of the Somna over the last centuries, but now and again it took hold of someone without warning. It caused a growing lethargy that soon led to the victim falling into a coma-like state. If the victim was lucky enough to have a Dravilec nearby, the healer could hold off death by healing the sleeping person from starvation and dehydration. If not, death was inevitable … unless one could find the rare leaves of the Somna plant, the only cure to the sleeping disease—a plant that was now said to be extinct.
I stared around the Chambers of the Rada at Jarvis, Ava, Matai, Wolfe, Valena, and Raj. Only we knew Haydyn was dying. It was the reason Phaedra was falling apart. Unbeknownst to her, her magic was waning with her illness.
I thought of my harsh words to Haydyn, the words that had been my last. I flinched and then gritted my teeth. They wouldn’t be my last. Haydyn was not dying. Not while I had breath in my body.
“Someone command me to seek the Somna plant,” I urged.
Wolfe’s eyes widened as everyone shifted, as if waking out of a coma themselves. “Of course,” he whispered, and they all seemed to admonish themselves for not having thought of it before. “Rogan—”
“Not you,” I interrupted. I wouldn’t be ordered to seek anything from another Stovia again. He threw me a wounded look I refused to believe wasn’t a manipulation. Ignoring him, I turned to Jarvis. “Vojvoda.”
He nodded militantly. “Rogan, I command you to seek the Somna plant.”
Waves crashed within and I shuddered at the immense current of energy coursing through me. I’d never experienced the magic like this before, my nerves buzzing and twanging, my muscles twitching. Even my gums ached with it.
As the knowledge of the plant’s existence formed in my mind, I realized why the impact was so great this time. The Somna plant was buried in the northernmost point of Phaedra.
I had never had to seek anything so far from me before.
“It exists.” I exhaled in relief, my heart in my throat, tears pricking my eyes.
“Where?” Matai croaked.
I braced myself. What a journey lay ahead of me. “The Pool of Phaedra.”
Ava gasped. “In the mountains of Alvernia?”
“Is there any other?” I answered.
Jarvis eyed me worriedly. “You are willing to retrieve it, aren’t you? Our kingdom is at stake.”
Curling my lip in scorn, I replied coldly, “Of course, I will retrieve it. Not for our kingdom but for my princezna.” Nothing else mattered but saving Haydyn. Saving the kingdom was just a consequence of succeeding in my mission.
“We’ll send word ahead to Vojvoda Andrei Rada that I and members of the Royal Guard are coming to visit his province. Let him and everyone else think Haydyn has sent me to divine whether a possible betrothal between her and the markiz will suit her and the kingdom. Everyone knows Haydyn defers to my opinion, so no one will question it. In reality, I will spend only a day or so at Arrana and head into the mountains to retrieve the plant.”
I barely took a moment to breathe before continuing, “At home, you will spread the tale that Haydyn has decided she would like some peace from palace life. She’s staying in her cottage at Land’s End.” I took a moment to think who would be most trustworthy to accompany her. “She’ll need a chaperone, for appearance’s sake, so we’ll send Seamstress Rowan with Matai, Raj, and Valena. Rowan can be trusted.” I stared them all down. “No one must know the truth but us and Rowan.”
They stared as if they’d never seen me before. Jarvis gave me what might pass for a proud look as he nodded. “It’s an excellent plan, Rogan.”
“How long will it take you to retrieve the plant?” Valena asked, her fingers worrying the handkerchief in her hand. She hadn’t stopped crying since she’d helped Raj uncover Haydyn’s illness.
I looked to Wolfe. He was the only one who knew the provinces well. He cocked his head to the side, considering it. “Without interruption? With the Royal Guard—”
I shook my head. “Not all of them.”
“My lady, more and more criminal acts are being recorded. I will not take the Handmaiden of Phaedra across our land without an army.”
“Stop calling me the Handmaiden of Phaedra.”
“Just being respectful.”
“I’d believe that if not for the mocking tone in your voice.” I huffed as I realized how childish I was being in light of the circumstances. “Fine. Twenty men.”
“A hundred.”
A hundred men! Talk