Page 25 of Cursed Crowns
“Then please go and captain before you wreck us on those cliffs,” said Wren, a touch shrilly.
With a rippling laugh, Captain Marino Pegasi took off toward the wheel, hollering orders to the crew as he went. Wren stood rooted to the bow, watching the icy cliffs get bigger and sharper. A terrible shiver rippled up her spine and settled in her chest. For the first time since she had set out to rescue her grandmother, she felt truly afraid of what lay before her.
10
Rose
Rose was determined not to let her worry for Wren ruin the tour. In a state of shock, she had gone back up to her room with Agnes to get ready, ensuring every ruffle on her pale blue dress was perfect. With the whole world seemingly falling apart around her, and everything spinning out of her control, at least Rose could still choose her outfit. Her armor. With Wren gone, she would have to be good enough,queenly enough, for both of them.
In the meantime, they would have to come up with an explanation for Wren’s absence. Rose hoped that the townspeople of Eana would be so delighted to see her that they wouldn’t mind her sister’s absence. It might even be easier, really. Wren had been so grumpy about the tour, she probably would have made a terrible impression.
There was a knock at the door, and Thea entered, looking ashen. Agnes fastened the last delicate pearl button at the back of Rose’s dress before stepping away to give them privacy.
Rose sat at her vanity trying to wrangle her hair into submission while Thea perched on the end of her bed. “Shen told me what happened.”
“I might have expected Wren to sneak off in the middle of thenight, but I can’t believe Celeste went after her without telling me,” she fumed. “Iseveryonein this palace determined to betray me?”
“I’m sure she’ll be back before you know it,” said Thea, deftly taking the brush from Rose before she did any permanent damage. She combed her fingers through her hair, gently working out the tangles. “And, with any luck, she’ll have Wren with her.”
Rose closed her eyes, trying to take heart in Thea’s words. Though she hadn’t known the healer very long, there was no one inside the palace walls she trusted more. With the exception, perhaps, of Shen. Rose glanced out the window toward the courtyard. She knew he was down there, watching the soldiers closely as they prepared for their departure.
Thea set the brush down with a sigh. “I should have known Wren would go after Banba. It was only a matter of time...”
“Before she left me all alone,” said Rose bitterly.
Thea braced a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You are not alone, Rose. You have me.”
Rose reached for the healer’s hand. “And I need you now more than ever, Thea. You’ll look after Anadawn while I’m gone. Truly, I couldn’t imagine a better Queensbreath.”
“I’m not sure Wren would agree.” Thea’s gaze found hers in the mirror. “The plan was always for Banba to be Queensbreath.”
Rose wrinkled her nose. “Wren certainly never discussed that with me.” Though after the events of that morning, she was hardly surprised. “And while I don’t know my grandmother as well as either of you two do, I must say I think you have a better sense of diplomacy.”
Thea let out a wheezing laugh. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“In any case, it’s a matter for another time.”
“A time I hope will come,” said Thea quietly. “How I wish Banba were here.”
“Me, too,” said Rose. “What would she think of the tour?”
Thea laughed again as she drifted to the bedroom window, where she looked down on the preparations in the courtyard. “She’d hate it at first, I’m sure, but she is cautious by nature. Upon reflection, I think she’d grudgingly admit it was a good idea. Though she would also tell you to make sure you know where the nearest witch settlement is, should you need their help on the road.”
“We’re a long way from Ortha,” said Rose with a frown. Not that there were many witches left there. And in any case, the tour was heading south, not west. Away from the Ganyeve Desert and everything that lay far beyond it, on the other side of the kingdom. “And most of the witches live here now, at Anadawn. Don’t they?”
Thea hmm’d. “There are other settlements. Or at least there were. The Mishnick Mountains in the northwest. And another settlement in the south. Amarach Towers, the home of the seers.”
“Aren’t the seers lost? Like the Sunkissed Kingdom?”
“The towers are hidden, not lost,” said Thea, turning back to her. “As to whether there are seers still living there, I’m afraid I cannot say. But if you need to take refuge on the road, I know where you can find it.” A pause, then. “Or at least I can point you in the direction of the towers. Even if the witches there are gone, the land will protect you.”
Rose offered a wry smile. “If only it could tell me how to deal with Edgar Barron, too.”
“You have to trust yourself, Rose. You’ll know how to handle Barron when the time comes.”
“I just hope this tour shows everyone that witches aren’t to be feared.That we’re all on the same side. Barron’s been out there spreading lies and turning our people against us. Against me.” Rose wrung her hands, tugging at her delicate lace sleeves. “I never thought my own people would hate me, Thea.”
Thea’s brown eye softened. “They don’t hate you. They are simply afraid of what they do not know. But once they know you, once they see how much you love Eana, how much you love them, well, they will love you back.”