“Yes, so let’s get the bonding done, shall we?” Veronique stepped up in front of Quilla and held up her hands. “Don’t worry. It’s easy and straight-forward, and only takes a moment.”

  Ulises extended an arm. “Yes, but there’s—”

  Veronique pushed his hand aside. “Shut up, Ulises. This is my time. Catalyst, give me your hands please.”

  Quilla raised her hands a little, but hesitated.

  “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt. Or, at least, it shouldn’t. I’ll admit, you being the Catalyst could have an effect on this, but it shouldn’t be bad. I’m kind of excited about it, myself.” Veronique smiled.

  There was something oddly comforting about her smile, so Quilla raised her hands and Veronique took them in her own.

  They stood there, staring into each other’s eyes, Veronique’s a deep, mesmerising blue. A few moments later, Veronique’s smile started to droop and her eyes fell. She let go of Quilla’s hands. “What the fuck?”

  “Is there a problem?” Quilla asked.

  Veronique rounded on Ulises. “She doesn’t have a tattoo. How the hell does she not have a tattoo?”

  Ulises raised his hands defensively. “I was trying to warn you of that.”

  “Are you telling me she’s not a Servant?” Veronique turned to Quilla again, leaning in close enough that Quilla could feel her breath on her face. “You’re not a Servant?”

  Quilla backed up a step, but held her head high. “No. Why would I be?”

  “You’re the Cat—” She threw her hands up and turned around. “Fuck!” She paced back and forth several times, while Jakka laughed his head off. She glared at him.

  “What’s the matter?” Jakka said, getting his laughter under control. “The great Veronique not getting the crowning achievement of her career?”

  “Fuck you, asshole,” Veronique said, then pressed herself close to Ulises, glaring up at him. “You should have told me.”

  “I tried.”

  “I mean before now. It should have been in your original communication.”

  Ulises stared down at her. “Honestly, I assumed you would already know, and if you didn’t, telling you would make you less likely to accept.”

  “I don’t like being played games with. You should have told me.”

  Ulises raised his hands and stepped back. “Then I apologise. Are you refusing the assignment?”

  Veronique glowered for a moment. “No, I’ll do it.” She turned to Quilla. “I’ll protect you, Catalyst—with my life, if necessary—but I strongly suggest you get a tattoo. I can even do it for you. I’m a pretty good tattooist if I say so myself.”

  Quilla crossed her arms and shook her head. “No.”

  With a scowl, Veronique wagged a finger in Quilla’s face. “Be it on your own head then. I’ll protect you, Catalyst, and in most situations, there won’t be a problem, because I am damned good at what I do, even without Night’s blessing. But know that there are forces in this world that, as a good as I am, I won’t stand a chance against. If we come up against them, I’ll give my life in your defence, but I will die, and you’ll be taken by them for whatever they have planned for you. So you better pray to your gods of light we don’t encounter them. Got it?”

  “Yeah, got it,” Quilla said.

  “Good.” Still scowling, Veronique went over and leaned against the wall by one of the wardrobes. “Let’s get everything else taken care of, shall we?”

  Ulises clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Lady Steranovist, perhaps you’d like to sit and be comfortable?”

  Quilla sighed. She wanted to be stubborn and refuse, but she’d probably start pacing if she did that, so she walked over to her bed and stared down at Jakka.

  “Your bed?” he said.

  She only continued to stare.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll move.” He jumped to his feet and crossed over to Annai’s bed where Annai still lay, mostly covered by Veronique’s heavy cloak.

  As Jakka sat down, Annai sat up, pushing the cloak aside.

  Jakka jumped back to his feet. “Your Highness! My apologies. I didn’t know you were there. You are clearly an expert at stealth.”

  Annai glared at him. “Are you mocking me?”

  Jakka gasped. “Never, your Highness. All right, I confess, I knew you were there, but I’m merely trying to jest, not mock. I apologise if it came off as mocking.” He bowed low to her. “I will make it up to you in any way I can. You need simply name it.”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Oh, well, fine then. I forgive you. You...you may sit at the end of the bed if you wish.”

  Jakka bowed again. “Thank you, your Highness.” He sat on the end of the bed.

  “Shall we get started then, your Highness?” Ulises said.

  Annai straightened her back. “Yes, of course, Ulises. Please proceed.”

  Quilla slowly sat as Ulises began.

  “Your Highness, my Lady, these are the people who will get you out of Arnor City, off the island, and to a safe location. As you know, Veronique will be Lady Steranovist’s personal bodyguard. Jakka here will be your guide. He also knows the right people to talk to in the towns and cities you’ll pass. And Tarm here is extra muscle. He will defend both of you as devotedly as Veronique.”

  “Surely it would be good to have a few more people,” Annai said, “if it’s as dangerous as you say it will be.”

  Ulises shook his head. “Too large a group will attract attention, your Highness, and we want to avoid that. Jakka and I have discussed it in great detail, and we agree the three of them provide your best odds of survival.”

  Jakka leaned towards Annai in a sort of seated bow. “Fear not, your Highness. Your safety is our utmost concern. You’ll reach your destination alive.”

  “And where are we going?” Quilla asked.

  “Collogia,” Ulises said.

  “Ugh,” Annai said. “Collogia is a horrid place. I had to go there once as a girl. Even the lord’s palace is a dump. And if you think Arnor City gets cold, you haven’t experienced anything. It is bitterly cold up there.”

  “Why Collogia?” Quilla asked. There was an advantage to going to Collogia. It wasn’t horribly far out of the way of Quorge. If, once they were on the mainland, she and Annai could get away from the Darkers, they could head directly to Quorge, maybe even get there before anyone caught up to them.

  “It was either Collogia or Lockanith,” Ulises said. “They are both strongholds of Darkers loyal to Mister Aderman, but Collogia is closer. It also doesn’t have a king-in-residence and, apologies your Highness, but it is best you stay away from your brother.”

  Annai scowled.

  “But Collogia is also the place where the next Dusk Supreme will be chosen,” Tarm said. “There’ll be Servants from the other factions showing up there as well. It’s pretty risky taking the Catalyst that close to them.”

  “Wait,” Quilla said. “You didn’t even tell them where we were going?”

  “Jakka and I only finalised our choice this morning,” Ulises said. “There wasn’t time to tell Tarm, and Veronique came straight here on her arrival. To address your concerns, Tarm, the Dusk Supreme—may he live and reign forever—is not dead yet. Anyone planning for his replacement is engaged in heresy.”

  Tarm rolled his eyes. “Oh come on. Everyone’s planning for his death. We here all support Dyle Aderman for next Dusk Supreme. We wouldn’t be here otherwise. You want us to protect the Catalyst. Very good. I’m happy to do that, which is why I have concerns. Our people will be there, sure, but so will the people we need to protect her from. So why take her right into it?”

  “Because Jakka showed me something yesterday that I didn’t know before.” Ulises turned to Jakka, who bounced to his feet.

  With a bow to Annai, Jakka said, “Your Highness, my Lady, I don’t know how much you know of the prophecies concerning the Catalyst.”

  “I’m aware I’m the Catalyst and that’s something important,” Quilla said.

  Jakka nodded. “Oh, very important, my Lady. A lesser known part of the prophecies says that the Catalyst will be present for the choice of the next Dusk Supreme. I’m not sure even Mister Aderman knows of this part.”

  “Then how do you know?” Quilla asked.

  Jakka smiled, then bowed.

  Quilla stared at him for a moment. “No answer?”

  Ulises cleared his throat. “Jakka has shown me the relevant passage. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  “That’s just ridiculous,” Annai said. “Jakka, you said you would do anything to make it up to me for mocking me, so now’s the time. Tell me how you know this.”

  Jakka placed a hand on his chest, and lowered his head sadly. “Your Highness, I said I would do anything in my power. Alas, this is outside my power.”

  “Nonsense. I demand you tell me.”

  Jakka shook his head. “There are some oaths that I simply cannot break, your Highness, not even for one as noble as you.” He bowed and sat back down.

  “Fine, we’ll go to Collogia,” Annai said, “but surely what you’ve said means we should have more people for our protection.”

  “Once you reach Collogia,” Ulises said, “there will be many more there to protect you. You needn’t worry.”

  Annai groaned. “Fine.”

  “I still think it’s a bad idea,” Tarm said.

  “Your objections are noted, Tarm,” Ulises said, “but the decision is made. You have your job. You will perform it.”

  “Oh, I’ll perform it,” Tarm grumbled. “Like Vern said earlier, I’ll give my life to keep the Catalyst safe, but you’re stacking the deck against us, making it more likely I do die protecting. And when we’re all dead, she’s fucked.”

  Ulises glared at him for a few moments. “Finished?”

  Tarm nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m finished.”

  “Good. You, Jakka, and I have some work to do gathering provisions for your journey. You leave first thing tomorrow morning. Jakka?”

  Jakka bounded to his feat again, and gave a flourishing bow to Annai. “Your Highness, my heart aches to leave you even temporarily, but I will return in the morning. In the meantime, I leave you in Veronique’s capable hands.” He backed away while still bowing, and nearly bumped into Tarm.

  Tarm rolled his eyes and followed Ulises out the door. Jakka took a little longer backing through the door, still in his bow. Once he was out the door, he straightened up and walked away.

  Quilla got up and closed and locked the door. Gods, she hated all this bullshit. All this secrecy and refusal to answer questions with straight-forward answers. She had a mind to, once they were out of Arnor City, smash Jakka’s head into a rock a few times until he told her what the fuck was going on. Alas, she probably didn’t have the strength to do that. Maybe she could convince Veronique to do it. Veronique didn’t seem to like Jakka much either.

  “I still think he’s mocking me,” Annai said.

  Veronique barked a laugh. “You think?”

  Annai sneered at her.

  At least Annai was learning.

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