Page 37 of To Catch a Prince

She said it with a devious smile. “You destroyed theirdefense.”

“Yes.” She was admitting to that, at least. “That needed to be done. As for the why, trust me when I say the answer is more than you’ve bargained for. If I was to tell you everything, we’d still be here next winter. Let it just be said that you and I have little choice in the matter. Our roles were written long ago. All we have left is to play theparts.”

That made absolutely no sense. Talia wondered if the woman had lost her mind, but she didn’t seem confused or fanatical, justsad.

“I don’t getit.”

“You aren’t supposed to. I’ve let you come here for one reason. I need to issue awarning.”

“ToFarden?”

Nimue rolled her eyes. “I have little interest in any kingdom of your little land. No, it’s you I’m warning. I played my part, and soon - too soon - the game will end. This world is either going to be blessed by the gods themselves or fall intodarkness.”

Right. Now she sounded pointblankinsane.

“Darkness,” Talia repeated, one eyebrowrisen.

“That’s a nice way of saying that you’re all going todie.”

Again, the words were insane, yet spoken with confidence andfinality.

“Why?”

“Because youmust.”

Right. She tried another technique. “Can’t you help? Saveus?”

“That’s what I’m doing,” said Nimue. “When the time comes - and trust me when I tell you, you’ll know when that is - head north. Beyond your little Var, beyond the Highlands - beyond the walls surrounding your world. There’s an island. It’s the only place you’ll besafe.”

Beyond the walls… The woman was talking of that place again; the one her Tutor had referred to, the one Vincent talked of. “You mean,Avalon.”

Nimue seemed pleased. “You’re really wellschooled.”

“As though I could convince any dragon to let me ridethem.”

Nimue smiled. “You know, one of the many names they gave our kind, back in the day, was Dragonlords. Trust me. You’ll convince any dragon to do anything you please, when you really wantto.”

She snorted, before adding, “Well, not everyone will happen to have a dragon friend they could possibly hitchhikewith.”

Nimue noddednow.

“That’s theidea.”

She didn’t understand what she meant by that. “Whatidea?”

“I’ve not brought you here to save the world, little hick. I’ve brought you to saveyou.You, and your sisters, whatever worthy dragons you can bring in time. If you heed my warning and get ready, you’ll have achance.”

Talia was getting a seriousheadache.

“I don’t understand. Please,” she begged, “just make meunderstand.”

20

The Story

Nimue sighed and,for a beat, it really was Trudy there. “A long time ago - thousands of years ago, right after the Last War, way before the Rift, this world changed. Not for the better. The orcs you see on the continent? They’re nothing to what dwelled in the world in those days. And yet, there was a lot more evil brought by man, shifters, and elves. Corruption, cruelty.” The creature closed her eyes. “In those days, we mages - the original kind - not the watered-down version with a drop of our blood, running around and creating healing salves - lived in our world, away from it all. Until came a day when a worthy man rose, and ruled thisworld.”

“The Once and FutureKing.”

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