“I’m not accustomed to entertaining nonsense. But I must admit—you fascinate me. Even Princess Seraphel finds you interesting. She was asking about you, but she couldn’t be allowed in here if you were actually sick. Which I still doubt. Why do you fear heroism so much, Miss Cara?”

“I don’t…”

Cara hesitated. Another lie Seraphel would have seen through. And Grishen didn’t need a Skill or magic to do the same.

“You’re afraid of the very power you have. It’s a song, girl. It doesn’t create food or bring the dead to life. It’s just a song. What’s so hard about singing it?”

Her voice was kinder for a moment. Cara looked at her, flushed, helpless. She felt like a girl again.

“I…that’s the point. I don’t want it to be that easy. A song? A song? If I could—make people healthier just by singing—that’s not fair.”

She waited for the old woman to slap her, but all she saw amid the flickering shadows was a grin of white teeth. Duchess Grishen replied slowly.

“Unfair? Unfair is fighting an army of the dead who feel no pain and claim each one of your friends. We need every Skill and level the world gives us, girl. You were blessed with a power that we need. Not everyone is so fortunate. Many live their lives out without being much of anything. Why is being exceptional so problematic?”

“Because…I don’t want it. I don’t want people to have that kind of power. To make an army of the undead. For one person to change everything.”

“Like a [King].”

The old woman’s eyes glinted. Cara hesitated and said nothing. Grishen sighed.

“This is the heart of the matter, isn’t it? Out with it. What happened?”

She waited. Cara shut her lips. But the words forced themselves out.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

The [Duchess]’ incredulous face made the young [Actress] laugh. She looked at Grishen.

“Exactly. Nothing. I’ve never had a champion. No one has ever helped me do anything. My parents are…decent people. They did what they could. I’ve had great friends. Mentors. The woman who taught me how to shine on stage was the best person I knew. And they were only people. They can’t move mountains. They can’t perform miracles. Not even if you beg.”

“And did you beg your lord of the land? No…someone else?”

Cara turned her head away. It was a silly thing. Oh, very silly. She went still as she remembered.

“I asked. I was just a girl who…bad things happened to. I wanted someone to save me. To help me. And no one did. It’s not a special story in my world. There are no miracles.”

Grishen was silent. She eyed Cara up and down and then slowly rose.

“Well, if you feel that way, doubtless there never will be, girl. But the fact remains. You might not like it, but you have the ability to change how tomorrow fares. Put plainly—we could die but for your objection to being the person who was needed. The person you never got.”