The Cursed Queen (The Impostor Queen #2)(70)
“I haven’t decided,” says Nisse. “But I think, in this case, I will follow the path my dear niece is always urging. We’ll be cautious.”
My eyebrows rise. “So you won’t invade?”
“Not immediately.” His green eyes are full of eagerness. “So—what do you say?”
“To what?”
“Will you come with us?” Nisse asks. “You could be our hidden weapon.”
“But you said you weren’t invading.”
“Not yet, but if you were to come with us, perhaps you could . . .” He waves his hand toward me. “We’ll be very close to the queen. She won’t expect magic to come from one of our own. If she is just being crowned, it is likely she is new and young and inexperienced.”
“You want me to assassinate her. With magic.”
He smiles. “It would clear the way for our warriors and save many lives. It would make them all indebted to you. No one would remember what happened in the fight circle.”
“And it would be your chance for vengeance,” says Jaspar. “Perhaps not on the queen who cursed you, but certainly on her heir.”
I turn toward the fire, thinking of my fantasies ever since that horrible day on the lake, of striding into the witch’s throne room and ramming fire down her white throat. Heat courses down my arms, a powerful rush of cursed magic. But the pain follows hard on its heels, raising new blisters that burst and weep. I cry out, tears starting in my eyes. “Something has gone wrong with me,” I say between gasping breaths. “The curse has turned against me. It’s killing me.”
“What?” Nisse asks in a hard voice. “I saw you in the fight circle. You had complete control of it.”
I shake my head. “I think it controlled me.”
“I don’t believe that,” says Jaspar. “Ansa, you knew what you were doing. The elements obeyed every wave of your fingers.”
“My head, then. It’s . . .”
Nisse’s fists clench. “Thyra hit her so hard that it damaged her ability to wield the magic.”
“I’m not blaming her,” I say, not even sure why I’m defending her, only that I cannot help fearing for her when I hear the blade of his voice. “I’m sorry. I know I’m disappointing you. If I had a little more time to recover . . .” I don’t want him to punish her for this. But also—if I don’t figure out how to control this magic inside me, I’ll never have a place within the tribe again.
Nisse lets out a long breath. “Of course. You must stay here and continue your recovery. We must get you strong so that you can be the fearsome force of vengeance we saw only a month ago!”
“I’m sorry,” I say again. “I know this was a good chance to go and assess their capabilities.”
“Oh, we’ll still go. This is too important, for many reasons other than the opportunity you presented.” He calls for the guards. “Bring her in!”
I turn toward the door as Thyra is led in. She looks pale and walks stiffly, though she is not shackled. I stare, wondering what has been done to her in the last two days. Though I despise her for lying to me, for not being who I always thought she was, I take no pleasure in the pained look on her face. “Thyra?”
Her gaze lingers on mine for a long moment before shifting to her uncle. “How nice to see you again, Uncle. Your warriors have faithfully—and frequently—offered me your greetings these past few days.”
Nisse smiles. “I’m so glad we were able to bring you back into our circle of protection, Thyra. You’re lucky we found you before you stumbled into a dangerous part of town.” He approaches her, and she tenses but refuses to backtrack as he nears. “And you’ll be seeing a great deal of me over the next few days, it seems.” He lets that sink in before adding, “We’re riding to Kupari. We leave immediately.”
Her eyes go wide as he instructs her guards to take her back to her chamber and help her pack for the journey. Nisse’s hand settles on my back. “See? Despite her betrayal and ongoing treachery, I respect your chieftain.” There is a question in his eyes, though, as if he is wondering whether she still has my allegiance.
“Is she your hostage?” I ask.
He chuckles. “What an unpleasant way of putting things. I am merely keeping my niece close, because I recognize her importance. Though I also recognize that she may present . . . a temptation.”
I swallow hard. “To me?”
He smiles. “To many.” He pats my back. “Now. You go rest. We’ll be back in a few days, and I want to see your progress.” The mirth in his eyes disappears, replaced by determination. “You could be our salvation, Ansa. The treasure of the Krigere. I hope you recognize how much you mean to us. Do not question your worth. And don’t let anyone else do it, either.”
He calls Sander and the others to escort me to my chamber, and once again I trudge away from his council room, my head packed so full of information and questions that I can’t think straight. Do not question your worth, he said. But right now—with Thyra being taken to Kupari, with Halina glaring at me as if I’m failing some important test, with the entire future of the Krigere depending on my ability to control and wield a cursed magic that I don’t understand and that might well kill me, against a people I once belonged to—I am questioning everything.