Page 16 of Only Flames Remain

“And what will I tell Kallias?” I stood beneath her withering gaze; my jaw set as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“He is aware that you will be traveling across the sea to visit an uncle. The perfect timing for you to get out of Majur as the tensions reach a boiling point. He has agreed, wanting you to be safe from this mess.”

“He knows I will be sailing to Gothryn?” My voice sounded agonized even to my own ears. How could he agree to this? Gothryn was our enemy.

She shook her head. “He believes you to be sailing to our former partner in trade, Sylvaris. Where you would be safe. The Veil of Shadows and the Witchwood stand between you and Gothryn.”

I inclined my head and spoke through my teeth. “Which is of no consequence when they have wings.”

“My dear, you will not even be on their radar. The Blackwater princes have much more pressing things to attend to. A human in their castle won’t draw their attention or their ire. It is simply commonplace. Your strength might not be of a physical nature, but you do have strength in your cunning. Where they will be expecting someone to take the crown prince down in battle, you can take him out with your wits from the inside.”

I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat. It wasn’t the worst plan I had ever heard, but I still wished it wasn’t me that had to carry it out.

“And when I kill the eldest, won’t the second in line simply ascend the throne? How is this to our advantage?”

Queen Dyata sighed as if she were speaking to a petulant child, her patience wearing dangerously thin. There was nothing stopping her from revoking this…opportunity…and sending me off, anyway. Kallias wasn’t king yet, and he didn’t have the power to secure my position here. I had avoided the politics of court thus far, but if I were to be queen one day, I would need the Ashbourne’s on my side. I would need their support, as would Kallias.

“The second in line, Emrys, is unpredictable. Immature. He thirsts for his brother’s throne, but he wouldn’t know what to do with it, even if he held it. Mavros does not trust him and would never agree to pass the crown to him. He has a reputation that spans across kingdoms. He is not the threat we seek to neutralize. In the wake of Sorin’s death, their kingdom will be thrust into chaos. That is when we will make our move. When they are at their weakest.”

I swallowed back the stale taste that had enveloped my mouth. My eyes danced back and forth beneath her gaze as my mind raced. How would I pull this off? It couldn’t be something obvious like jimonsweed or nightshade. It would need to be something that they wouldn’t be familiar with but also was not exclusively native to our kingdom. No other kingdom had the motive to assassinate their prince the way we did. It would need to be difficult for them to tie it back to us.

Moonflower, perhaps? Or maybe crushed black hellebore, though the taste might give it away. The henbane I had found earlier this morning came to mind, but I shook my head. That wouldn’t work, henbane was only native to this continent—it didn’t grow in the west.

“And the dagger?” I asked, gaze rising to hers once more.

“What of it?”

“This ancient relic that you seek to return to this kingdom. What does it look like?” I asked through my teeth, patience wearing thin.

“It should be by the prince’s side. It has a sapphire jewel embedded in the cross-guard. The blade is etched with ancient Aelorian runes. It is unmistakable, I assure you.”

I huffed in response, gaze flitting to the windows beyond the bed. Did Queen Dyata truly mean to leave the fate of this kingdom in my hands? This was, without a doubt, a trap.

“I see some of myself in you, Aveline.”

At this sentiment my gaze snapped to hers in surprise. She had always been unnerved by my eyes—one brown and one blue—but she held my gaze firm now.

“How is that, My Queen?”

“You are cunning. Shrewd. Crafty. Your skill in poisons will serve you well as you cross the sea. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.”

She turned to leave, but I reached out. My fingers fell to the beaded gown at her shoulder and she turned, jerking her shoulder away from my touch so that my hand fell away.

“When do I leave?” I asked.

“You will gather your things and sail from Majur to Scaldrithor tomorrow.”

Only one day.

One day to say goodbye to Kallias. To my mother. To Enora and everything I had ever known. I would be leaving them behind to embark on the most dangerous mission I could imagine. There was a good chance I might not ever return.

“I have a favor to ask.” I squared my shoulders as she turned from me once more.

She inclined her head, indulging me. “And what might that be, my dear? Do you truly believe yourself in the position to be asking anything of me?” Her gaze sparked and my instinct was to shrink away.

“I ask that my companion, Enora, travel with me. I need an ally in Gothryn. As you have so righteously pointed out, I am merely human. Can I truly be expected to do this on my own?” I lifted a brow at her in challenge.

Queen Dyata thought for one long, unending moment before nodding once. “Very well. Enora Cresswell may travel across the sea with you. I will need the remainder of the day to secure a position for her there. It would be suspicious for her to be traveling on a human trading vessel without one. What are her specialties?”