The King’s summon comes a few days later.

It arrives while we're gathered in Wolf’s shack one last time, combining all our information, and trying to form a bigger picture.

“My translator friend said this was probably written in code," Savannah says. "But the repetition here makes it look like a formula. And the paper next to it isn't written in Pangean. It's written in ancient Yellic.”

“The language of love?”

She nods. Yellic is an ancient speech type that originated from the desserts. While not an official language, it's often used in stories to depict a love that transcends the limitations of natural vocabulary. The language itself was said to have been created in ancient times, as a way of secret communication between two star-crossed lovers from the warring clans, one from the magic faction and the other from the non-magic faction.

“It seems to be some love letter. Most of it is nonsense and ramblings but the gist of it is love."

I quietly listen to what they're saying but I'm reluctant to present my findings.

If what I think is true, if the Raven Lord is searching for a way to heal his wife, it would be a huge gain for the King.

Accacia could use that knowledge to manipulate the Ravens into giving us even more grain, saving us from famine. The King would likely be grateful for such a thing and he may reward us handsomely.

Or he may not. In fact, it's more likely that he won't.

Plus, it would mean putting Lord Raven entirely under the selfish King’s mercy.

I glance at the faces of my friends, wondering if I should tell them what I know.

But how can I tell them and expect them to keep it a secret? Can I trust them to keep it from the King?

They’re trusting you with their lives and you you won't trust them with the secret?

But the secret isn't mine to tell at all.

The war rages on inside me, the inner turmoil stealing my attention until Savannah snaps her fingers in front of my face. "Are you still with us Adria?"

I nod.

“So we have nothing useful,” I say finally.

Jace rubs his hand over his face and sighs his disappointment. “I can’t believe we’ve done all this work for nothing and we’re still going to get punished.”

Guilt expands in my stomach, pushing me to tell them what I know, to at least let them decide whether or not to tell the King.

But I'll feel even guiltier if I repay Lord Raven's kindness with such a heavy betrayal.

Especially since I don't even know enough about what he's looking for to manage to variables. What if telling the King changes something beyond my expectations?

And why does the Raven Lord think the Cure For All Ills is here? Did he visit a Seer, a real one, who told him that Seir would make the cure?

But he's not paying any special attention to Seir, and to the best of my knowledge, he hasn't been to visit Seir yet. So it's not the creator of the cure he's looking for. Then what is it?

Or perhaps it's the book he wants, the one that helped Seir with his discovery? Maybe that's why they were at the library.

But what does he know about the book that we don't? What's the big secret?

Or maybe there's something else, some other attribute of the North that also helps Seir's breakthrough.

I thought about it all night, and still don't have a definite answer. I had a headache this morning from thinking so hard, making me so antsy that even sipping Wolf's soothing tea doesn't settle me down.

“We won’t get punished,” I say finally, laying my mug on the table. “I’ll convince the King to give us another chance.”

“How?”

I don't know yet, but I give them a hopeful smile. “I'll think of something. We still have time."

A loud commanding knock echoes on the door.

Or not.

Jace rises and goes to open the door.

Tyne is at the entrance, in his trademark purple robes, with two Elite Guards beside him.

He grins at us. "Ready?"

None of us answer but we all rise reluctantly, Tia gathering the papers into her satchel.

I share a last look with Wolf and he gives me what I think is an encouraging nod, but I'm not sure what he's encouraging me to do. Can he read my mind? Can he tell the inner turmoil I'm experiencing right now?

Is he encouraging a decision, and if so, which one?

It's the longest trek to the castle I’ve ever had. The entire time, I think of what I'm going to do, how I'm going to get us out of trouble. I don't think the King will really punish us too harshly but that may depend on his mood. After all, he’s been looking for a reason to get rid of us, to prevent us from being his Elite Soldiers. And even though he might not get rid of me, due to my 'ability', that's not to say he wouldn't for the others. They're not as valuable to him.

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It's a sick thought to have, knowing that I'll probably survive this and they might not.

Unless I reveal what I know.

My heart remains unsteady and my nerves bounce more erratically the closer we get. Frost wind bites the tips of my fingers and my nose, which I bury in a scarf Wolf got me. I think for so long and so hard that I get sick of thinking and changing my mind every dozen steps. By the time we reach the castle gates, where a sullen Paisley waits, I still have no clue what I'm going to do.

“Nice of you to join us again,” Jace murmurs to Paisley and then smirks pointing to the dark circle surrounding one eye. “Fine black eye you have there. Did you get hit by an angry lover? “

Paisley shoots him a scorching look, but Jace merely chuckles. And then we continue into the castle in silence.

I wish I had more time.

To think.

To plot.

To do anything but walk to the King with nothing in hand for him.

"Time is not a luxury you're always guaranteed," Tyne used to say in the past when he was coaching me to be just as vicious as he is. "It's a resource you take, or buy if you can afford it."

But how can I buy more time now?

All too soon, we're at the top of the staircase walking down the dark hallways, and then we're in front of the King's doors.

Tyne does his signature knock and the heavy door creaks open.

We step into the King's chambers. Once again, he's lounging in his stone chair and he regards us unimpressed.

“Well?” he implores.

“We successfully snuck into the Raven rooms,“ I announce. “And dedicated a heist to covertly steal pieces of information in hopes that we could piece it together."

“And?”

“Most of it is in code. We'll need more time to decipher it.”

The King shares a look with Tyne. "Where is the evidence of what you found?"

"Here my Lord," Tia gestures with her satchel full of everything but the alchemy symbols I found. "Most of them are frankly useless my Lord."

The King grins. “Do you think me a fool?”

"Never, Your Majesty.” I bow for extra measure. “It's simply that we don't have anything substantial to report. It was all garbled mess and letters between the Raven Lord and his lover. I do not believe they're plotting to betray you, your majesty.”

There's a stretch of menacing quiet.

When I look up again, the King's eyes are glittering.

“So,” he says with a smile that reminds me of the one he gave me at the dinner, right before he poisoned me. "You've come to me empty-handed after failing your task."

I swallow. I know this is personal for the King. Once again, he didn't get to exact his vengeance on the Ravens, and once again, he's going to take it out on us instead. And he's going to enjoy it.

Suddenly there's another knock.

"It's me," comes Caster's voice and the door opens again. My team and I spin around to find Caster, Brute, and Wolf filling the door frame.

My eyes widen. What are they doing here? And how did Wolf get here so fast, when we left him behind at the cottage?

Caster doesn't react with surprise when he sees me, and all three men walk in trailed by one other member of their team.

Caster walks right in front of his father, going down on one knee and bowing.

“We’ve caught the boar,” he says.

When the moonlight falls on him, I notice the wet dark stains on Caster's face, his arms, and his feet. There are scratches and wounds on his skin too.

"It showed itself earlier tonight and we caught it. But we lost a teammate in the process. It gored him."

The King waves a hand like that last detail was unimportant.

"How did you capture it?" he asks.

Caster opens his mouth and for a second, a haunted look passes across his face.

The blood on his body and the scratches let me know that this was no cake walk. I assumed that the King would have given his son an easier task but it seems not.

“How did you retrieve it, Caster?” his father repeats.

"It was a team effort,” he says but then Wolf snorts, making the Prince redden. The King then turns to Wolf, and that flicker of admiration and hunger reflects in his expression once more.

“You’ve done well,” he said speaking directly to Wolf.

“You said there was a reward for completing this task earlier than the given time frame,” Wolf says. My eyes whip over to him. They were given more time than we were? That doesn't seem fair.

Then again, which part of this has been fair so far?

"Yes," the King says. "Anything you want within reason. Do you want to forgo the final trial and recieve direct admission to the Elite Guard Academy?”

Wolf shakes his head and then gestures at us with his chin. “Pardon them.”

What?”

“Pardon their team. No punishment. That is what we want."

I gape. I hear several members of my team gasp too and Jace whispers Wolf's name, sounding awed.

And then I recall how Wolf had been so reluctant to participate in the trials with his team.

But then upon hearing about our problems, tonight he magically helped them find whatever boar the King was looking for.

Was that because of us? Did he only do it to win the King's favor and use it on us?

It seems too ridiculously magnanimous to be possible.

But then Wolf meets my gaze and winks at me.

Oh God. He did it for me. He could have asked the King for anything. Perhaps even ask him for access to the strongholds so maybe he can find his mother.

But instead, he asks for this.

"I see," the King says. "Is that what you truly want?"

"Yes," Wolf says.

"And the rest of your team agrees?"

Brute has a sour look on his face, and the other teammate seems unsure, but he says nothing when Wolf looks at him.

"It's what we want," Caster confirms straightening.

The King's jaw works and his smile is completely gone. He looks sore, being cheated out of his vengeance.

But then he flicks his hand. "Leave. All of you."

I don't wait to be asked twice. I bow and start out of the room. I glance back once and find Caster turning around, with his father not meeting his gaze once.

And despite everything, I have to feel some pity for him at this moment. Because underneath it all, Caster is just a boy who craves to be loved by his father.

My vision of the Prince is suddenly blocked by Wolf who murmurs down to me.

“Let’s go home.”

Back at home, I still wonder what to do with the information I just learned about the Ravens. I need to find out more, but I don't know how.

I sit at the dining room table rubbing my chin and then feel something warm pressed against my forehead.

I start and glance up to find Wolf holding another mug of tea out to me.

"Thank you," I tell him as I take it.

He nods wordlessly.

"And thank you for saving me back then. I truly appreciate it, Wolf. The rest of the team appreciates it too." We'd all walked out there in shock and by the time we recovered enough to thank Wolf he was gone, only to reappear after I got home.

I wonder if he disappeared simply to avoid their gratitude.

Wolf shrugs and looks uncomfortable. I want to keep raining praises on him but I don't think he'll enjoy it very much and it would only be to soothe myself.

"How about I make an apple tart today?"

Wolf smiles finally, so boyishly that it melts my heart. I follow up by asking, "Any news about your mother?"

His smile disappears as he shakes his head. I feel guilty. I was so sure that she would be moved soon. Was I wrong? Or did Tyne outsmart me once again?

Hopefully, she's still alive.

She has to be. Please, whatever deity is controlling this power of mine, please let her be alive.

I don't get a response, but I think I hear a dark chuckle.

Suddenly Wolf reacts with alarm and snarls at the door right as it bursts open.

I jump to my feet too, spinning around to find a dozen handcannons pointed at us.

In between them stands the Raven Lord, his typically affable eyes cold and deadly.

“Adria,” he says. “It seems time that we speak honestly.”