I thought of what the Pykans had said and Danton’s words. “Would it say how to use the shield?”
His head tilted to the side. “Possibly.”
It did. I felt it deep in my gut. My heart raced. “Where is this box?” I asked.
The king turned around and gazed at me. “That, I do not know. Its whereabouts were kept secret for centuries, known only by those in your mother’s family.”
“And where are they?”
King Darius looked away. “They no longer exist. They died in Pendel during the war.”
Silence.
“Thank you,” I said curtly.
I had started walking away when he said, “Daria.”
I stopped.
“I loved your father.” His voice cracked. “I loved him more than anything in this world.”
My eyes stung and I clenched my jaw. “Then you can show him by loving his children.”
I wiped my nose on my sleeve and left.
I rounded the corner to my hall and was stopped by Alex. He grabbed my arm. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to talk,” I said, pulling him after me into my room and shutting the door. “I’m leaving tonight.”
He pulled back. “Where?”
“Pendel.”
He dropped my arm and stared at me for a long, silent moment. “Is this about…?”
“Alex, listen to me,” I started. “I know how we can beat Eris.”
He looked doubtful and folded his arms.
“I can’t explain it, but it has to do with my mother. Her family. The Pandors.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re planning to go to Pendel because of a hunch.”
I shook my head. “No. I’ve been thinking over everything and the more I think about it, the more it all makes sense. Remember when Lord Tiernan first captured me?”
Alex set his jaw.
“He was looking for a box. Pandor’s box.”
Something sparked in Alex’s eyes.
“He thought I knew where it was, and Dad said it held the knowledge to the power of Gaia. And when you rescued me from the Pykans—they promised to break down the barrier to my magic if I helped them find the stone. They said they needed me because I was a Pandor—and then Danton said the same thing. And if they were planning to take the shield and stone, they knew they’d need that knowledge to use it.”
I saw my dream, again—the little rectangular black box in my hands.
“But they’re already using it,” Alex said.
“No, they’re not.”
Alex arched a brow. “How do you know?”
“Nothing has changed. There’s no difference in magic like everyone said there would be. I can’t tell a difference—can you?”
He stared hard at me.
“Stealing the shield and stone was only one piece of it,” I continued. “Having command over it is another thing, and right now, Eris doesn’t have command over it.” I stopped before him, holding his arms. “That was why Eris wanted me.”
Alex breathed in slowly. “But you don’t have that knowledge.”
“I’m going to find it.”
“Daria, no, it’s too—”
“It’s our only chance. If I find the box and figure out how to use the shield, I can stop him. Besides, he’ll be back for me. It’s safer for everyone if I’m not here when he comes.”
Alex’s jaw clenched. “But where would you even start? People have searched for decades—died searching for it.”
“Alex.” I placed my hands on his face. “I know that I can find it.”
He held my gaze a long moment and sighed into my hand. “When are you leaving?” he whispered.
“Tonight.”
He swallowed and raked a hand through his hair. “Will you tell Stefan?”
I didn’t want to, but it would be cruel if I didn’t. “Yes,” I said. “I’ll tell him what I’m doing, but not where I’m going.”
He nodded. “Where were you just now, anyway?” he asked.
“Talking to the king. I had to ask him some questions about my mother.”
Alex tilted his head. “He let you in?”
“No.” I grinned.
Alex grinned back, and then placed his hand on the wall right behind me, leaning against his arm, his face close to mine. “You know, Daria, I just got you back in my life. I’d like to keep you there for a while, and you’re not making that very simple.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him lightly. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulled me close and held me there, my face buried in his chest. “What about Fleck?” His voice rumbled through his chest.
I sighed. “I need to say goodbye to him—he’ll be safe with Master Antoni…and Tran is nearby.”
He released me, tilting my chin toward him. “You know I’m not letting you go alone.”
I didn’t bother hiding my relief.
He kissed me softly, still holding my chin. “After you, love.” He pulled his lips away and stepped back.
My heart fluttered, and suddenly all I could think about was that I wanted him to kiss me again. Like he had in his room. I noticed my bed out of the corner of my eye, and my breath hitched. Maybe we could stay just a little longer…
No, you need to get out of here.
Why, oh, why aren’t you ever on my side, Conscience?
I noticed that the candlelight in my room had dimmed—significantly. I arched a brow at Alex. “Did you?”
“No,” he said. “That was you.” He smiled, eyes gleaming.
My lips pulled into a smile as I held his gaze.
Alex followed me out my door as I ran to Fleck’s room. It was still guarded, but not as heavily as before. More for safety than imprisonment this time.
I walked in and Fleck glanced up from an enormous manuscript he was poring over. “Lady!” he shrieked. He leapt up from his book and wrapped his little arms around me. I squeezed him back, ruffling his hair.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” he asked, pulling back and looking at me with his big eyes.
I grabbed his hands. “How did you know?”
He looked thoughtful and wrinkled his nose. “Tran said you might.”
“Tran? When did you see—”
“Good evening, dear,” said a familiar voice beside me. Tran stood off to the side, smiling, but it was a sad smile. “Thought you might be leaving soon.”
He held his arms out to me and I hugged him, careful not to squeeze too hard. He hated it when I squeezed him too hard.
He chuckled in my ear. “Seems you’re learning a thing or two about old age.”
I snorted and backed away.
“Alexander.” He nodded to Alex, who was standing a few feet behind me. “You’re going with her, I presume?”
Alex nodded. “I certainly can’t stop her once she’s made up her mind.”
Tran grinned, scratching his beard. “No, you most certainly cannot.”
“But how did you know?” I asked Tran.
His grin spread, and he tapped his temple with his bony pointer finger. “You don’t live as long as I have for being slow-witted.” He winked, and something grumbled behind him.
Grool scowled at us from behind Tran’s robes.
“Oh, excuse me,” Tran continued, “or without a brownie for protection.”
I smiled.
“Anyway, I know that you must be on your way”—Tran fumbled in his pockets—“and I wanted to give you this.” He held out a red leather book.
I took it from him; it was blank.
“A bindingbook,” Tran said.
“Oh,” I replied. “I know what this is.” It was how Sonya had communicated with Stefan along our journey so many months ago.
“I thought you could keep in touch with Fleck and me on your journey.”
I looked at Fleck. “Where are you going?”
Fleck beamed, and Tran answered, “I thought I might take the boy with me on a small journey. There are some people I must visit, an
d I know that he’s coming into his powers—I may be able to help him some. Plus, it’s safer for him if he’s not here.”
Here, where Eris could find him—especially now that I was leaving.
I crouched at Fleck’s side, searching his excited eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?” I asked.
“Yes, lady.” Fleck nodded. “Maybe Tran can help me with my powers so that I can help keep you safe, too.”
I wrapped my arms around Fleck and held him tight. “You just worry about staying out of trouble, okay?” I glanced pointedly at Tran, who laughed.
Fleck nodded into my shoulder, and his breath trembled. “I’m gonna miss you, lady.”
My throat tightened as I squeezed him again and pulled back. I kissed the tear rolling down his cheek. “Do you still have the rook I gave you?”
Fleck nodded largely and pulled the rook from the depths of his pocket. I wrapped my hand around his. “We’ll see each other again, Fleck.” I squeezed his little hand. “I promise.” And I would make sure of it.
I pulled back and stood, turning to Tran. “Thank you,” I said. “For keeping him safe.”
“Of course, child. But take care of yourselves. Where you’re going is no easy journey, and if I were you, I’d sail south to Gesh and board a boat there, rather than in Campagna. Too many on land might see you.”
I nodded and exchanged a glance with Alex.
“Until we meet again, then,” Tran said, and he, Grool, and Fleck disappeared.
Even though I knew Fleck was in the best hands possible, it was still difficult knowing he was beyond my reach.
I swallowed, tucked the bindingbook in my pocket, and we left.
We found Stefan soon after and let him know our plan. He was angry at first, thought I was abandoning him to the wolves, and then he was angry at Alex for helping me do it. After a few moments, however, Stefan calmed down and began to understand why. He’d even recalled Dad mentioning something to him about a box of Pandor, and he was glad Alex was going with me. He even suggested we take some of his best guards with us, but we talked him down from that. It’s one thing to sneak through a world as two people; it’s something else entirely to sneak through as twenty.
Stefan also gave us a bindingbook, which Alex offered to carry, so that we could correspond with him along the way.
We said goodbye, I grabbed my daggers and cloak, and took one last quick glance around my room.
“Should we tell your parents?” I asked.
Alex glanced past me, the corners of his eyes tight. “No. They’d never let us leave.”
It hurt him, leaving his parents like this.
I touched his arm. “Are you sure?”
He looked back at me and touched my cheek. “Yes.”
Alex and I hurried to the stables and grabbed Calyx and Parsec. The castle was quiet as we escorted them out of the stables, down the hill and to the marketplace. When we reached the gate, my heart sped a little. After six months of being locked behind it, I still couldn’t get used to my new freedom. The guards looked at us and let us through without question.
Once we were out of sight of the wall, we stopped. Alex stared up at the full moon, his face white in contrast to his black hair.
I suddenly realized something. It was just him and me now. My heart swelled at the thought.
“There’s no turning back after this,” he said.
Calyx whinnied, and I steadied her. “I know.”
He looked at me, and a grin twitched at his lips. “Where to?”
I smiled. “Well, we need to find a ship.”
He arched a brow. “And a crew, unless—”
A shadow dropped in front of us, and Vera’s face illuminated in the moonlight. Her eyes shone with excitement and she was smiling. “And where can the princess be headed at this hour”—she tilted her head and looked at Alex—“with an escort of only one?”
“Nowhere,” Alex said at the same time I said, “Just walking.”
Vera smirked, and then she whistled. A horse appeared from the trees.
“I’m coming with you,” Vera said, already mounting her horse.
I exchanged a glance with Alex. This could be very, very awkward. In fact, this wasn’t what I’d had in mind at all, but then we could use the help. And Vera was an excellent fighter. Not to mention, she was from Gesh.
Alex looked at me to respond.
“All right,” I said. “Can you get us to Gesh?”
Vera’s smile spread and she licked her lips. “If you can keep up.” She kicked her horse and took off into the moonlight.
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Acknowledgements
There are so many people I need to thank—so many people that have been my cheerleaders along the way, helping me believe in myself while I fought against the sequel to GAIA'S SECRET. (Yes, it was a battle, and it was a bloody one. I narrowly escaped with my life.)
First, I need to thank my family. Mom, for sitting on that stool in the kitchen, hours on end, reading a draft on the computer and telling me exactly what you liked and didn't like. My awesome cousin Madeline, for always giving me feedback with embedded comments that made me snort on my computer screen. My sis, Annie, for just always being so supportive and excited about it.
My fabulous critique partner, Christine, who always gives enthusiasm with her critique – even while telling me I overused a certain word 3984293847234098 times.
My editor, Laura, for slaving away, line by line, catching EVERYTHING, and for also keeping me from hyperventilating while I wrote this book.
And my OH-SO-BRILLIANT beta-friends! Jules, for your nit-picky, intuitive genius (and wit!), Sari, for such insightful comments and suggestions combined with your methodical way of delivering them. Ashley for always believing in the story, and giving me incredible feedback to help make it better! Not to mention my dear friends Margaret and Jenny – thanks for letting me talk for hours about books and writing, and for caring so much about my characters that you're mad at me for what I do to them. And Teri for always believing in me and always supporting me. You all are amazing…I could not do this without your help!
Last, but not least, I owe so much to my husband, Ben, who sits for hours with me, helping me brainstorm, calming me down, building me up, believing that I can do anything. You constantly inspire me and challenge me; this story wouldn't exist without you. Thank you. I love you.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1 – Voices in the Night
Chapter 2 – The Dark Rider
Chapter 3 – My Dad, the Prince
Chapter 4 – Fleck
Chapter 5 – Promises Kept
Chapter 6 – Escape
Chapter 7 – Danton
Chapter 8 – Blood Ants
Chapter 9 – The Grand Ball
Chapter 10 – Alex
Chapter 11 – Desperate Measures
Chapter 12 – Swapping Serum
Chapter 13 – A Worthy Disguise
Chapter 14 – The Keeper's Flame
Chapter 15 – From Bad to Worse
Chapter 16 – The First Competition
Chapter 17 – Change of Plans
Chapter 18 – The Wall
Chapter 19 – The Non-Directional
Chapter 20 – Vera
Chapter 21 – Identities
Chapter 22 – The Shadowguard
Chapter 23 – Hell's Peak
Chapter 24 – Betrayal
Chapter 25 – An Unexpected Farewell
Chapter 26 – Hope
Chapter 27 – A Secret Mission
Acknowledgements
loss, The Keeper's Flame (A Pandoran Novel, #2)
The Keeper's Flame (A Pandoran Novel, #2) Page 34
