Page 192 of The Witch Queen
“I’m sorry.” Sindony is the first to speak. “But do any of you actuallybelievethis?”
The witches exchange wary glances, evidently sharing Sindony’s skepticism. Even I have to admit that Blodwyn’s story is a lot to absorb.
“What reason do I have to lie?” Blodwyn throws back. “And how else do you explain why I survived?”
“Ayleth gave you the antidote,” Sindony answers with a shrug.“Maybe it worked. And the poison probably caused whatever bizarre hallucination you experienced.”
“It wasn’t a hallucination,” Blodwyn insists.
Sindony rolls her eyes. “So a mortal princess who lived a thousand years ago just randomlybecamea witch? An Ancient? Even if that were possible—which it isn’t—if Millicent decided to pop through the Veil for a visit, don’t you think she’d choose one of us?”
“There isn’t a Veil anymore,” Blodwyn replies, clipped. “And perhaps Millicent didn’t bother with you because she knew you wouldn’t listen. Or she just didn’t like you. I can’t imagine why that might be.”
Roland grunts, as if to second her opinion. Sindony glares at both of them.
“There’s a simple way to prove this,” she says, crossing her arms. “If Millicent gifted you her power, then let’s see it.”
The princess blinks at her. “What?”
“You heard me, little witch,” she says in her grating, superior tone. “I want to see a demonstration of your alleged abilities.”
She tilts her head at Blodwyn, expectant.
“I…don’t know how,” the princess admits.
“ThatI believe,” Sindony says wryly.
Blodwyn deflates, the same way I did during my lessons with Mother. Every time I proved myself inadequate and disappointing.
“That’s enough,” I warn Sindony. “Leave her alone.”
Sindony arches an eyebrow. “Why should I? Unless…don’t tell me thatyouthink any of this nonsense is true.”
Blodwyn fixes me with a hard stare. I want to side with her, I do. But how can I? The idea of a mortal transforming into a witch is surreal enough, but anAncientgifting Blodwyn her power? Does magic even work like that?
“I don’t know what to believe,” I admit at last. Sindony smirks and Blodwyn fumes. “But I don’t think you’re lying.”
“You don’t think I’m telling the truth, either,” Blodwyn retorts.
“Who would?” Sindony asks. “A word of advice, Princess: If you’re going to concoct a story about an Ancient, you should have picked abetter one. Everyone knows Millicent was useless. The whole line is tainted.”
That is the last straw. Anger surges through my veins and I lunge for Sindony. Jacquetta catches me around the waist, holding me back, but I fight against her. I may not have my power, but I can wrap my hands around Sindony’s neck and—
“Stop!” Blodwyn slams her hands on the table. “This is precisely what Millicent was talking about. The arguing and infighting. It’s what destroyed everything in the first place.”
Shame scalds the ridges of my ears. Even Sindony appears chastised, but not by much.
“She’s not wrong,” I relent. “And, while I don’t understand everything about Blodwyn’s story, some of it makes sense. The realmisdying. We’ve witnessed that for ourselves.”
“Aye,” Roland agrees. “Mines are only getting worse.”
And not just those. I think of the forest with bleeding trees. The lakes stained crimson.
“And whose fault is that?” Sindony drawls, gesturing in my direction. “Ifsomeonehadn’t released Malum on the realm, we wouldn’t be here.”
“And if someoneelse—” I start.
“Millicent said it isn’t all because of Malum,” Blodwyn interrupts. “The real problem in Riven is the imbalance of power. She said that Malum and magic are two halves of a whole. That they need to be reunited.”
