Maia tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes burning into his. She felt his fear. It was syrupy and delicious. His mouth widened in shock, his pupils enlarging.
She flooded his heart with love and pity. Every hope, every longing, every desire in his heart she blew on like tender coals and ignited. His will shriveled before the heat of hers. And though Maia did not know the Hautlander tongue, the Myriad One did. It flowed from her lips with savage sweetness.
“Och denor, mien frenz. Vala Rostick. Vala Rostick.”
You saved my life, dear friend. Take me to Rostick.
Take me to Rostick.
As you have seen, there is a portion of my tome that has a binding sigil on it. I have bound this information so that it may not be spoken of or revealed before it is time. To do so early will thwart the Covenant of Muirwood. But there will be a sign to indicate when the binding sigil may be opened. If it is opened too early, the maston order will be destroyed and the world with it. Cruix Abbey will burn. This is the sign that the hetaera have returned. The Queen of Comoros will be poisoned. This is the sign that the Covenant may fail. Be watchful.
—Lia Demont, Aldermaston of Muirwood Abbey
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Poisoned
A firm pounding thudded on the attic room door. Maia’s temples throbbed with pain and the incessant noise made her ears and jaw ache. Her body felt swollen and shards of pain shot through her bowels. She tried to sit up on the bed, but fell weakly back down.
The door handle jiggled and Lady Shilton entered, her face flushed with fury. She had gray streaks through her hair, which had only increased in number in the eighteen months Maia had been living in her accursed manor. She had been beautiful once, but her beauty was distorted by the angry crinkles around her eyes, which she constantly attempted to smooth and hide with powders and ointments.
“Still abed,” Lady Shilton uttered with loathing. “You will not eat your meals here, Maia. We fought this battle before and I will not give quarter. You heard the bell ringing. Come downstairs at once!”
“I am ill,” Maia said miserably, gripping her stomach. “I do not want anything to eat.”
“This is just another one of your provocations,” the lady sneered. “You will come downstairs. Now!”
Maia shook her head. “Please. Just let me rest. I am unwell.”
“You were well enough last night. The bell rang. You will come!”
“No,” Maia said weakly, shaking her head. “I cannot.” Her stomach doubled with sharp cramps. All night, she had felt them coming on.
“And I say that you will!” Lady Shilton marched into the tiny attic room and seized hold of Maia’s arm. Her fingers dug deeply into the skin, her nails biting hard. Maia winced and struggled to pull away.
“Please, Lady Shilton!” Maia begged. “Not like this.”
“The problem with you is that you were spoiled too much as a child. You are obstinate, headstrong, and defiant. You defy your lord father and he is the King of Comoros!” Her voice rose shrilly. “You defy my daughter when she has done nothing but—”
“She does nothing without the intent of humiliating and torturing me,” Maia said angrily, fighting against the grip on her arm. “I have not seen my mother in over six years, madame. Have you even gone a day without seeing your daughter?”
It earned her a slap, a stinging one, but the pain was nothing compared to that of her ravaging insides.
“Let me go,” Maia moaned, jerking her arm, but Lady Shilton was strong enough to muscle her up from the bed.
“I say you will come and you will come! You will obey me, you rude, thoughtless child! Why should I endure this? You are proud and vindictive. Now come! If I must drag you screeching all the way down the steps, by Idumea’s hand, I will!”
Maia slumped to the floor, feeling nausea sweep over her. She hung her head, tears pricking her eyes, but she would not let them fall. She bottled up her hate and her rage, comforted by the knowledge that she could use the power of the kystrel to flay Lady Shilton’s emotions like a fishmonger with a blade. But she dared not. Owing to the violence of her emotions, she would not be able to maintain control if she attempted such a thing. And she knew what the cost of revealing herself might be.
“Please,” Maia begged, gripping Lady Shilton’s sleeve. “Please just let me rest.”
“Why must you be so obstinate?” Lady Shilton shouted.