“I know,” said Rafe. “But there is information we need that can only be found there. We have to find a way to get in.”
“What kind of information are you looking for?”
Rafe leaned back in his chair. “That I cannot reveal.” He snuck a quick glance at me. “It is a personal matter.”
“I understand,” said Brandon. “But do you not think it is better to go back to the palace and let everyone know you have not been abducted? Maybe then your father will call off the hunt.”
Rafe shook his head. “Most of the council lords have been against Aurora from the beginning. And if the Blackwaters are back on the council, the most we can hope for is a trial.” He looked at me, and his eyes softened. “If we go back, Aurora will be put in the palace dungeons. I cannot vouch for her safety down there. I would not be allowed to see her. If she uses her powers against them, even to defend herself, things could get worse—they would condemn her immediately. The best course is to get her out of Eldoren. Once I get her to safety, I will go back and sort this out with the council and my father.”
“I don’t agree,” said Brandon. “If you don’t go back now, there is no telling what the Blackwaters could do.”
“I can’t leave Aurora to fend for herself, she’s not ready.”
“I will take her to Brandor and protect her with my life—you have my word, Rafael,” Brandon said, glancing at me. “You must return to the palace. Without you the Ravenswood dynasty will fall.”
“No.” Rafe shook his head. “Silverthorne will have to deal with the Blackwaters until I get back. I will see Aurora to safety myself.”
“Maybe we should go back, Rafe,” I said, finally interrupting. “We could explain everything to the king, and I can go to Elfi with my granduncle as originally planned.” I looked down at my hands. I didn’t want to be hunted like a criminal. Now I would be running from Morgana as well as the whole Eldorean Guard. What had I done? All I wanted was to get my mother back, and I had made things worse again. I may not always make the best decisions, but I do so with the best intentions.
Rafe leaned forward and put his hand over mine. “I don’t think that is the wisest course, Aurora. I didn’t want to alarm you earlier and neither did your granduncle, but . . .” He paused and looked at Kalen. “Kalen, tell her what you saw outside the palace.”
Kalen straightened. Hesitating a little, he turned to me. “I didn’t tell you this because my mother would hardly let me see you when you were recovering after your battle with Morgana and the Shadow Guard. And later your granduncle asked me to keep it to myself until you left for Elfi.”
My heartbeat quickened. “What is it, Kalen?”
“There is unrest in Eldoren among the people. After we brought you back from the battle with Morgana and the Shadow Guard, the people of Neris gathered outside the palace, protesting and urging the king to send you back to Illiador, to Morgana.”
“But why?” This was unbelievable! “I defeated the Shadow Guard. I thought everyone hated and feared them.”
“They did until you defeated them.” Kalen got up to pace in front of me. “But now it is you they fear. Anyone powerful enough to wipe out most of Morgana’s Shadow Guard is a terrible threat if they go dark.”
“But I’m not going dark,” I said, standing up. “I never will.”
Rafe held my hand and pulled me back down. “We know.” He clasped my hand between his and looked at me intently. “But they do not. You have to realize that the common people do not understand our magic.”
“But Vivienne said they were calling me Avalonia’s savior,” I insisted, trying to think back to my last conversation with my best friend.
“In elitist circles, yes,” said Brandon, “but only a few mage families think like that. Most have been taught to fear fae-mages, and for good reason.”
I remembered the stories the mastermage at the academy had told me about some of the fae-mages before me turning to dark magic because of the power it gave them. But I never thought they would think it of me.
“The Mage Guild and some of the nobility feel the king should make a deal with Morgana to hand you over to her in return for her not invading Eldoren,” said Rafe.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” I was disappointed he saw fit to keep secrets from me.
“I didn’t want to upset you,” said Rafe. “But now that you know everything, you can understand why it is better not to go back. We will go to Brandor and then south to Elfi to your grandmother, Izadora. I will send word to your granduncle as to where we are.”
“Shouldn’t we go straight to Elfi if they are hunting us?”
“It’s not possible to take that route,” Kalen answered. “The seas around Elfi are protected with powerful magic and ancient creatures that live in its depths. No ship can sail through those waters. The only way to enter Elfi is through Brandor and the Gandren Pass in the Wildflower Mountains.”
“Yes,” Rafe agreed. “Kalen is absolutely right. Your grandmother’s magic protects Elfi from the world. That is the only place you will be safe from Morgana while you learn to master your powers. As long as Izadora remains in Elfi, no army will ever enter the fae kingdom. Since we need to go through Brandor anyway, we will get the information we need from the Valasis Library on our way to Elfi.”
I nodded. Everything he said made sense. Rafe knew how important it was to me to get that information from Constantine Redgrave, otherwise I would have no hope of finding the Dark Dagger and releasing my mother. The new
