Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“I have some good news,” Thallan stated, though his smile was strained and even the few lines around his eyes had deepened. “I’ve received a private message from your father.” He paused and licked his lips. “Orian is still alive.”
“What?” I cried out.
Nylian shook his head. “That can’t be. They told me they had the ceremony. His body was turned to ash. He was returned to the dirt, trees, and water. That…that can’t be…I was told…”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Thallan reached out to lay a comforting hand on Nylian’s arm, but the elf flinched, leaning closer to me.
“I don’t understand,” he said sharply, and my heart broke for him. His reaction seemed cold, but Nylian had spent the past few months grieving the loss of his beloved brother and suffering under the tremendous weight of being accused of murder. Hearing such good news didn’t erase all that pain.
“Orian is alive, but only just barely,” Thallan continued. He sat back in his chair, dropping his hands into his lap. “The royal healers and wizards halted the progression of the poison, keeping it from killing him, but he’s held in a magical field where time has been slowed to a crawl. They’ve identified the poison, but still need the antidote to cure him, and time is running out. The healers estimate Orian has a month, maybe two, until the poison claims him.”
Nylian sat for more than a minute with his eyes closed. His hand was so icy in mine and a fine trembling had gripped it, forcing me to cover his hand with my other one. His breathing grew ragged, but with time, it evened out as if he were gaining control over his emotions. My heart broke for him. I wanted to drag him out of Blackscar castle and away from all of this insanity, but there was no leaving. Not yet. Nylian was expected to locate this antidote so he could save his twin brother.
“What’s the poison? Where did it come from?” Nylian asked, his voice a tight whisper.
“The poison is called Widow’s Spite, and only one person makes it in all of Lockeheim—the King’s Royal Poison Maker, Duchess Helena Covington. She’s the one person who can make it because she’s the only person trained to handle the black-winged cobra.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed hard against the bile that shot up my throat. Oh, this one was my fault. I remembered creating Widow’s Spite. It was late one night, and I’d been high on way too many shots of espresso and chocolate cake.
What could be worse than a lightning-fast and deadly snake? Let’s give the fucker wings.
God, I was such an asshole. I’d never thought that one day I would need to face these slithering nightmares.
“Lockeheim. I should have headed in that direction from the very start,” Nylian muttered. “Lady Helena makes every vial of Widow’s Spite. She’ll also know where every drop has gone. She’ll be able to tell us who from Wolfrest acquired the poison.”
“That’s the hope,” Thallan agreed. “Since you were banished, your father has been conducting a thorough search of West Vale for any clue as to who handled the poison or how it was even acquired.”
“Something as rare as Widow’s Spite wouldn’t be cheap,” I observed, and immediately bit my tongue. I didn’t want the duke or even Nylian to think that I was pointing fingers at other members of the royal family. Yet, they would be just about the only people who had the money to afford a poison like that.
“You’re right,” Thallan stated, enabling me to breathe again. “It’s why the king sent Prince Xeran away. He never believed that he attempted to kill Orian. Getting him out of West Vale was the only way to protect him from whoever was striking at his sons.”
“I’m sure he also knew I would do anything to get revenge on whoever dared to harm Orian,” Nylian ground out between his teeth.
Thallan grunted, not bothering to deny such a guess. “That’s why your father and Orian are counting on you now to retrieve the antidote and the truth of who tried to kill your brother. He can’t send a diplomat without causing an incident. It’s better if this is all handled in secret. If word reaches Lady Helena that we’ve identified the poison, she could run, destroy all the antidotes, or even destroy what evidence remains of who she gave the poison to.”
“Understood.” Nylian pushed to his feet, leaving the duke and me to follow a second later. “We’ll take two days to rest here and replenish our supplies. Adeline might choose to leave her brother here with you. Lockeheim will be too dangerous for him. I want you to find a wizard to mentor him.”
“I’ll protect him like he’s my own son, but there are no wizards in the immediate area. Any around here would be specialized in farming spells and nothing more.”