Bloodleaf (Bloodleaf 1)

“It’s me they want,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “If I let them take me, they’ll leave everyone else alone.”

“You know we can’t do that, Princess,” Simon said. He was right. If I gave myself up, the Tribunal would kill me. And when it didn’t take—?and someone else died in my stead—?they’d just kill me again and again until all four of us were dead.

“Then I’ll leave. I’ll go now, today, to seek asylum in Achleva.”

“That won’t stop them from trying to overthrow me,” Mother said.

“You can come with me. We’ll be safe inside Achlev’s Wall. Renalt tried for three centuries to get past it without any success.”

“I will not abandon Renalt to the Tribunal, Aurelia.”

In my desperation to learn magic to undo the Tribunal, I’d brought them down on all of our heads. I struggled to reconcile with that fact. “But if you stay . . . and what about Conrad?”

“He can go with us to Achleva,” Toris said. “I can ensure his well-being.”

“With us?” I gave him an incredulous glare. “Surely you don’t think you are coming along.”

He ignored me and addressed my mother directly. “Lisette is already waiting in her carriage. We will meet her in the carriage house in one hour. The Tribunal has blocked every exit from the grounds; only I can get us past them in safety. The clerics on guard know me. They trust me. And they won’t question my desire to distance my only daughter from the violence that is about to take place.” Toris placed his hand on his chest, over the vial of blood he wore around his neck. “You are well hated by your people, Princess. You should take advantage of what kindnesses you are offered. This is your only chance.”

“My people hate me because you told them they could. That they should. You and your stars-forsaken Tribunal.”

“I may be a member of the Tribunal,” Toris thundered, “but I am loyal to the crown. When my betrayal is discovered, I stand to lose everything. My fortune, my friends, my good name . . .”

“How devastating for you,” I said flatly.

“One hour,” Toris said, upper lip curling. “The carriage house. Don’t be seen.”

“I’ll get them there,” Kellan said. “The prince and princess both.”

Toris left with a slam of the door.

My mother busied herself taking my wedding dress down from the dress form, folding it carefully, and tying it into a linen parcel. After a moment of watching her, I turned to Simon. “Is there a way for us to get across Achlev’s Wall without you?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “You must be invited into the city by someone of royal descent, of Achlev’s direct line. I brought with me three of those documents: one for you, one for a maid, and one for a guard. Anyone else will have to turn back or wait in the encampments outside the wall for the king to issue another invitation for them.”

“That’s all we need,” I said. “One for me, one for Conrad, and one for Kellan. Simon, could you stay here, with my mother? As a blood mage, you’re the only person who can offer her any kind of defense. Please. You just tied your life to mine. There must to be something you can do to protect hers.”

He frowned. “I might be able to seal us in these chambers, but I can’t guarantee how long it will last. If the seal fails at all, the Tribunal could still get in and then . . .” He didn’t finish the sentence. We knew what would happen then.

“Do what you have to do.”

He brought out three envelopes from his jacket pocket, sealed with the three-pointed-knot symbol of Achleva’s flag.

“These will get you across the wall,” he said, handing them to me. “May the Empyrea keep you.”

“And you.”

“We need to hurry,” Kellan said. “There’s no time to waste.”

“Mama?” Conrad asked with glistening eyes.

“Be brave, my prince,” she said to him. “You’re going away, just for a little while. But Aurelia will take care of you; don’t you worry.”

He cast a disbelieving gaze at me, and I squared my shoulders to keep from flinching.

Mother presented me with the parcel containing my wedding dress before taking me in a formal embrace and saying in her queen’s voice, “Travel safely, my daughter. I love you and will miss you terribly.” She touched her lips to my cheek, and I heard her whisper as she shoved something else into my hand, “Keep this with you always. It is a gift. We’ve protected you with our lives. I’m trusting you to protect Conrad’s with yours.”

It was the silken square, now blemished with three circles of blood. A reminder of how much those closest to me were willing to give up to keep me safe.