The noise from the meeting room reached me first. Shouting. Screaming. Bastiaan slowed and we eased into view. The woodsfolk and militairen fought among themselves with both their powers and their voices. It appeared that half had chosen their Talents and the other half were still subject to their Banes. The Talented were trying to get the Baned to stop long enough to see reason.

No one listened to each other.

Anouk still sat chained in the corner, head hanging even lower than before. How long had she been in that position? Hours? A day?

My eyes burned with furious tears. Everyone had just left her like that! I sucked back the emotions before I remembered I didn’t have to anymore. I could let the tears fall and they’d be nothing more than tears. Empathy. Sorrow or joy.

I rushed into the fray.

“Myrthe!” Bastiaan leaped after me.

I pushed through the bodies, ducked outstretched arms, and knocked over one person wielding a Bane against a Talented. When I reached Anouk’s side, I yanked at the chains in the wall, but they held firm.

Anouk lifted her head and I dropped to my knees. “I’m here. I’m here, Anouk.”

“Where’s a blasted sword?” Bastiaan cursed from somewhere behind me.

“Some Talented guy clapped his hands and got rid of all the weapons,” Runt shouted. “I’ll be right back!”

“No, wait!” Bastiaan hollered.

“Kees was the Talented,” I explained.

“Myrthe . . .” My name was a rasp out of Anouk’s throat. “You’re crying.”

I pulled at the chains again to no avail. “I’m no longer the Wishtress. I served my purpose. I’m free of my curse.” For the first time the joy at my freedom dampened. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I can’t help you find Cairden.”

Anouk shook her head. “I have a new way to find him.”

“You do?”

“It will take time, but . . . my Talent.”

I finally noticed the Talent Mark. It was the largest one I’d seen—a thin circlet of white silver around Anouk’s brow, blinking from behind her greasy hair strands. Like a secret crown. “What is it?”

“I can see people’s stories.” Anouk coughed and her voice grew stronger. “Through touch, I can see someone’s whole life. I haven’t used the Talent yet, but . . . the Well explained it to me. In my mind. I know I’ll find him. This is the key.”

I laughed. “Of course it is.” I wasn’t surprised one bit that the Well would give Anouk a Talent to help her find her missing son. Or that she’d choose her Talent over a Bane. Anouk had the purest heart of anyone I knew. If anyone could protect and enter into other people’s stories with kindness, understanding, and grace, it was Anouk.

“Here!” Runt burst back into the room holding a cupped leaf. “Move, Myrthe.”