Page 140 of Traitor Witch

"You're not ready," she huffs, watching as her black cat familiar approaches her with soft mewing sounds. "It takes decades to become a true Shadow and Glenna has taught you a lifetime of bad habits."

"Does it matter? We have time."

She strokes her familiar's head once, then turns away from the sea to scowl at me. "TheDeadwooddelivers to the Queenfour times a year. That's hundreds of immortal deaths every decade. If you are trained traditionally, the sirens will be wiped out by the time you're ready. Even if, by some miracle, you manage to learn it all in a year, I am being called to the stars. There will be no one else to teach you in a matter of months. Maybe less."

She says it so simply, she might as well have been discussing the weather. She's so calm about her own death, and there's a strange wistfulness in her eyes when she mentions it. Almost a fondness that doesn't just seem to be an acceptance born of her extreme age.

"Your best way into the palace is through theDeadwood's delivery," Petra continues. "That means your only course of action is to learn fast and fly faster to catch up with them. The cargo is normally delivered discreetly, with the smallest number of guards to avoid drawing attention. That is your best way in and your one advantage over the dozens of others who went before you."

I stop dead. "You want me to use my pirates to get to her?"

"The Goddess wants the Queen dead. That's all that matters."

"But they're mine," I hiss. "They're stuck in a bargain with no way out. If I'm discovered, they'll be killed."

"They chose their path. This is yours. What's worth more, your petty harem drama or hundreds of lives and the balance of our world?"

"Fuck you. If you treated your harem this way, it's no wonder they left you."

Fire flashes in Petra's eyes and I know I've hit my mark a second before a dagger nails me in the thigh.

"Understand this." She stands from her position on the rail and takes a menacing step closer, her familiar trailing beside her. "My harem was everything to me. They gaveeverythingto rid our world of the Eagle of Galmere. Served our Goddess with more devotion than you or I ever could. You willnevermention them again." She flicks her eyes toward her familiar and I take advantage of the distraction, yanking the blade out of my leg and sending it flying back at her.

As always, it never touches her.

Before meeting Petra, it had been years since I missed a target. Now failing to hit her on an hourly basis is beginning to give me a complex.

"Get that healed," the old witch grumbles. "You leave tonight."

"Tonight?" I gape at her.

"Get a move on. Unless you plan to whine some more." She turns to face the sea, effectively dismissing me. "I suppose the Goddess wants me to watch one last student get sent to their death before I go."

Those words are so quiet I might have missed them if the sea air wasn't blowing towards the cliff, carrying them further than Petra intended.

Her melancholy voice softens my attitude slightly.

"Maybe I'll surprise you."

Petra snorts. "Keep hoping, girl. I'm sure it will make all the difference."

I hesitate a moment longer, but limp past her to the stairs. My blood leaves a trail as I wander towards the Solar's healing rooms.

"Nilsa!" The shout greets me as soon as I enter the building.

Oh, Goddess. Not now.

Elsie is sweet. Well-meaning and a little immature in an occasionally endearing way. But she's also irritating in a way that seems to be unique to her.

Maybe she'll grow out of it, I prayfor the hundredth time.

"I can heal that." She grabs my hand and tugs me over to a bed before I can object. "This looks painful. Training must be really hard on you, huh?"

"No harder than anything else," I murmur.

Looking around the room, it's strangely devoid of people. The beds are empty, and there aren't any other Solars lingering. How long has Elsie been sitting in here, alone?

That is not sympathy I'm feeling. No. Solar witches like solitude and meditating and stuff. Elsie was probably having the time of her life before I showed up.