He couldn’t leave until he’d explained. “I’m so sorry, Runt. I did everything I could—”

“You could have used a snap. But you never do. You save them for everyone except me.”

Bastiaan pulled off his glove and extended his hand for Runt’s inspection. Ever so gently, he snapped his fingers in front of Runt’s face. Nothing happened and his vain hopes plummeted. “My Talent is gone.”

“What?” Runt asked, aghast.

“King Mattias has a Bane and he used it to silence my Talent. That’s why I couldn’t save you.”

Runt stared at the marred Talent Mark and grief twisted his face. He’d never hidden his admiration for Bastiaan’s Talent. It belonged to Runt almost as much as it did to Bastiaan. Runt helped keep Bastiaan grounded after his times in the Stillness. He kept records and studied the Talent and asked questions to better assist Bastiaan whenever he did use it. He’d entered the Stillness with Bastiaan several times, trusting he would start time again and return Runt to regular life.

“I really wanted one.” Runt turned tortured eyes to Bastiaan. “A Talent. More than anything. I wanted to be like you.”

Bastiaan shook his head, the haunted feeling in his chest growing. “And yet I would be a much better man if I were more like you, Runt.”

Runt frowned, as though waiting for Bastiaan to laugh off his statement as a joke. But Bastiaan didn’t laugh. He held Runt’s gaze until the boy’s confusion turned to wonder. “You aren’t . . . ashamed of me?”

“How could I be?”

“I . . . cheated. I took a Bane instead.”

Bastiaan sighed. He knew the hollow feeling of choosing his own way instead of the right way. The aftermath was always a cold torment. “I’ve cheated too, Runt, in many ways in my life. But you can always return to the right path. It will never turn you away.”

“Can this be undone?” Runt fingered the edge of his bandage.

Bastiaan had spent his life studying the Well of Talents, not Banes or curses. But he knew enough. There were a few records in history of people accepting both Bane and Talent. Each record he’d found or read resulted in an internal battle between the two until one won out.

It wasn’t pretty.

But it was hope.

Not only was Runt a danger to others, but his own life and loyalty were compromised. King Mattias need only command Runt to tell him everything he knew about Bastiaan, and Runt would be forced to comply.

Perhaps that was why they’d let Runt go.

“I read long ago of one thing that might help. It’s no guarantee. A lot will fall upon your strength of will.”

“I’ll do it. Anything.” The desperation on Runt’s face was enough to convince Bastiaan to try.