The Well must have been dry since Myrthe’s curse. Since before Mattias was king—which made so much sense. Mattias must have made the pilgrimage to the Well and found it dry. That was why he turned to the Nightwell—to Coralythe—for power.

The moon passed out of view, tucking itself behind the cliffs. Moonrise had arrived, but he felt no change in his Talent Mark— Oh.

Pain burst across his hand at the very memory of Hedy’s brutality. His Talent Mark was gone. He lay bare. Empty yet at peace.

The Well was in Myrthe.

And the Well protected its own. Take care of her.

Bastiaan exhaled and closed his eyes, lying like a bull’s-eye in the center of a target. Trapped in the very place that first gave him freedom. Yet about to be fully free for the first time.

Chapter 51
Myrthe

Bastiaan! Bastiaan! Bastiaan!

My mind shouted his name in an endless echo as I returned to consciousness. My ribs burned, pressed against someone’s shoulder with my hands tied behind me. My teeth ground against a gag in my mouth as I remembered what had happened.

The Well was dry. Bastiaan left for dead. I’d been useless. I had, however, given Sven a bloody nose. That was something at least.

The world spun in grey skies and brittle winter earth. I squirmed against the arm holding me and was promptly deposited on the ground. Knives stabbed through my heels and shins. My knees buckled, but Hedy yanked me up by my hair.

“Finally. Sven, she’s awake.” To me she said, “Stand up and be quiet.”

A pointless command since I was gagged. I struggled to my feet. Still bare—no boots or skates to protect them. They didn’t cooperate, and I teetered against the mixture of numbness and pain. They didn’t even resemble feet. Riddled with black frostbite and peeling flaps of ripped skin. Blood smeared every inch and welts rose like poison bubbles. I didn’t know what was fire oak burn, sand scorch, or scorpion sting. My feet were nothing more than stubs of flesh.

I didn’t look at them again.

How much time had passed? Bastiaan. Bastiaan. The moon had moved. Several bell tolls. Staring at the sky sent my head throbbing and vision spinning. I focused on the ground again, taking deep breaths against a swell of nausea.

Bastiaan had knocked me out. To save me. To stop me from saving him.

He could be dead because of his rash actions! I tried to catch Hedy’s eye as she dug through her pack. Is Bastiaan still alive? I’d beg if I had to. But Hedy wouldn’t engage. Neither would Sven. Kees wasn’t with us. When had he left? And to where?