Page 41 of A Cage of Magic and Darkness

“I want the thieves and murders found immediately, and for them to be hung in the city square for everyone to see. Their bodies will remain there as a reminder to anyone else who believes that stealing from the vulnerable is a good course of action.”

I’m furious with whoever did this, but also at myself for being so shortsighted. Had I only given them the money to make myself feel better, to try to ease my own guilt at still being able to live in luxury while they had nothing?

Balthorne ducks his head. “Yes, Princess.”

I let out a sigh and cover my face with my hands. “Ididn’t listen. I’d believed people would want to help one another.”

He offers me a sympathetic smile. “Your heart is too kind.”

I shake my head at that, my anger evident in the growl of my tone. “No. It’s not kindness. It’s naivety and ignorance.”

I vow to make better choices in the future, to listen to those around me. I’m a coddled girl who’s grown up in a castle. What do I know?

Helplessness overwhelms me. A desperation to hand this responsibility back to the king and my mother takes hold, a longing like I’ve never experienced before. I’d have sworn that if will was enough to make something happen, then I could have brought them back to life.

I don’t want to doubt my ability to rule, but how can I not when one of my decisions had such devastating consequences?

I need to do something more than throwing money at the situation. That clearly hasn’t helped—if anything, it’s only made things worse.

That makes up my mind. I can’t let anyone else suffer like this, even if it means risking my own life.

“Balthorne, I need you to put together horses and a team of guards to take beyond the border of Askos to find the Mage who lives there.”

His eyebrows lift. “You wish for us to go beyond the border, into the wildlands?”

“I will need your protection.”

His expression falters. “You plan to join us?”

“Of course. I need the Mage to listen to me, and they can’t do that if I’m not there.”

“It’s dangerous, Princess. Possibly even deadly.”

I sigh with irritation. “Why does everyone keep telling me that, as though I’m unaware of when something is dangerous? Do you think me stupid, Balthorne?”

“No, of course not. My apologies. I’m simply concerned about you. I’d never want to see any harm come to you.”

“Thank you, Balthorne, but if I don’t try this, Askos will also become a place of danger—if it isn’t already. The night before last, the King’s Tower fell. Who’s to say the same thing won’t happen to the rest of the castle if we do nothing?”

“You could send a message to the Mage,” he suggests. “Allow me to carry it.”

“It’s not enough. The Mage is a thousand years old, and they won’t speak to just anyone. If they don’t understand how serious this is, then they may just send you away again.”

“If that happens, then you could go.”

“By then it may be too late. My mind is made up, Balthorne. I need to do something to save the kingdom. I wish to leave at first light.”

22

RUAROK

Taelyn is putting togethera team of people to leave the city and go in search of the Mage, and I am not among them. That she thinks she’s allowed to tell me what to do pisses me off more than anything. She thinks she rules me, but she’s got it all wrong. I am the eldest sibling, and the only true blood heir to the throne. She’s just the daughter of some whore who married my father.

She is nobody.

I’m warring with myself about what the best course of action should be. I don’t appreciate looking like a nobody in front of the rest of the castle, but at the same time, I want her to believe I’m on her side.

I find her alone in the library, standing at one of the bookshelves.

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