“So, in fact, your codes and rules cannot tell you how to judge this unusual circumstance.”
A vein beat a rapid tempo in Master Dallr’s neck. “The code clearly prohibits the masters from interfering in the trials they judge.”
“But there is no specific prohibition against a student interfering?” Prince Eiko said, his green eyes sparkling with triumph.
“Well… no.”
Prince Eiko made a gesture that clearly said, There you have it.
“It sounds to me as if an exception has occurred,” the queen said into the confused silence.
Kai’s lips tickled my ear as he bent to whisper, “You see?” He was referring to his claim that he was the exception to all rules. My heart was pounding too fast to appreciate levity.
“You must be silent, too, young prince,” Queen Nalani said to Kai.
He nodded in reply.
“The masters have always had the right to make this decision,” Master Dallr argued hotly. “In this, we have always had autonomy.”
He folded his hands and waited, as if he knew he’d just made the winning move.
The queen regarded him silently for several long seconds. Then she inclined her head. “You are quite correct, Master Dallr. It is not a sovereign’s place to interfere in this judgment.”
It was clear where this was going.
I broke my promise of silence, frustrated with the way my fists trembled at my sides. “I might have made it safely without Kai’s help. No one can prove that I wouldn’t have! Let me take the trial again and I won’t argue, whatever the result.”
“Be silent,” the queen said coldly. “Prince Kai, she is clearly ill. Please take her back to her bedroom.”
I looked at Prince Eiko, my whole body trembling, but he merely stared back with sympathy in his eyes. I didn’t need sympathy, I needed a champion. A miracle. I turned to Master Dallr, even though I knew trying to convince him would do no good. His black chain with the key hung outside his robes, winking at me temptingly.
It didn’t take much effort to lose my balance. I merely unlocked my knees and gave into the vertigo that was already making my head spin. As I fell, I made sure to dislodge Kai’s hand from my back with a flailing elbow as I lurched headfirst toward Master Dallr. He had no choice but to catch me, which he did at the last second, just when I was convinced I would crack my head on the hard floor. He grunted as he lifted me into his arms. I grabbed his chain in a convulsive movement, then forced the rest of my body to go limp.
“Take her to her room,” the queen said urgently. “I will send the healer.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said, and strode from the room, the heat of frustration coming off him in waves.
As Master Dallr carried me down the tower steps, the jostling motion gave me the perfect cover to slide my hand along the chain to where a link held the key. With tight fingers, I melted the link, and the key came away in my hand.
When we reached my room, Kai opened the door and hovered as Master Dallr deposited me on the bed. I groaned and rolled over, sliding the key under my pillow. When Master Dallr noticed the loss, I hoped he wouldn’t immediately know it was me who’d taken it.
A minute later, the master left as the healer came in and held pungent herbs under my nose. I feigned waking groggily, answered all his questions, and assured him and Kai that I just needed rest. When the door shut, I breathed a sigh of relief… only to have reality strike harder than a punch, burying me in layer after layer of regret.
If only I had controlled my reactions the way I was supposed to, the bridge wouldn’t have caught fire and I would have made it back without any trouble. I still thought there was a chance I could have made the leap to safety without Kai’s help—I had thrown myself forward, and even if I’d slid, there were rocks and branches I might have grabbed to stop my descent—but there was no way of knowing for sure. The masters had ruled that I’d failed, and the queen had agreed not to interfere. Which meant it was over.
I would never be a Fireblood master. I would never be able to match the gifts of Brother Thistle or Master Dallr. I would never be able to prove my worth to the queen. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I’d wanted that validation, how much I’d longed for the respect that would come with it. Most of all, I’d wanted to prove it to myself.
I wasn’t strong enough to be a master and, for all I knew, that weakness could mean my defeat once I had to face the Minax. As much as my failure sickened me, there was nothing I could do to change that.
There was only one way to salvage some hope. I had to steal the book.
FIFTEEN
I KEPT THE KEY UNDER MY PILLOW until nightfall, when I’d have the best chance of stealing into the library undetected. After a few hours of rest, I was well enough to dress in dark clothing and slip through the corridors.
As I hid in the midnight shadows near the servants’ entrance, waiting for the changing of the guard, an especially tall figure hurried toward the castle. It could only be Prince Eiko. Rumor had it he spent his evenings in the observatory, a tower mostly hidden by woods east of the castle.
He stopped, his chin rising, his head turning in my direction for a moment. I held my breath. Then he resumed his long-legged stride. I peered around the corner as the guards opened the creaking doors for him, making sure he disappeared into the castle. Two more guards arrived and the four began chatting. When their heads were turned away, I crept forward, taking a roundabout route and sticking to shadows as I picked my way through woods and over rocks and found the main road. From there, it was a straight route past the now familiar wharf.
The wharf wasn’t ready to sleep. A tavern facing the road had its door propped open, spilling light and laughter and the reek of sweat into the night air. Sailors guffawed and argued, their rough accents familiar from my time on the ship. I was about to move on, when I caught sight of a familiar broad, sun-lined face. Jaro sat at one of the tables, his cheeks red with drink, his easy smile flashing as his companion spoke and gestured with his hands.
Jaro looked up, and for a second I thought he might have seen me, but then he took another slow sip. I moved on.
A minute later, I heard the clump of approaching footsteps. I spun around, my hands automatically heated and ready to fight.
Jaro chuckled and showed his palms. “I surrender.”
I dropped my arms. “I didn’t think you’d seen me.”
“A good sailor is aware of any passing breeze.” His grin was wide. “Even one from the north.”
I just hoped he wouldn’t ask me why I was passing by so late at night. “How is Aver?”
“Angry. I enrolled her in the school. She would prefer to be at sea with me. But I have a peace offering. I built her a small vessel she can sail around the island.”
“On her own?”
“With a friend. As long as she watches the weather and tells me when she’s going out.”
“Am I considered a friend?”
“Of course, Ruby.” He stuffed his hands in his baggy pockets and rocked back on his heels. “You don’t even need to ask. If you want to sail, you can find me down at the seventh pier most days. Or here in the tavern at night.” His smile widened. “And it’s good to hear you speaking Sudesian. You learned quickly.”
“I had a good teacher.”
He made a dismissive gesture, but he looked pleased.
After we said our good-byes, I continued on until I reached the school. Sweat had beaded on my forehead, and my stomach roiled. The poison’s effects hadn’t left me entirely, but I ignored the discomfort. I needed to be back in the castle before dawn.
I crunched over the gravel drive and entered through the gate. No masters in sight. I crept through the school like a ghost, rolling each leather-clad foot from heel to toe.