Page 13 of Stolen

“Do you?” he snapped.

“That jaunt to the Thicket today hardly kept her safe. Given has a role to play. You can no more stop the prophecy than you can reverse the course of a river. If you try, magic will simply find another way. The outcome is unlikely to please anyone.”

I crept closer and pressed my back against the wall. It was wrong to eavesdrop, but they were discussing me. I’d told Rhys I trusted him. This was my chance to find out if I was stupid to do so. Rhys’s voice dipped lower, and I had to strain to hear.

“Today was necessary,” he said. “Knowing what you know, how can you say she shouldn’t learn to banish?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Rhys. I’m the one who told you it was important to teach her. But there are better ways to train her than forcing her to confront the terror she narrowly escaped two days ago.”

My heart thumped hard. Igrith had a point—and one that hadn’t occurred to me. I’d gone with Rhys because he asked me to. I hadn’t grown angry when he took me to the edge of the Thicket and lured an elf from the forest. But maybe I should have.

There was a shuffling sound like boots on the flagstones, and I held my breath and braced for discovery. But Igrith spoke again, her voice low but clear. “We’re dancing around the point. Why train her at all if you’re going to make her a prisoner?”

My blood ran cold. For a brief moment, I considered stepping from the shadows and confronting Rhys for lying to me. But I forced myself to stay put and keep quiet.

“Spare me the dramatics,” he said. “Given is not a prisoner here.”

“Then she’s free to go?”

Silence.

Igrith gave a humorless-sounding laugh. “Tread lightly, cousin. If you fail to protect the realm, others may decide you’re not fit to lead us after all.” Footsteps rang out. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts. And your schemes.”

Panic gripped me. She’d walk right past me if she left through the hallway I stood in. I darted a look in the direction of my bedchamber, but the sounds of a scuffle and Igrith’s soft yelp had me freezing again.

“Don’t threaten me,” Rhys said in a deadly voice.

Igrith’s tone more than matched it. “Unhand me, cousin. Lest I decide I prefer your head mounted above my mantel.” There was a blunt sound, followed by Rhys’s pained grunt. “With your balls in your mouth,” Igrith added.

Her footsteps started up again, but they moved in the opposite direction and faded quickly.

I didn’t dare look around the corner. With dread nipping at my heels, I returned to my chamber. The sight of my bed brought my dream about Varick rushing back. I’d gone to the Great Hall hoping to find Rhys so I could enlist his help in finding Varick. But now I knew what his answer would be. If I told Rhys I was considering leaving Aberwas, he’d make sure I couldn’t. And according to Igrith, that would be a mistake.

“She needs to go. I’ve seen it.”

Well, I’d seen Varick. He was somewhere in the Thicket, and he was resigned to death. I couldn’t let that happen.

With a racing heart, I pulled Igrith’s warmest dress from the wardrobe. If I were fortunate, the stables would be unattended at this hour. But even if they weren’t, I had to risk it. I couldn’t stay in Aberwas a moment longer. Varick was out there, and I was determined to find him before it was too late.

* * *

“You could have at least said goodbye.”

I whirled, barely managing to swallow my yelp. Igrith emerged from the shadows, a cloak thrown over her gown. Her rich brown hair spilled over her shoulders in waves.

But it was her eyes that held my attention. I thought they were penetrating before. Now, they seemed to peer straight through me. Or perhaps deep inside me, seeing things I’d rather keep secret.

Like my plan to go after Varick.

“I have to go,” I said. It was no use lying. I cast a nervous glance at the stable doors. “Please don’t tell Rhys.”

She turned and swung the heavy stable doors shut, then eased the latch down with careful hands. She came to me and pitched her voice low. “You overheard us in the Great Hall.”

I darted a look at the doors behind her, half expecting Rhys to come barreling through them. “Does he know?”

“No. He had no idea you were there.” She smiled. “I’m a much better hunter than my cousin.”

Relief washed over me, but wariness arrived quickly on its heels. “Are you going to try to stop me?”

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