The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

that you will not have the time to fall in love before you
must make your choice.” Concern broke through the grief.
She was worried about this—gravely so.
I felt like my heart was beating too fast. “How long do I
have?”
“Days, maybe. A little over a week, if you’re lucky.”
“If I’m lucky?” I laughed, and it sounded as dry as
bones. Casteel had insinuated that we didn’t have long. But
days?
“News of your arrival and who you are has already
reached the capital. The Elders know. There are questions
and concerns. I’m sure some doubt your heritage, but after
yesterday—after what you did for that little girl—that will
change,” she told me, and I tensed. Her eyes narrowed. “Do
you regret what you did? Because of what it confirms?”
“Gods, no,” I asserted. “I will never regret using my gifts
to help someone. The Ascended wouldn’t allow me to use
them, giving me excuses, but I now know why they didn’t
want me to use my abilities. What I could do revealed too
much. I hated it—hated being unable to help someone when
I could.”
“But did you? Did you find ways to help people without
being caught?”
I nodded. “I did. If I could find a way, I helped people—
eased their pain. Most never knew what was happening.”
Approval drifted through her, reminding me of buttery
cakes, and a quick smile appeared. “We cannot leave the
people of Atlantia hanging in limbo for too long.”
“In other words, the plans to enter Solis with your
armies will happen in a few days?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Unless…”
Unless Casteel and I stopped it.
Good gods.
“I know you got to see a little of Atlantia yesterday, but
you didn’t meet nearly enough people. You don’t have long,
but you can leave today for Evaemon. You’d arrive tomorrow