Page 58 of Kingdom of Locks

“So that’s the key,” Aurelia said quickly. “Or as much as we know about it for sure. I found something else out, too.”

“You did?” Mama Gail looked surprised.

Aurelia nodded. “While you were…in the other room, I asked him what all the magic was for.”

“And he told you?” It was her mother who spoke, but both of her listeners looked equally skeptical.

“Sort of,” Aurelia shrugged. “He didn’t want to give me specifics, but he seemed to be bizarrely pleased that I was taking an interest. He’s been acting very oddly lately, as if he’s trying to be nice or something.”

She realized that both Mama Gail and Amell looked suddenly tense, and she stared between them. “What? What is it?”

“What did he say about his magic?” her mother asked, dodging the question.

Aurelia frowned at her, but didn’t press in front of Amell. “He said its purpose is to overwhelm and overpower all the other enchanters. Something about showing them that he’s the greatest.”

“That sounds like his target is the Enchanters’ Guild,” Amell interjected, his forehead creased. “Because they kicked him out.”

Aurelia nodded. “That would be my guess as well.”

The prince rubbed both hands over his face. “And I can’t even warn them properly.”

“Well,” said Aurelia reassuringly, “I think it’s safe to say he’s not ready to move yet. He’s still putting magic into my hair, and he’s only just begun shifting some across to my core. Plus he said something last night about having plenty of time to earn my trust, remember, Mama Gail? I guess he was thinking of persuading me to unlock his magic.”

“None of that makes me feel better at all,” Amell declared firmly. “It sounds to me like time is of the essence.”

“Well, we’re agreed on that,” Mama Gail cut in, her voice brisk. “So what’s our next step?”

Amell frowned thoughtfully. “I’m not suggesting you do this,” he said slowly. “I just want all the information. Have you ever considered trying to…eliminate Cyfrin?”

“The thought has crossed my mind,” Mama Gail said curtly. “But I’m not sure I could, even if I was willing. Who knows what type of magical protection he carries on himself? He’s clearly the suspicious type. And more to the point, I don’t know what would happen to his enchantments if he died. It’s possible they’d remain in place, at least for a while. And we wouldn’t survive up here without the food he brings us.”

Amell nodded. “Not a viable option then, at least not without more information.” He pushed himself to his feet. “I think I’d better return to Fernford. I may not be able to explain it all, but I can still speak to someone from the Enchanters’ Guild. Surely I can find a way to get the relevant information without contravening the silencing magic.”

“When will you be back?” Aurelia asked, aware that her voice sounded anxious, but unable to prevent it.

Amell smiled down at her, and she could see nothing but sincerity in his gray eyes. “As soon as I possibly can. Tomorrow, I hope.”

Aurelia nodded, her cheeks a little warm under his sustained gaze. Amell turned to Mama Gail, bowing with a stately grace that was almost humorous in the energetic young prince.

“Until tomorrow, Miss Abigail.”

Mama Gail nodded, her expression conflicted. “Can I write you a list?” she asked abruptly. “There’s a type of cake I’ve often told…my daughter about.” Aurelia had noticed that while her mother wasn’t giving away Aurelia’s true name, she didn’t seem able to bring herself to call her Honeysuckle, either. “There are just a few ingredients I can’t get from Cyfrin. Perhaps you could acquire them in Fernford.”

“I would be delighted,” said Amell.

Mama Gail bustled to find fresh paper, and Aurelia had a sudden thought. If Amell was going to the Enchanters’ Guild, she had questions of her own she’d like answered. She stepped close to him, lowering her voice.

“Can you ask something for me, at the Enchanters’ Guild?”

“Of course,” he said, leaning his head toward her, and speaking softly as well.

“I’d like to see a list of something called the foundational principles of power,” Aurelia told him. She searched his eyes a little anxiously. “Can you remember that?”

“The foundational principles of power,” Amell repeated obediently. “I won’t forget.”

She nodded in gratitude and stepped back. A glance at the kitchen showed Mama Gail still writing. Aurelia felt a little guilty at her deception, but she pushed the feeling down. Mama Gail had definitely said that whatever it was she didn’t want to tell Aurelia from Cyfrin’s notes related to another one of the foundational principles of power. If the other woman wasn’t going to tell her what else she suspected Cyfrin of planning, she left Aurelia little option but to make inquiries behind her back.

“Here,” Mama Gail said, handing Amell two pieces of paper. She cleared her throat. “I doubt it will work—I’m guessing Cyfrin’s magic won’t allow such a simple workaround. But the second paper is a letter. If you can send it to Allenton, well…I figured it was worth trying.”

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