I stepped around Velora and kneeled by Kash, placing my hand on his trembling back. Kash lifted his head, his golden eyes filled with pain and remorse. “I’m so sorry, Rhea. I didn’t mean to. I tried to hold him back, but he wanted you. He took you there. I couldn’t do anything about it. If he would have killed you, I don’t know what I would have done.” Kash groaned, covering his face with his palms, his grief evident.
“You did your best. You protected me during the goblin attack.”
Kash’s face drained of color, and he shook his head. “I don’t remember a goblin attack. That wasn’t me.” Kash backed away. “I need to go away again. It’s not safe for me to be near you even now. I think it’s using my feelings for you against me.”
“Stop it,” I snapped. “I survived. Just be thankful that the blade had another target—the goblins . . . which seemed to be a common enemy. I wonder why?”
“No one likes goblins.” Velora wrinkled her nose.
“I need to find my brothers.” Kash stumbled to his feet and headed out of the tent, but was intercepted by Damon and Spencer.
“Relax.” Damon grabbed Kash’s shoulder and pushed him toward an empty chair. “We’re here, we’ve got it handled.”
“I don’t understand.” Kash leaned forward, his hand on his knees. “Why now? Why is the king extending the curfew? Why let us have a night to roam free in public? We haven’t been allowed this much freedom in years.”
“It’s a test,” Spencer said, his keen eyes watching the tent flap. “I overheard him when he didn’t know I was aware. He wants to see how loyal we are to him, and what our relationship with Rhea is. It seems we are not to return to the palace at all tonight.”
“What?” Damon roared, and Spencer motioned for him to lower his voice. “What is he thinking?”
“He’s up to something. And until we know what, we should still stand guard over Rhea,” Spencer answered.
I raised my hand. “I don’t need a guard. I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, I suspect as much,” Spencer grinned. “But as blades, we were under orders to guard you. I have a feeling the king is waiting to see if that order-under compulsion-flows through to the night. I think he’s been wanting to test it for a while.”
“Ah, I see,” I said. It made sense. Everything about the last twenty-four hours had been strange.
“The king is still expecting a mountain of gold, Velora.” Spencer pointed to the mermaid. “He’s set up a special tent with the spinning wheel and stocked with bales and bales of straw.”
“Straw?” I pressed my hands to my temples. “What am I going to do now that I don’t have reels of yarn?”
Spencer shrugged. “We’ll figure it out together. We’ll find a way in which we can still help Velora produce gold. We’ve got until sunrise,” Spencer said.
“Not all of that time. We’re required to make a few appearances.” Damon held up a scroll, and he looked uncomfortable.
“Appearances?” Kash seemed confused as well. “We don’t do appearances. We are never allowed in the public eye. Haven’t been for years.”
“Well, why do I have this, then?” Damon handed Kash a schedule, and sure enough, on it was a timetable of the evening events. Dancing, fireworks, and announcing the winner of the reindeer races, which would cross the finish line in the middle of the night. Each of their names was written next to an event.
“We should check with Freya.” Spencer got up and headed out of the tent. “Kash, are you coming?”
Damon handed Kash his cloak that had fallen to the floor. Kash immediately grabbed it and placed it around my shoulders.
“It’s fine. I’ll warm up by the fire.” I stood to move by the bronze brazier, while I tried to think of what in the world we could do to produce gold.
“I failed to protect you once. I won’t fail a second time,” Kash said.
“I’m not sure why everyone always assumes I need protecting.” I gazed into the embers in the brazier to see Sol lazing about on his back like a dog waiting for a belly scratch. I had somehow gained a new pet, or a familiar.
“It’s just that you’re so . . .” Damon started, holding his hand about the height of my head, but Kash shot him an ugly glare.
“Don’t say it,” Kash warned.
“Small,” Damon finished.
With a smirk, I flicked my hand at the flames and the room erupted in a flash of light. A joyful glee came from within the brazier as Sol seemed ready to fight again.
Damon backed away and swatted the edge of his cloak that had caught fire. “I stand corrected.”
“Never underestimate short women,” Kash said. “Dangerous things come in small packages.” I elbowed him in the side and his face lit up. “And books,” Kash added. “Don’t let her anywhere near books. Women and books can be hazardous for your health.”
Damon’s face scrunched up into a look of utter confusion as he tried to piece together Kash’s warning. I was laughing hard. Kash grabbed Damon’s shoulder and dragged his brother out of the tent.
When we had the space to ourselves, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Velora. She had gone to sit on the other side of the tent and pulled a blanket over her as if to sleep. She caught my eye and answered my unasked question.
“I’m tired. I slept very little last night, and I’ve been dragged all over this stupid festival. I will sleep here until Marco comes.”
“You still have to spin another tent full of gold.”
“No, I won’t. Marco will arrive.”
I sighed and brushed my hand over my dress, and it was almost dry. I stayed by the brazier, rotating slowly as I pondered the dream. Why was I seeing Ter Dell? Was that the key?
Velora sighed and rolled over. She dragged her hand across her eyes to block out the light, a gold bangle dangled from her wrist.
“Velora, where did you get that bracelet?” I asked.
“From the funny little man,” she sighed. “He gave one to everyone.”
Did she mean Molneer?
“Take it off,” I commanded.
“No,” she huffed, sitting up to glare at me. “It’s mine.”
“Velora, I think the bracelet is cursed.” I crossed the tent and reached for her wrist. She hissed, her teeth became pointed, and her fingernails had become deadly claws again. Then she swiped at me.
“This isn’t like you! I think the bracelet is doing something to you.”
She hissed again, eyes dilating into slits, and I knew better than to take on an irritated mermaid.
“Fine, but Marco won’t come if you’re wearing the bracelet,” I lied. “He will think you fancy someone else.”
Her dilated eyes rounded out. Her face took on a serenity that I’m sure lured hundreds of sailors to their deaths. The jewelry went flying across the tent and hit the canvas wall.
I kneeled by the bracelet. I could tell that it was from the cursed gold without even touching it. My gifts were becoming stronger, or I was developing a sensitivity to the ores of this kingdom.
Pulling out a kerchief, I wrapped the bangle in it and tucked it into the slit in my dress and placed it next to my enchanted thread. I needed to find Molneer. I had many questions.