Page 45 of Vicious Is My Throne

“Rebel mages?” Tavion lifted an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

Bexley bristled. “I’ll have you know there was an entire underground movement to unseat the king and overthrow his detestable reign. You lot got to him first, that’s all.” He straightened proudly. “Of course, if we had the assistance of both the Oracle and the High Seer of Tempeste, we might have had more luck.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that we succeeded despite their help, not because of it.

“Where else, Tristan?” Raziel asked, Zorander drifting off to stare down into the fire, the very picture of broody. I could see the regret written on his face, wishing for that second chance to make a different decision.

Too bad none of us had that privilege.

“The largest unaffected area is directly south, east of Lake Moor. Bigger than a village, there’s an odd-looking black castle surrounded by a collection of out buildings. All built from dark twisted wood, but they look as ancient as any stone and even the forest doesn’t encroach on their wards.” His eyes flashed with that red-gold light. “An easy flight, in case you’re wondering.”

“Mysthaven,” Bexley murmured, his eyes catching on mine before he guiltily looked away.

“Are there still witches in Caladrius, Bexley?”

He shifted his feet. “There might be a few. Here and there. If you know where to look.”

“The writing below that picture of the sword”—I jerked my head toward the open book on the table—“mentions Mysthaven. Can’t be a coincidence, can it? The blight hasn’t touched the Barrens or this palace. Witch magic keeps Corvus’s corruption at bay. So there are witches amongst the mages in Thorndale. And Mysthaven.”

The mage’s lips thinned out. “As much as I would like to help, there are certain secrets I cannot reveal, not even to you, Anaria.”

“Mysthaven is home to a coven, isn’t it?”

“I’m forbidden from answering that question,” Bexley said stiffly. “You must understand, my Order is very strict.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Tristan’s hair gleamed as he gathered the uneven red strands back with a leather tie. “When do you want to leave?”

I scanned the darkness outside the windows.

Foolish. We’d be foolish to go into that consuming darkness when we had no idea what we were walking—flying—into. When we had no defenses against Corvus’s power. Not yet, anyway.

“Tomorrow. What sort of welcome can we expect?” I couldn’t help my smile. “I was, after all, for a very short time, the priestess of the High Barrens Coven. That has to carry some weight, right?”

“These witches…are not High Barrens witches.”

“Here we go,” Tavion muttered out the side of his mouth.

“Let me guess.” I kept my gaze fixed on the mage. “Mysthaven is home to what remains of the Vanguard Conclave. The original witch coven that existed before the Old Gods—also known as the Mystara—arrived on this world. And you, Bexley, are one of them.”

Bexley’s mouth fell open, his expression filled with disbelief and shock. “You cannot…I never…How did you discover…”

I held up my hand and tried not to sound too smug. “Don’t worry, Bexley, your secret is safe with us. I simply put two and two together.”

Zorander pushed off the mantle, his face a mask of ice. “First, you are not going anywhere, Anaria, least of all into a blight-infested forest. Second…where is this coming from?”

I tried not to bristle at Zor’s bossy, imperious tone, reminding myself he was going through something right now, but it seemed like every time I turned around, he was standing right in my way.

I turned the book around and pushed it closer to Zor. “Here is the best rendering we found of the sword.” I pointed to the writing. “Right here, the text mentions Mysthaven. That can’t be a coincidence.”

Zor flipped the book back around and tapped his finger on the page. “Look at the pommel. What do you see?”

I shook my head. “You know I can’t read that writing. None of us can.”

“I’m not talking about the writing. Look at the pommel.”

“Fuck me,” Tavion muttered through his teeth.

At the end of the grip, turned at an angle where I barely recognized it, was the amulet Torin had given to Trubahn. I could barely make out the symbol at the top, and while the drawing wasn’t in color, the shape of the stone was right.

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