That, and Daddy’s ring stuffed in my pocket.
“Perhaps a smaller force, then? I shall choose only a few of the best—”
“No.”
“I cannot convince you to reconsider?”
“Afraid not.”
He sighed, sounding resigned to letting me do things my way. “You’ll find the pixie king impossible to deal with. He does not understand outsiders. He is intolerant and will take any measure to keep his kingdom secluded, including executing outsiders. If you do manage to convince him to let you cross into his lands, he’ll have you followed. You will never be alone. If you take one step out of line, his bowmen will not hesitate to put an arrow through your heart. I do not understand how you intend to retrieve one of their most sacred talismans.”
“You sound as if you’ve dealt with him once or twice, yet I see that you’re still alive.”
“Only because I was not alone.”
This brought back memories of something Heidel had said when we’d first met—something about Kull and the pixie king’s daughter. “Your sister saved you?”
“Yes, though you must never tell her that I admitted it to you.”
Heidel would love to hear this. I had to tell her.
“Olive, do you swear it?”
“Do I have to?”
“Of course you do!”
I crossed my arms. “Fine, I swear it. But only if you swear not to send a squadron of warriors after me. Heaven knows I get into enough trouble by myself.”
He looked at me as if I’d caught him red-handed.
“Swear it, Kull.”
“I will not.”
“You will. Or Heidel finds out about the truth.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You are blackmailing me?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“And what if you should die in the pixie kingdom? Have you considered the possibility?”
“Of course I have.”
“You answer too quickly, which leads me to believe that you have not. You must think about the consequences first. How would your father feel if he lost you?”
“My father?”
“Or anyone else?”
“Oh, Kull. Are you saying you’d miss me? That’s so sweet. Shall I tell Heidel about this, too?”
He crossed his arms. “I feel you are becoming more bothersome than she is. And you’ve also become an expert at dodging my questions.”
“I have not.”
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow. The patter of nobbinfly wings returned. I guess they thought it was safe. Poor them.
“I’m honest with you. I’m probably too honest sometimes.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”
“Yes.”
“If so, then tell me what happened in Earth Kingdom.”
Uh-oh.
“I already have. We found the dinosaur. You decided you’d rather help me than try to retrieve it. We came back.”
“That is not what I’m referring to.”
My cheeks reddened. I hoped it was too dark for him to notice. “Nothing happened,” I mumbled.
He eyed me. I knew he didn’t believe me. “Nothing at all?”
“That’s right. Nothing at all.” I glanced at him to gauge his reaction. He looked at me through suspicious eyes.
“You are lying, Olive.”
“How would you know?”
“You’ve acted differently since we returned. You are more guarded around me. More distrusting. Did I do something to offend you?”
I didn’t want to have this conversation right now. I didn’t want to have it ever. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want you to come stalking after me anymore. I don’t want to see you anymore, actually. I think you are a nice guy, and a very excellent warrior, and you’ll make Euralysia a blissfully contented bride, but I don’t need your protection. I don’t need you. I’m sorry it has to turn out like this. But in the end, it’s the only way it can turn out.”
He stayed silent, his eyes fixed on the water. I wanted to know what he was thinking, but also didn’t want to know. “Very well,” he finally said.
My heart didn’t break as bad as I’d expected it to as I watched him walk away. In truth, it was already broken. In a way, this was a good thing, because I had the chance to move on, and now, so did he. I could forget him and focus on more important things—like saving my godson’s life. He could focus on his marriage.
I lay down on the bench, wishing this night would just end already. A headache throbbed behind my eyes. I swore to forget Kull. Yet, when I finally drifted off to sleep, I heard quiet footsteps.
Through half-opened eyes, I watched him sit beneath a tree and lean against the trunk. He stayed until morning.
Chapter 34
I sat inside the light carriage, my head nodding as I tried to stay awake. Morning hadn’t come fast enough. My dreams haunted me. When I’d finally woken to a park full of brightly dressed children, I limped away, no longer in the mood for dancing. They’d stared at me as if I were some sort of goblin with my greasy hair, limp, and dark circles under my eyes.
I’d smiled at them, but I think I only succeeded in scaring them more.
At first, I’d decided against the light-rails, remembering what had happened last time. But I wouldn’t find a faster way to the pixie kingdom, and time was something that was never in my favor. I decided to risk it.
A quiet hum filled the carriage. The white-and-gold seat cushions made me feel as if I sat inside a limo instead of an economy carriage.
My night on the park bench had taken all my energy. I knew it was a bad idea to sleep, but I couldn’t seem to shake it off. I rationalized that I would need the rest and let my eyes close.
When I awoke, I peered through the windows to discover I’d traded mountains for flatland. I was passing through the grasslands. Tall stalks of green grass stretched as far as I could see. I was closer to my destination, though I still had a few hours yet.
The coach sped
