Page 45 of The Witch Queen

I desperately want to look toward Silene or Fionn sitting next to me to see if they’ve determined a way to stop this. But if they had, they’d have said something. “What are you planning on using the supply of thayar for?”

Once again, he gives me that cold and calculating smile that makes my skin crawl. “Don’t you worry, we have plenty of other plans in motion that will put that to use.” I clench my jaw once, struggling to hide the frustration I feel.

“I’d be happy to help.” I shove down my nausea.

“Excellent, Your Highness,” he says, smoothly. “We leave in an hour.”

Hawthorne

Eastern Velmara is home to a powerful family of light channelers. They have endless myths and prophecies about a prince who will be born in a time of darkness to bring the light back into the world.

The Secrets and Stories of Velmara

“What the fuck are we going to do?” Fionn whispers twenty minutes later. Krantz and Saff went over the basic details of the plan, then left us so they could arrange a few things. We were told to wait here until they came back to get us. On the way out, Krantz pointed to the table of fae we saw on the way in.

“Those are my men over there,” he said. “They’ll keep an eye on you till we come back. Can’t be too careful in these parts.” I’d interpreted it for the message it was—we weren’t permitted to leave.

“If we refuse to help them, our cover will be blown,” Silene says, stoically. “If I try to aerstep to warn Laurel, they’ll know. This is another test. They know exactly what they’re doing, asking us to help them again. What do you want to do, Thorne?” Her amber eyes look to me, and I know I have a hard decision to make.

“If we don’t help them now, we’ll never be able to get close and uncover their plans again. More people might die in future attacks. I don’t like it, but I think we have to stay.” I don’t want to make this choice, but this path is the only one that gives us any real chance of stopping the rebels in the future. “Clearly they only care about me,” I continue, and Fionn rolls his eyes. “What Imeanis that they likely won’t care what the two of you do during the heist, as long as I’m getting them into that tower. You can go with the group that’s attacking the merchant quarter and do what you can to minimize the damage.”

“No, we should stay with you,” Fionn protests, but Silene cuts him off.

“I don’t like it, but I agree with Thorne.” Fionn lets out a low growl. “We can’t let innocent people be injured, or worse, if we can help it. I’m still charged up from the dose of thayar Laurel gave me, and I can take a bit more. With our magic, we can get people out of the way of the worst of the violence.”

Fionn tenses his muscles but nods his head in agreement.

“I may be able to hide some of the stores of thayar from the rebels to limit what they sneak out. And I can let my magicslipat the right time to alert the guards to their presence.”

“If Laurel shows up and catches you, is she going to believe we had no choice but to help them?” Fionn asks, fear flashing across his eyes.

“She’ll believe us,” Silene says confidently. I’m surprised by Silene’s sureness. IthinkLaurel will believe us, but I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t nervous about it. Regardless, I nod my head in agreement with Silene, projecting confidence.

We pass the rest of the hour in nervous silence. Just before the time is up, Silene takes a small sip from the vial Laurel gave her, but she doesn’t drain it. Saff walks in alone, the silent male only gesturing for us to accompany him outside. We do, then follow him through the town to a large and seemingly abandoned manor. As we enter, I keep my attention alert for any clues about whether this might be a headquarters for the rebellion, eager to provide Laurel with the information. We’re led up a creaking staircase to what once was a massive ballroom. Hundreds of people have gathered inside, dressed in everything from the simple clothes of villagers to the fighting leathers of soldiers.

Krantz stands atop a makeshift stage, then clears his throat before projecting loudly to the crowd. “Sons and Daughters, for too long we have been isolated in this kingdom, cut off from the rest of the world, while theWitch Queendecides who comes and who goes. What’s more, the very magic of our land is being drained by her Blood Magic. Our thayar blooms decline with every passing year. All because of the selfish ways of our so-called Queen.”

Silene looks at me, confusion crossing her features. “Did you know that?” I shake my head discreetly.

Krantz continues. “We will not be kept prisoner in these lands any longer! Today, we strike a blow at the people who continue to believe her lies and profit from her deception. Merchants who have access to the flower to power their businesses, all while we struggle to get by as we once did. We’ll destroy their vile and corrupt district!”

The people in the room cheer loudly as I study them. I wasn’t aware thayar blooms were declining in Thayaria. That information paints these people in a new light, and I wonder why Laurel kept this from us.From me.The rebels’ fears make a lot more sense, and this situation is more dangerous than I realized.

Krantz lets the roar from the room peak and then dissipate before he continues. “And while they’re busy defending our attack, the Crown Prince of Velmara, the Shining Prince himself, will aid us in a covert operation to steal a supply of thayar from right under their noses. Even Velmara recognizes the righteousness of our cause and aligns with us!”

The crowd cheers again, a deafening rally, and I stiffen. A group of fae next to me takes notice of my presence, and they whisper and point. Soon, dozens of eyes are looking my way. I bristle under their scrutinizing gaze. Krantz stands on the podium with a victorious look that tells me he knew exactly what he was doing by alerting these people to my presence.

Several other fae appear near Krantz, barking orders to organize the crowd into groups for aerstepping. Silene, Fionn, and I are directed to a group that includes Krantz. “We’re going to aerstep into the merchant district first, then we’ll make our way discreetly to the thayar tower,” Krantz tells me.

I nod. “I’d like to leave my advisors, Fionn and Silene, with the group attacking the merchants. They’re both excellent fighters with strong magic. We won’t need them in our small group.”

“An excellent idea, Your Highness.”

We arrive on a bustling street in Arberly I recognize, lined with shops selling all kinds of goods. My gut churns with anticipation and guilt at what’s about to happen, but I have to trust that Fionn and Silene can do more good than if we hadn’t been here. Our group immediately breaks apart and walks off in pointed directions.

“Stick with me for now,” Krantz says. “Once we get going, our people will know what to do, and we’ll slip off. The others going with us know where to meet.” With that, Krantz heads farther into the heart of the district. We slip into an alleyway, where a pile ofsomethingsits, hidden under a cloth. Krantz rips the tarp off, revealing a large pile of wood stuffed with small vials containing a deep red liquid.

“Concentrated thayar,” Silene whispers, eyes wide.

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