Page 45 of Witchshadow

“She was also a Paladin,” Leopold explained. He had to speak more loudly now; water flowed ahead. “Their love was forbidden, and so they builtthis secret place where they could meet. One of many such places, actually.” As he said this, the cave turned slightly—and the churn of running waters doubled in volume.

Then a frothing hot spring appeared. Its waters had been arranged into a series of cascading, rectangular pools for swimming while a dozen columns framed the space, all connected by long benches.

“A bath,” Safi said.

“Romantic, no?” Leopold glanced at her, expression unreadable. “And also quite unknown. I placed alarm-stones all around this cave shortly after I discovered it, and not once, in all my years of coming here, has a single stone been tripped off.” Spreading his arms wide, he stalked forward. “We are very safe, Safiya fon Hasstrel, and very alone.”

He twirled about to face her, swooping a dramatic bow. Gone was the flat Leopold; returned was the charming prince—and returned was Safi’s wariness.Very safe and very alone.She did not like the way that sounded.

She kept her chest high and shoulders back as she strode to the nearest bench, where she withdrew her Truth-lens and once more trained it on Leopold.

“Why did you betray us?”

“And we return to the heart of the matter.” Movement flickered across the lens’s colorful glass, and when Safi opened her other eye, she saw Leopold had joined her at the bench. After draping his own scarf down, he sat.

Safi remained standing.

“I did not betray you to my uncle.” Leopold lounged lazily, bracing both hands behind him and stretching out his legs. With his dressing robe, he looked like some wealthy gentleman come to enjoy the steam.

Safi shuttered her one eye again and stared only through the lens. So far, the colors remained true.

“Not on purpose, at least. If Henrick had known I worked with you, Safiya, then I would have been executed.”

Safi’s toes curled in her slippers while heat curled in her chest. “And that would have been so bad?” She lowered the lens. “You protected your own skin, Polly, and nowIhave no magic while Iseult is leagues away and hunted by Hell-Bards.”

“Yes,” he admitted, and he did not even try to look apologetic. “Iseult is indeed leagues away, and your magic hasindeedbeen severed from you. But you have that.” He tipped his head toward the Truth-lens. “And you have this.Wehave this.” He flipped a hand toward the bath. “Which is entirely thanks to me.”

Safi’s molars ground in her ears. She yanked the lens to her eye once more—while his words still hung in the air and the magic still might respond. But the colors remained; everything he’d said was true.

She huffed a low snarl and kicked into a prowling pace alongside the bath’s foggy edge. “I can’t deny the value of the Truth-lens, but this?” She sawed a hand at the columns. “What good does this do us? Dome?”

“Why, Safiya.” Leopold sat taller, his legs uncrossing. “I thought you would have figured it out by now: this cave connects to the outside world. Just as there is a secret way in, there is a secret way out. Withthis”—he parted his hands—“you can leave.”

“Leave?” She rounded on Leopold. “And what of the noose?” She fished it out from beneath her collar. “If I leave, then Henrick will simply call me right back.”

“Yes.” Leopold steepled his hands. “That is certainly the greatest challenge facing us, but I don’t believe all hope is lost. Not yet, anyway.” He reached for the Truth-lens, clutched tightly in Safi’s right hand. When she did not release it, he let his hand fall back to his side.

“That lens contains your magic, meaning whatever power was carved away from you, some yet remains.”

“Oh.” Safi stared down at the brass-bound lens upon her palm. Mist beaded against it. While she had considered that the device held half her magic, she had not considered that it might mean she was only half a Hell-Bard. “So you think… I can get my magic back?”

“That,” Leopold answered, “I do not know.” He patted the space beside him on the bench. “But if we could somehow gain access to Hell-Bard Keep, I think we might be able to find answers. Unfortunately, they guard their premises and do not welcome outsiders.”

“But Polly.” Safi sank onto the bench and grinned. A real,truegrin. “Surely your spies have told you by now that I will train tomorrow with the Hell-Bards. His Imperial Majesty gave me his permission just tonight.”

“Indeed.” Leopold matched her smile.

“Indeed,” she replied. Then she popped the Truth-lens back upon her eye. “Now tell me everything you know about Iseult and where you think she might be.”

SEVENTEEN

All was silent within the cove. After the madness of the escape—after the waves crashing and the ship groaning, after the splash of oars and surge of magic—the cove felt too calm, too still.

No one moved and no one spoke for an eternity. The day’s sun lifted higher and higher while the sailors watched Vivia, still at the tiller, and while Vivia watched the snaking passage behind theIris.

But no one came down it, and no Windwitches suddenly appeared. Vivia’s plan had worked. For now. And the instant she twisted toward her crew, everyone seemed to collectively exhale. A great loosening of spines, a great drooping of shoulders.

Sotar was the first to speak. “Stow oars,” he called, just loud enough to be heard. Though it was unlikely a shout would carry out of the cove while the tide carried in, there was no telling what lay nearby. Or who, for this was Nubrevna, and Vivia was not welcome here—not as queen, at least.