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reported stolen.”

  “How can it be stolen if it’s right here, where it belongs?”

  The man looked confused. One of the guards behind him, a slightly younger looking man who was attempting to grow a beard that didn’t really suit him, laughed and clapped him over the shoulder. “She’s got you there.”

  Aprestine smiled genially. “So, can we be on our way?”

  The Kingsguard opened his mouth, and then closed it again. “But you did steal it.”

  “And then I brought it back. Hardly a crime is it?” Aprestine said. The man behind him still looked faintly amused, so she chanced her luck, addressing him directly, “And what are three men of the Kingsguard doing in Deniz? A little far from Ezeth, aren’t you?”

  His friendly demeanour quickly faded into one of irritation. “We’re…picking up supplies.”

  “Fallon.” The man in charge said in a low, warning tone.

  Aprestine, fed up with their buffoon of a leader, brushed him aside so that she could stand directly in front of the man, Fallon, who seemed more interested in talking to her.

  “Doesn’t the king have messengers who can do that sort of thing for him? Why would he need soldiers?”

  “It’s not for the king. It’s for Princess Edrea.” Fallon replied. His eyes widened as though he hadn’t really meant to tell her but couldn’t help himself.

  She heard his senior emit a breath of anger as he reprimanded the man again, “Fallon.”

  Aprestine ignored the warning. “Why is Edrea issuing you orders? Where’s the king?”

  “You’re awfully nosy, you are.” Fallon’s superior said.

  Aprestine turned to glare at him, before returning her gaze back to Fallon. “Please. I might be able to help you.”

  Fallon looked her up and down, before glancing at his commander. “Face it, Johnston. They’ll all find out sooner or later.”

  Johnston looked defeated, shrugging and turning his head so that he was looking out at the sea, as though that would make him somehow not a part of this. Fallon placed a hand on Aprestine’s arm and led her away from the group. Katherine tried to trail along with them until a sharp glare from Aprestine sent her scurrying back to the soldiers.

  “The king’s been taken ill.” Fallon said. “Edrea has taken control of the city, which means we’ve essentially become her errands boys, picking up all these magical items she gets imported from overseas…”

  “What kind of magical items?” Aprestine said.

  Fallon shrugged. “No idea. We’re not exactly allowed to open the packages, are we?”

  Aprestine looked at him through lowered lashes, placing a hand lightly on his upper arm. “What if I looked instead?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Aprestine took a step backwards. People didn’t often say no to her, and she didn’t like it one bit. Fallon was looking at her with a raised eyebrow, as though he knew he’d annoyed her, and that only served to make her even more infuriated. It was unusual for someone to be able to read her so well.

  Changing the subject, Aprestine asked, “Will King Annar recover?”

  Fallon paused. “What do you know of Edrea?”

  “I’ve heard the stories. Cruel. Greedy. Power hungry.”

  After another beat, Fallon leant forward and murmured, quietly so the other guards wouldn’t hear, “I’m not convinced the king’s illness is entirely natural.”

  “You’re accusing his own daughter of hurting him?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  A silence stretched out between them, as Aprestine thought about her next move. She needed Annar alive in order to get to the jewel. She couldn’t let Edrea kill him. And perhaps Edrea herself could be saved; Aprestine knew what it was like to be so consumed with magic that you lost your sense of self. Maybe she could help. Teach Edrea a better way.

  Aprestine raised her head, “I’m going to Ezeth. I’m going to find a way to save them both.” She didn’t add that she would be saving herself in the process.

  “And how do you intend to do that?” Fallon said. He moved closer, so close she could smell fresh soap on his skin, and she had an overwhelming urge to tell him everything. She blinked, not sure where this desire had come from, and immediately took two steps away from him.

  “It’s best you don’t know. In fact, it’s best you don’t remember me at all.” She said. She hadn’t used all her magic on killing Tony, and with what she had taken from the second lantern, she had enough left to get herself to Ezeth, and she had enough to do this. She waved a hand over Fallon’s face and his eyes went blank. A moment later he shook his head, staring at her in confusion.

  Fallon frowned. “Do I know you?”

  “No.” Aprestine said. “I was just asking you the time, but you said you didn’t have it. I’ll be on my way.”

  She swept past him just he muttered, confused, “But it’s six o clock in the morning.”

  She smiled. Deciding to do the town of Deniz one last favour before leaving, she tossed back, over her shoulder, “By the way? You should restrict all access to that island. You might find the disappearances around here stop altogether if you do.”

  She slipped into the night before he could reply, thinking she’d lost him and hoping she’d done enough to help the townspeople with their dragon problem, when she felt something tug on her dress. Wheeling around, expecting to see Fallon again, she frowned at the sight of Katherine standing before her.

  “Yes?”

  “Where are you going?” Katherine said. “You can’t just leave me.”

  “Why not?” Aprestine was genuinely confused. “What would I do with you?”

  “I don’t know.” Katherine said. “I was training to be a ladies maid, before I got taken. I could be your maid.”

  “I don’t need a maid.” Aprestine said, attempting to sound gentle but fearing she was coming across as rather blunt. She just couldn’t help it. She was amazed this girl had been related to Marcus; he at least had owned a few brain cells.

  Katherine’s lip was trembling again, and Aprestine whipped out a handkerchief to help stem the flow of tears.

  “But the Porters won’t take me back now.” Katherine said. “They’ll say they don’t know where I’ve been. I’m ruined.”

  “Oh. Yes, I can see that might be a problem.” Aprestine said. “But you can’t come with me to Ezeth. It’s too dangerous.”

  She looked around, hoping for inspiration. She supposed she owed it to Marcus’s memory to at least help the girl find suitable employment before she ended up on the streets.

  “Please?” Katherine said.

  Aprestine sighed. She knew what she had to do, and she didn’t like it one bit. “Why don’t you take me to the Porters? I’ll speak to them. I’m sure we can come to some arrangement.”

  It would mean more magic. Persuasion spells were not easy at the best of times, and this was magic she could ill afford to give up. But what else was she supposed to do? Katherine’s face was widening into a teary smile that almost made Aprestine feel a sliver of affection for her.

  Aprestine pushed that thought to the side as Katherine led her down the streets of Deniz. At least doing this would get rid of the girl, permanently. Then she would be on her own to do what she needed to do.

  Ezeth. The Jewel. Her magic.

  She only hoped the king lasted long enough for her to convince him to do what she needed him to. If not…

  Well, if not, she was going to have to find the next best thing. She would have to find the girl. The one that hadn’t been seen in years.

  Ela.  

  And that was going to be a problem in itself.

  Did you like this book?

  Read more of Aprestine’s story in the full length novel, The Black Jewel, available now in print and ebook form from all good retailers.

  The Black Jewel

  A city in ruin.

  A forest filled with secrets.


  One girl with the power to change it all.

  Trapped in a mundane existence in the heart of a deadly forest, Ela often imagined what life must be like away from the trees. A world without rules and restrictions, with the freedom to do anything. She’d be safe from the ever-lurking threat of the Bowen Elders, the men who seemed so determined to hurt her best friend, Caden. And then Caden found the map. A map that would lead them straight into the city of Ezeth.

  Ela thought all her problems would be solved if she could just make her way into the city, but the outside world is nothing like she imagined. It’s filled with hidden dangers, dark magic, and secrets. Secrets about her past. And if she can't uncover the truth before it’s too late, her past could lead to the downfall of the once-great city, especially if she can’t find a way to stop the dark power rising inside the castle before it’s too late.

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