“I’m sorry,” Adriel began, but I clucked my tongue to Titania, who immediately broke into a canter toward the barn.

At the workshop, I changed into a pair of thicker riding breeches for the trip to Leesbrook. Foxglove sat on the wooden table where Adriel kept her herbs, licking his paws and watching me with one eye.

“What?” I demanded.

He blinked lazily in response.

Adriel knocked on my door a short while later, already dressed for the trip. “I’m sorry,” she said again, before I could speak. “You’re right. I should care about the bloodstones and Ceren’s plans. And I do. But I also live alone in the woods for a reason, Nor. The citizens of Galeth only like me insofar as I am useful to them. Beyond that, they think I’m strange, even frightening.”

“You’re frightening on purpose,” I said, only half joking.

That elicited a half smile. “Only because it’s easier to pretend that’s why they don’t like me.” She patted Fox on the head, running his tufted ears through her fingers. “I think you know what it’s like to be misunderstood, to feel out of place wherever you go.”

I lowered my gaze, already feeling the tears welling. She was right, of course. I had found plenty of places I didn’t belong, but not yet one where I did.

“I tried to live in Leesbrook with Ana,” she continued. “But it only took a few months before the whispered insults about ‘the witch’ started to take their toll. Ana was defensive on my behalf, but no one would visit my shop. Far easier to come to me out in the middle of nowhere, where no one will overhear if they ask for a cure for a personal problem or a way to prevent pregnancy.”

I raised my eyes. “They ask for those things?”

She nodded. “I don’t judge them, Nor. They are the ones who judge themselves.”

“Are you afraid you’ll see her?” I ventured after a few moments of silence. “Ana.”

Adriel started to head for the door. “I’m not afraid. I pray for it every time I go. And that’s the problem. She’s married, with a child. Those are things I’ll never have. Not because I don’t want them, but because no one wants them with a witch.”

It was my natural inclination to explain all the ways she was wrong, but I could tell that she would have a counterargument for anything I said. Besides, she knew her life. I was a stranger here. What could I possibly know that she didn’t?

Instead, I placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re right, Adriel. I do know what it’s like to be misunderstood, to feel like you don’t belong anywhere. And I don’t know how to make it better. But I do know one thing.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

I smiled. “You’re not alone.”

17

Zadie and Sami were already at the meetinghouse when we arrived, and I ran to my sister the moment I saw her. She practically glowed with health and happiness, and I felt an unfamiliar stab of jealousy toward Sami, knowing that her happiness had very little to do with me.

While the councilmembers assembled, Zadie led me to an alcove so we could talk. “How are you?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “I have so much to tell you. But first tell me how things are with you and Sami.”

She blushed and looked down at her hands, twisting a bit of the lace edge of her sleeve. “We’re good, Nor. I can’t tell you how good it feels to hold him, to know he’s safe.” Her smile faltered. “And then I feel guilty because I know the people we love are suffering.”

“Our parents are at New Castle,” I said. “All the Varenians are.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “What? How do you know?”

I hadn’t told Zadie about the visions and dreams yet, in part because I hadn’t understood them, but also because I hadn’t wanted to frighten her. “I’ll explain everything to you, I promise. But for now, I just need you to trust me.”

“Let’s get this meeting started, shall we?”

I turned at the sound of Yana’s voice.

“The prisoner is ready for us. He’s been tied down, so we should have no problem removing the stone.” She glanced at Roan. “I’d like to lead the interrogation.”

None of the other councilmembers protested, but Talin stepped forward. “With all due respect, Yana, I know far more about Ilara, New Castle, and my brother than anyone else. I believe I can get the most useful information out of him the fastest.”

“And with all due respect, Talin, he is our prisoner, captured trying to cross our border.” Yana looked out over her fellow councilmembers. “Anyone opposed to me questioning the prisoner, say aye.”

“Aye,” Roan said immediately, earning a glare from Yana.

I studied the other members, several of whom moved uncomfortably in their seats, but they kept their hands down.

“Wouldn’t a vote be fairer?” I blurted.

“What do you think this is?” Yana said, turning her blistering glare on me.

It was hard not to be cowed by her, but I remembered what Roan had said, that Yana would only respect me if I spoke my mind. I stuck out my chin stubbornly. “Perhaps if it was a blind vote, people may be more inclined to show their real preference.”

All of the councilmembers turned to stare at me as if I’d grown a second head. But I knew I was right. That was how things were done in Varenia when the elders held a vote. They wrote their decisions down on a piece of parchment and placed it in a box. Governor Kristos gathered the votes and read the decision when they were finished.

“That was the way we did it before,” Roan said.

Before what? Several of the councilmembers were nodding their agreement. Yana’s face was pale beneath her freckles.

“Very well,” she ground out. “We’ll do it by secret ballot.”

I exhaled in relief. I had been prepared for a fight, but Yana only studied me coolly.

After the votes were tallied, they came back five in favor of Yana, five in favor of Talin. Yana wasn’t allowed to vote since she clearly had a vested interest.

“Who has the deciding vote?” I whispered to Roan.

“Generally, it falls to the eldest member. His vote counts twice.”

I glanced at Hoff, who was one of the few people who didn’t seem intimidated by Yana. He rose from his chair. “I voted in favor of Talin,” he proclaimed.

Yana’s expression remained flat, but I could see that the nod of agreement she gave didn’t come easily.