He trotted Sterk into camp and dismounted, then strode toward Sven, angling himself through the spaces of the crowd until he was close enough to catch Sven’s words.

“. . . lied to us! But we don’t need a wish to defeat these Trials. Plenty of people have done it before. I’ve done it before. We’ll gather together and draw lots to see who will battle the Trials. Once through them, we’ll drink from the Well of Talents and use our Talents to destroy the Trials once and for all!”

He said nothing about taking the water for himself. Did his followers even know about that part of the plan? Or were they too drunk on the promise of a Talent?

Kees and Hedy stood on either side of Sven like personal bodyguards. The effect was impressive.

“If you’re afraid,” Sven went on, “there’s no judgment. But if you’re willing to fight for your rights, for the freedom of Talents, and for the freedom of Winterune, your name will never be forgotten! We’ll draw lots in one bell.”

He turned to speak with Kees and the muttering began. Bastiaan wound his way through the crowd until he reached Sven, but several others were already waiting to speak with him. Hedy and Kees ran interference, taking questions and answering what they could.

Bastiaan shoved his way to the front despite protests.

A firm hand to his chest blocked his advance. Hedy. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”

He firmly removed her hand and continued toward Sven. She made a grab for his coat, but he’d already garnered Sven’s attention.

“I’ve seen Mattias’s army,” Bastiaan said. “We need to talk.”

That stopped Hedy. It also kept Sven’s focus on him. He waved away those who stood in line, and they begrudgingly gave him privacy.

“How long until they’re here?” Sven asked.

“They’re not coming here,” Bastiaan said. “At least not yet.” Hedy snorted, but Sven folded his arms and waited for more. “They’re at the Nightwell, not even a two-bell march from here.”

Sven showed very little reaction. Even Hedy and Kees didn’t gape at the revelation of the Nightwell’s location, but Hedy did pale. She had a Bane, after all, so she must have visited the Nightwell before.

“That’s good news for us,” Sven said. “They’ll leave us alone for a bit.”

“Don’t be daft, man! They’re digging a new canal from the Nightwell to connect it to the Vier. All of Fairhoven and the surrounding towns will be infected.”

“Why would King Mattias give people power?”

“Because he can control those with Banes. Don’t you get it?” Runt was proof.

Hedy turned panicked eyes to Sven.

“What do you suggest?” Sven sounded irritated—like this was Bastiaan’s fault. He wasn’t completely wrong. “It’s not like we have a wish we can use to stop him.”