Page 41 of Jeweler to the Blessed
I couldn’t argue. As much as I wanted to go to the mines to learn this part of Alaric’s job he’d kept from me, it was also intimidating. I’d passed the prince’s test to determine adamas yesterday, but what test awaited me in the mines? And could I even get there, given my latest reaction to the Oldwood?
The prince interrupted my thoughts. “That’s not a problem, is it?”
I knew it for the rhetorical question it was and shook my head.
He clapped his hands together. “Good. We need the talent only you and your uncle seem to possess to select the correct pieces from the mine. Then we’ll see if you’re as good of a jeweler with the adamas as you seem to be with quartz.”
Excitement filled me as quickly as anxiety. I knew these tests would come. I’d had little choice but to accept this roleand take them as they did. Still, each step was a new challenge. The Oldwood had to be my first focus.
Only days ago, I’d convinced myself I could traverse the Oldwood to escape Kavios. Now that my plans to leave were on hold, I could admit I was unsure of my ability to pass through it without losing myself to its hold.
At least it was early enough that we could return before dark if we left now. I’d have Hart with me, too, though I was unwilling to concede that was a good thing. It would only give him more information about me I wasn’t sure I wanted to share.
I swallowed, but my throat was dry. I would have to take this one test at a time.
14
He is pure chaos. He calls to her through the Oldwood.
— ALARIC SARE’S LETTERS TO ISABELLE ARKOVA
Ifollowed Hart through the complicated hallways once more. As eager as I was to learn about where the adamas was mined, I wasn’t sure what to do about the Oldwood. To keep to Prince Elias’s schedule, I needed more adamas quickly. Delay would not be an option.
Attempting to glare daggers into Hart’s shoulders wasn’t helping. I needed him to answer some questions before we ventured into the Oldwood together.
“Let’s go, Chaos,” he grumbled beneath his helmet.
I wouldn’t deign to respond to that. We were still in Glanmore Castle—literally the worst possibleplace to use the goddess’s name. He might think it funny, but it could get him killed if the wrong person heard it.
He shook his head free when he removed his helmet at the castle entrance. His chocolate brown hair was knotted at the nape of his neck. He raised a thick brow at me. I must have been staring.
“Does everyone not have their own helmet?”
“Are you picking topics to avoid discussing where we’re headed?”
I sighed. “How do you know we’re going anywhere?”
He arched his brow impossibly higher, like it was insulting that he wouldn’t know our next stop, even if I hadn’t realized how quickly it would need to happen.
I’d get nowhere trying to decipher everything in my head. It would only serve to drive me mad. I opened my mouth to ask one of the many questions brewing as we started down the steps.
“Not here,” he whispered. Louder, he said, “We do have our own helmets for formal occasions. Mine is in my quarters. So, a few loaners are available when guards unexpectedly have duties in the castle.”
“I see.”
My heart raced the rest of the way to Alaric’s workshop.
Hart stood back as I twisted the key. I drank in the space again as we entered—a space I hadn’t had time to continue searching. Hart disappeared behind the gold curtain. I needed time to review Alaric’s books in the storage room. Today was out of the question. Getting to the mines and back would take the rest of the daylight. I refused to be caught in the Oldwood after dark—even with a personal guard.
A personal guard who might find the Oldwood’s influence on me … odd. Maybe, more importantly, a personal guard I needed to ensure wasn’t planning to kill me.
“How do you know Soren?” I called.
I could have started with Alaric, but that feltpersonal. This question was about knowing whether I was in danger with Hart.
He popped his head out from behind the curtain. “What?”
“The man in the street yesterday. You knew him.” I admit there were times when I couldn’t tell if he was talking to me or the group, but there was a point at which he spoke directly to Soren. There was no mistaking a familiarity between them.
