,” Olivia said.
“I won’t deny that that would be a large perk. I know there’s not much in it for you, but if I’m successful . . . if I can pull this off . . .” He shook his head. “Everything will be better in Mytica, for everyone who calls this place home.”
Olivia turned, as if to leave, but then paused. “Fine. I will agree to accompany you on this fateful journey.”
“Good,” he said, a grin breaking out on his face. “Then let’s be on our way.”
CHAPTER 10
FELIX
KRAESHIA
Felix hung over the side of the ship, trying his best not to fall into the choppy waters below. He looked up to watch the seabirds swirling, and saw that, among their numbers, was a golden hawk.
Perhaps a Watcher was overlooking his suffering.
He felt someone slap him on his back, and he turned around to cast an unfriendly glare on the offender.
It was Milo Iagaris, a former palace guard who’d been accused of aiding the rebels, a crime for which he’d been sent to the Auranian dungeon, where he’d remained until very recently. Upon his release, Milo hadn’t been told that it was Felix’s fault for stealing his uniform.
It would be best that Milo never learned that little detail. Felix thought he wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving as the king had been.
He’d been partnered with Felix as a bodyguard for this journey. Felix had to admit that Milo, made of muscle on top of muscle, did have the right build for the job. Also, from the conversations they’d had over their days at sea, Milo seemed more than ready to remorselessly inflict pain whenever it was necessary. And even when it wasn’t.
“Still seasick?” Milo asked.
“What does it look like?”
Milo laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes. I can’t believe you’ve never been to sea before.”
“Believe it. Now go away and leave me to die.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be much longer now. I can see land from here.”
Felix managed to raise his bloodshot eyes to see that, far in the distance, across miles upon miles of churning, open sea—
His stomach flopped and gurgled.
—was the edge of land.
“Praise the goddess,” Felix groane
d. “I think I might stay in Kraeshia forever.”
“I imagine we’ll soon find out exactly why the king decided to come here,” Milo said.
“You don’t think it’s just for the sand and sunshine?”
The two shared a droll look at the thought of the King of Blood caring about anything so mundane. But it did trouble Felix that he had no clear idea as to why the king wished to set foot in the capital of an empire that had crushed more than a third of the known kingdoms in the world.
Finally, the ship came into port and docked. Felix followed the king closely as they proceeded down the gangplank, trying not to give into the compulsion to throw himself down on the wooden dock and kiss it.
Here it was, the Kraeshian Empire. Or, more precisely, the capital of Kraeshia, known as the Jewel of the Empire, a city carved out of the natural, exotic wonders that made up this large island that was roughly the size of Auranos. Felix had heard tales of Kraeshia’s beauty, but after a life spent mostly in cold, stark Limeros, no mere description could have prepared him for experiencing it in person.
The tall trees were rich with thousands of shiny thick green leaves, each the size of a man, and the sand sparkled like jewels along the shore. In the far distance, along the beach, he was certain he saw a cluster of women basking under the sun, as naked as ice-lizards.
The king had decided that, for the duration of the trip, Milo and Felix would not wear official Limerian guard’s uniforms, which would have made them stand out like two red weeds in a garden of fine flowers. Instead, they wore tailored finery fit for a lord—leather trousers, bleached linen tunics, and the finest cloaks Felix had ever laid his eyes on, made of woven lamb’s wool—and seemingly as light as air.
Now that he stood on solid land, Felix found that he felt more like a Cobra than ever, ready and eager to protect the king in this unfamiliar territory.
The King of Blood. One who harms the innocent, who enslaves the poor, who tortures the weak.
His cheek twitched.
Get out of my head, Jonas, Felix thought.
He saw a figure waiting for them at the end of the docks, and suddenly his steps faltered. He straightened his shoulders and held his head high as they approached a dark-haired beauty.
Felix didn’t believe in love at first sight—but lust at first sight? That was an incredibly real concept, and one newly proven by this gorgeous creature standing before him.
“Well, do I dare believe my eyes?” King Gaius said, stopping before the beautiful girl. “Princess Amara Cortas, come to officially greet me? I admit I’m surprised to see you.”
Princess Amara.
Felix had heard that Emperor Cortas’s daughter and son had recently been in Auranos, as guests of the king, but he hadn’t before seen this princess in person. She was as exotically beautiful as her homeland, with long jet-black hair hanging in loose waves down her back. Her lips were as red as rubies, her eyes the color of silver touched by a whisper of blue. Her flawless skin was a dark tan shade. She wore a teal-colored gown, sleeveless to show her lovely bare arms and cut with a long slit that stopped at mid-thigh. Her firm, trim belly was shielded only by a layer of diaphanous material that moved gently in the warm breeze.
She smelled of jasmine, just a hint, but combined with the sweet aroma of this lusty tropical weather, Felix found it as intoxicating as a swig of Paelsian wine.
“King Gaius, what a pleasure to see you here.” She ignored his sarcastic display of surprise as she gave him a small nod and held out her hand. “Welcome to Kraeshia.”
“You’re even more beautiful than the last time we met.” He took her hand and brushed his lips over it. “How is that possible? It’s only been a matter of weeks.”
Her smile tightened. “You honor me with your kind words.”
“And is the emperor here as well?”
“No. He’s at the palace. My eldest brother, Prince Dastan, returned only this morning from the kingdom of Castoria, our newest acquisition.”
“What a great victory for him.” The king furrowed his brow. “I do hope he can spare some time to meet with me today. We’ve traveled quite a long way.”
Princess Amara nodded. “Of course, I’m sure he is eager to see you. My father is honored by your visit, and I am likewise honored to accompany you to the royal residence. Once at the Emerald Spear, you can eat, rest, and recover from your journey. Is that acceptable to you?”
The king smiled thinly. “Of course. Much gratitude, princess.”
She smiled and looked to Felix and Milo. Felix fixed a lopsided smile on his face, hoping it was as charming as the girls in Mytica usually found it.
Yes, princess, he thought. You could make me forget all about Lysandra.
“Princess,” the king said. “Allow me to introduce you to two of my most trusted advisors, Milo Iagaris and Felix Graebas.”
Felix and Milo bowed before her.
“A pleasure,” she said, giving a slight curtsey in return. “Given the looks of them, your grace, I will assume that in Mytica ‘advisor’ is synonymous with ‘bodyguard’?”
The king laughed. “You’re very perceptive. How could I have forgotten that about you, princess?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything at all about you.” Amara’s smile remained fixed on her lovely face. “Shall we be on our way?”
In Mytica, the carriages were enclosed, with small windows, sturdy doors, and large wooden wheels designed for long journeys over icy, rocky roads. In Kraeshia, the carriages had more of a canopy design, shaded yet open to the sun. The wheels were impossibly delicate and slender, and the body was carved from pale white wood trimmed in precious metals.
Felix leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, relishing in the warm rays on his face. Several horses with pure-white coats and fragrant flowers braided into their manes and tails pulled the carriage away from the docks, and the driver began to navigate the smooth, winding roads of the Jewel. Kraeshia was so colorful, its buildings and shops and taverns so different from what Felix was used to.
Soon Felix realized that the Jewel boasted so much more than riches. It was perfection itself. Every detail, every nook, every thoughtful inch of the city was flawless, like a pained-over detail in a painting or a sculpture. The windows sparkled. The streets shone. The sky held not a single cloud.
“Beautiful,” Felix murmured.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” responded Amara, and Felix was surprised he’d accidentally caught her attention. “My father has made physical beauty a priority in Kraeshia—especially here in the Jewel itself. He believes that beauty is power.”
“What happens when something ugly pops up?” Felix asked.
Her expression grew thoughtful. “I can’t think of anything here that could be described that way.”
“Well, now that Milo’s here, I suppose your streak is ruined.”
Felix had successfully managed to summon the edge of a true smile from the princess, but with the king and Milo so close to overhearing, he knew when it was time to shut up.
The carriage passed its reflection in a gigantic, domed silver building, which Amara described as the Jewel’s main temple. Felix didn’t know much about Kraeshian religion, but he was certain they didn’t pray to either Valoria or Cleiona.
Silence fell in the carriage for several long moments, until Amara finally spoke.
“Forgive me, King Gaius, but I must ask, as I’ve been so deeply curious ever since I learned of your visit. What is it that you wish to speak to my father about? What urgent matter has brought you all this way?”
“I admire your candor as much as your curiosity, princess. But I’m afraid my business here is between me and the emperor. I’m sure you understand.”
“Come now. I’m sure you can give me just a little hint.”
The cordial smile remained fixed on the king’s lips. “Did you enjoy your visit to my kingdom, princess?”
Amara hesitated before conceding a reply to the abrupt shift in subject. “Very
much so.”
“I was sorry to hear that you’d set sail before I had a chance to bid you farewell.”
“Yes, and I was likewise so unfortunate to miss the fleet of guards you’d sent to the villa to escort my brother and me back to your palace. My apologies for the rude departure, but it was time to go. I wouldn’t have wanted to outstay my welcome in your kingdom.”
On the surface, this was just a polite conversation between two royals, but Felix could have sworn he heard something darker, something entirely other than friendly, in their tone.
“What a pity,” the king said. “I sent the guards because I’d managed to arrange excellent new accommodations for you, right there at the palace.”
“How incredibly thoughtful.”
The king watched her, his smile growing wider and his dark eyes glittering with interest. “You disappoint me, princess. The famous Kraeshian bluntness is usually not so difficult to elicit. Are we really going to play this game?”
“I only indulge in games when I know I’m going to win.”
“And your brother, Prince Ashur? Does he play games as well as you do?”
“Not nearly as well, I’m afraid.”
“Has he also left Mytica and returned home?”
Felix studied Amara’s face, but found her expression impossible to read.
“Not yet,” she replied simply.
The king went silent for a long moment as the carriage proceeded on toward the palace. “Perhaps one day you’ll wish to speak your true thoughts to me rather than hold them back.”
“I’m not sure you’d enjoy that day very much, King Gaius.”
“Don’t be so certain.”
Felix felt as if he and Milo had become completely invisible, leaving only the two royals in the carriage to face off against each other.
“How is Prince Magnus?” Amara asked.
“Very well.”
“Really. You’ve seen him recently?”
The king narrowed his gaze. “My son is traveling at the moment, but we keep in very close touch. I’ve just received a message from him, informing me that he’s currently in Limeros.”
“Oh, yes, I already knew that.” She sighed. “Your darling little heir, so determined to do things his way, isn’t he? So stubborn.”
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