Page 37 of Echoes of the Raven
On closer examination, I notice there are two more layers of boxes underneath the first one. In fact, there are more drawers, and I suspect they hold more keys. How didn’t I know about the contents of this cabinet? I guess I always took it for granted, another ancient piece of furniture among many.
I return my attention to the open drawer. The only empty box is the one with my name. Next to it, I notice Amira’s name and her key sitting there. It looks a lot like mine. The shank and bow are shaped like a feather, except hers is slightly bigger than mine. She doesn’t wear hers all the time like I do. She claims it’s clunky, and it doesn’t match all her dresses.
Amira said she would put The Eldrystone in the vault,the rogue thought resonates inside my head as loud as thunder.
Slowly, I lift a hand to touch the key and instead end up slamming the drawer shut and turning away.
“You haveyourkey,” I murmur under my breath. “That’s why you came here. Now, leave.”
The document Amira was signing when I walked in sits on top of all the others. Without meaning to, my eyes rove over the parchment, moving quickly over words that seem to jump off the page.
Proposal, safety, internment, fae, walls, guards.
What?! I read again, more carefully this time and can’t believe my eyes, can’t believe that is Amira’s signature at the bottom of the page, except I saw her penning it there myself.
It can’t be. She can’t possibly intend to build a holding compound to detain all the fae, a place where they’ll be confined behind guarded walls in order to keep them apart from Castella’s citizens.
I shake my head.She can’t. This is… horrible… a crime against innocent people.
Without making a conscious decision, I turn back to the cabinet, open the drawer, take Amira’s key out, and replace it with mine. Quickly, Ihang the new key over my neck, close the drawer, and march out of the room.
What are you doing, Val? What are you doing?!
I hasten down the hall, the weight of my sister’s key feeling utterly wrong around my neck. Yet, I understand why my instincts drove me to take it. If Amira truly intends to imprison the entire fae population living in Castella, I may need The Eldrystone, after all. I don’t know exactly what I would do with it. All I know is that it would give me leverage.
Before I lose my courage, I head down to the first floor and make my way to the vault. My heart hammers out of control as I walk past the two guards that flank the wide entrance. They click their heels and bow their heads, saluting me. I barely acknowledge them, too nervous to even wave.
Inside the circular vault, an eerie quiet envelops me. Two columns hold matching fire bowls, kept lit at all times. In the center of the floor, the Plumanegra coat-of-arms is fashioned out of pieces of broken ceramic that reflect the firelight. The place is fortified by layers and layers of stone, the heavy steel portcullis kept open during the day and lowered at night. Only members of the Plumanegra family are allowed inside—some more easily than others. It all depends on whether or not the guards on duty recognize them.
I remove the key from around my neck and turn in a circle, trying to remember which of the nooks belongs to Amira. It’s been a long time since we used to play here, and she pointed out her strong box to me.
Luckily, they all have a symbol of their respective key etched in their doors. Despite the fact that there are over six hundred nooks, it only takes me a moment to spot Amira’s. It’s in the fifth row, third column.
With a shaking hand, I insert the key into the lock. I stand frozen for several beats worried that I’ll open the small door, and The Eldrystone won’t be there.
Holding my breath, I turn the key and pull.
When I lay eyes on the amulet, a surge of air escapes my lips, carrying a wave of relief more acute than I care to admit. Though I try to convince myself that I want The Eldrystone solely to aid the fae if need be, shame flushes my cheeks as I reach for it.
The instant my fingers make contact with the cool gem, a sense of rightness washes over me, as if the world has been set straight and nothing can go awry from this point on. I hang the chain around my neck and draw in a deep breath. My eyelids flutter close, and something like peace washes over me. I should have never given it to Amira. Only the gods know what she intended to do with it.
A quick perusal of the contents of her box reveals a collection of trinkets. Locks of hair, rocks, a kerchief with Mother’s initials, and a pair of raven earrings. A pang of guilt hits me. I made those earrings, and it seems she considers them valuable enough to keep them under lock and key. Yet, my guilt is not enough to stop me from taking the amulet and risking the loss of my sister’s trust in the process.
“I’m sorry, Amira,” I whisper softly, closing the small door. With a twist of the key, I seal the vault and leave with the most powerful object in existence.
Yet, as I depart, I have the distinct impression that I’ve done both the right thingandthe wrong thing.
16
VALERIA
“I must think of something to protect us from the fae before they invade every home in Castella.”
Reina Amira Plumanegra (Casa Plumanegra) - Queen of Castella - 21 AV
Nerves tingle all over my body, making me restless. I need a release, so I go in search of Jago. I find him in his room, sprawled on the floor atop a mountain of cushions.
“Hey, how about a sparring match?” I ask.
