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“True. The upside to a properly formed gateway is that you can use it many times.”

“Yes, of course. I just didn’t expect that timeframe.” I sighed. “Well, I had hoped to get there sooner,but?—”

“Although,” Luccan interrupted, a spark in his eyes, “I could try to make a temporary gateway. Mind you, it would still take me a day or so, and it would only last a second, long enough for you to pass through.”

I inhaled; my hope renewed. “But it’s possible?”

He nodded slowly. “I’ve never done it before, but I have read about them.” He glanced at Clemencia and straightened. “I wouldn’t mind trying and stretching my magic.”

I smothered the smile I felt growing inside me. Though I believed that Luccan wished to help me, I also suspected that he wanted to impress Clemencia. “I’d so appreciate it.”

He stepped up to a bookshelf, pulled a tome from the collection, and skimmed the first page, then flipped through the book. He was about halfway through the pages when he stopped and came closer.

“This is a map of Guldtown. I’ve only been there once, as a lad, but you likely remember it better than me. Pick a place where you’d like me to open the gateway.”

I examined the map, which, with my limited knowledge, appeared up to date. The castle stood out and while going there would be easiest, I also wouldn’t put it past Roar to have put magical defenses in place. Those that might injure us if we tried to use magic. After all, in the eyes of the king, Roar had committed treason. It was likely the Warden of the West would have only recently returned home, and not having protections put up the moment he rode through his city’s gates would be idiotic. Roar might be a snake, but he wasn’t stupid.However, he couldn’t keep everyone from Guldtown, right?

My gaze drifted to the city gates I’d first ridden through on Frode’s cart. Then I’d been half frozen and dressed in little more than rags. The next time I walked through them would be so very different. I pointed to a spot in the woods near the city gates. “We can come out here. I can walk to the castle from that point.”

“Got it.” Luccan plucked a quill from his table and noted the spot. “I’ll begin preparations. Remember, you must be ready at any second to leave. Once I am close to the final moments of creation, I will send for you, no matter the time.”

“I’ll be ready,” I assured him. “Thank you for your help. For your friendship.”

“You’re welcome, Neve.” Luccan held up the book. “Looks like I’d better get to work.”

We left his room, and I turned to Clemencia. “That went much better than expected.”

“He’s an honorable male. And your lineage might even excite him.”

“What do you mean?” I waved for her to follow. The morning had just begun, but I was ready for the next stage of my plans—training with my unruly magic.

“Luccan doesn’t always agree with the king.” Clemencia’s teeth dug into her bottom lip. “I don’t think I doeither.”

I gaped. Clemencia, my rule-following tutor, was expressing disdain for the male whose word was law?

“How do you mean?”

Clemencia’s quickening pace hinted that she might be nervous to answer. “Things I saw at court . . . they did not sit right with me. And I don’t think I’m the only one. You must know, Neve, that some will see your name as a way to rid the kingdom of its troubles.”

My pulse skittered. My mother had mentioned something similar, but how many others were thinking it?

Stars, what did Vale think about all this? And if he forgave me for keeping my identity a secret, could he also forgive me if I claimed my real name and acted for those I thought needed it most? Which wasn’t his father or the other nobles.

Or was any relationship we might have had broken forever? I came to a halt, the thought sending a jolt of physical pain through me.

“Neve?” Clemencia placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you well?”

I exhaled. “Yes. I came to a rather unpleasant thought and my body reacted.”

“Don’t discount that.”

“I won’t.”

Though I didn’t know what to make of it either.

Dressed in a thick cloak and boots, I tramped outside through the snow.

Clemencia trailed behind me, and I glanced back and up to find Anna watching—as she said she would. I wavedat her; glad I’d been able to dissuade my best friend from coming outside.