The earth rocks beneath us all, nearly swallowing the other Order vehicles whole. There is only one left, and it could fall into the ground at any moment, blocking our escape. “Larkin!” Erebus calls over his shoulder, but the other Merlin is struggling to keep his footing carrying the Kane boy in his arms in the direction of the house and away from the Order cars. Beside him, the healer has lifted the Onceborn girl and is hurrying her to safety as well.

“Leave them!” Cestra calls. “Get us out of here!”

Erebus curses and speeds the three of us to the vehicle, tossing an angry Cestra in the front seat. Immediately, she produces a thin black brick and brings it to her ear. “Aldrich, we’re on our way—”

I cannot hear the rest because Erebus rushes Briana around to the back, buckling her into a seat. Before I can protest, his palm presses hot against Briana’s forehead, sending sleep rushing into her body. In one slow blink he is in the front seat, bringing the vehicle to life with the touch of a finger. Then, her eyes close, and we are speeding away.

57

THE MOMENT BRIANA’S body recovers from the Seneschal’s mesmer, I awake—and am assaulted on all sides by the sensations of living.

My—her—stomach swims with nausea. Her head is filled with down. Her mouth and lips, both dry as summer straw. All is made worse by the uneven travel over a rough road. These cars’ heavy metal bodies move swiftly over the land, but cannot they carry us with more ease?

I did not enjoy vomiting in my own body. I will not enjoy it in Briana’s, of that I am sure. I swallow the bile in her throat and gather my thoughts.

The Seneschal moved too quickly for me to use Briana’s ability to resist his power. I won’t let that happen again.

The sky outside of the car shows a late-afternoon sun. We have been on the road for most of the day.

“Are you taking me to the Table?” I ask in Briana’s raspy voice. I should demand water.

In the front seat, the woman Regent twists back to smirk. “Our intel says they are gathered at the Northern Chapter’s Keep, holding a vote about how to proceed against us, the Regents, now that some… whispers have spread about our treatment of the Crown Scion and her allies. We shall see if your presence is enough to gather the Legendborn to sense.”

“I have seen these children through Briana’s eyes,” I say. “Unlike you, they are loyal to the mission.”

Cestra’s eyes, stony and unfeeling, find mine in the mirror. “We shall see.”

Unlike the secluded Southern Chapter’s Lodge, the Northern Chapter’s Keep is a gray-bricked castle set high on a hill.