Inesa hated the smell of the city. The sweet scent of rotting garbage mixed with the odor of so many unwashed bodies as the crowd pressed in around her. Inesa clapped a hand over her nose and mouth to cover her gagging. Some thought farm animals stank, but that was nothing compared to this. She’d no idea why someone would choose to live in such a place. Did you grow used to it after a time? She didn’t think she’d ever be able to adjust.

  But thankfully, she didn’t need to because this was just a quick visit. Once it was over, they’d returned to their farm, where she’d be able to draw breath again without wanting to retch.

  When Papa glanced back at her to make sure she was still following, Inesa dropped her hand and forced a smile. The key was not to breathe through her nose.

  “Won’t be long now,” Papa promised.

  Inesa only hoped the palace wasn’t as fragrant.

  They’d been summoned to an audience with King Berenger, and he’d specifically requested that she attend. Papa had reassured her that the king wasn’t going to harm her, but Inesa had seen the worry lines around his eyes. She knew her place in Himera was precarious at best, and it wouldn’t be the first time the king had forced her father into doing something for him in order to secure her protection. What had happened with Sterling and her brother had been the worst incident so far, and she didn’t doubt it would keep happening.

  All because she could move things with her mind.

  A large man with a sack of grain thrown over his shoulder jostled Inesa, causing her satchel to bang painfully against her leg.

  “Watch where you’re going,” he grumbled.

  “I’m sorry,” Inesa said even though he’d been the one at fault.

  He grumbled something at her and continued pushing through the crowd. She watched him go, bumping into others along the way.

  Not only did the people here smell terrible, but they were also rude. Inesa adjusted her satchel.

  In between the personal items she’d brought for her visit to Daralis, she’d slipped in Sterling’s book. She knew it was a terrible idea to bring it, but she couldn’t bear to leave it behind. What if something happened to it while she was away? What if their house burned down, and the book along with it? Or maybe the king sent men to search their house, and they took it? Neither of these things was likely to happen, but then Inesa would have said the existence of other worlds was unlikely before she’d read the book.

  Since that first day she’d discovered it, Inesa had read the book many more times. Each time, she became more convinced that the stories were real. She was fascinated to learn about another world where magic was practiced freely. It was the sort of place where she could perhaps be herself and not have to worry about people like King Berenger, who feared what she could do.

  She desperately wanted it to be real.

  Of course, there were also darker stories contained within the book’s pages, tales of twisted magic, evil creatures, and bloody wars. Those things weren’t described in great detail, but Inesa could tell they’d been horrific, and not unlike the things that had happened in her own world’s history.

  No place was perfect, she had to remember, but that didn’t stop her from dreaming.

  “Come along, Inesa. We have to get this over with,” Jeb said, over his shoulder.

  She’d stopped walking without realizing it, one hand pressed to her satchel as the foot traffic flowed around her.

  “Coming,” she said, tearing her hand away from the bag and hurrying to catch up with her father.

  Ahead of them, the sandstone monstrosity of a palace loomed. A steady line of people wandered in and out of the front entrance. Papa had told her this was where petitioners came to be heard by the king. Most left empty-handed.

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  They ascended the steps and followed the others inside, where they were ushered into a large waiting area.

  Papa took her hand and weaved a path to the front of the crowd where an attendant waited next to the door.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but you’re going to have to wait like everyone else.”

  “This is a letter from the king requesting my presence,” Papa said, holding out the paper summons they’d received. It had been brought by a single rider who stayed only long enough to hand it over before racing back up the road to the city as though something chased him.

  Inesa remembered the way her father’s hands had trembled as he’d read the paper.

  The attendant peered at it but didn’t bother taking it from him.

  “Fine, fine,” the man sniffed. “I will let the king know you are here. Now please go, wait over there with the rest of them.” He shooed them away but made no move to leave to speak with the king.

  “I think we’re going to be here a while,” Inesa said softly to her father.

  “I’m afraid you’re right, but there’s nothing to do for it. Complaining will only have us waiting longer.”

  It felt like ages passed before their names were called. Inesa’s legs and feet ached from standing on the cold marble, and her shoulder was sore from where the satchel strap had dug in, but she didn’t let any of that show as she marched to the door with Papa.

  The attendant showed them into the room and then left without a word.

  Inesa had heard all about the damage Sterling had done to King Berenger’s famous golden throne room, but looking at it now, she never would have known anything had happened.

  The king sat at the far end of the room, surrounded by guards. As they got closer to his throne, he raised a hand.

  “Stop. Come no closer. You,” he gestured to the nearest guard, “inspect their bags.”

  Inesa clutched her satchel. If they saw the book, they would take it away and do who knows what to her. She hadn’t thought about the king wanting to look through their things, but of course, he would. He didn’t trust anyone, especially after what had happened with Sterling.

  “Hand it over,” the guard said.

  Papa had a pleading look in his eyes, begging her not to make trouble. It was too late for that, though. She should have listened to him when he had told her to burn it.

  Inesa lifted the bag from her shoulder and held it out to the guard. He snatched it from her hand and proceeded to dump out its contents on the floor.

  She winced as the book landed with a thump, pages splayed open against the ground.

  The guard’s eyes scanned over it lazily. “Nothing here,” he reported.

  Inesa’s shoulder sagged. Maybe the man couldn’t read, or maybe his eyesight was bad. Either way, by some stroke of luck, he’d decided the book wasn’t threatening.

  The guard resumed his post, leaving her things scattered around when the king spoke, “Bring me the book.”

  Inesa tensed. No. No, no, no. She’d been so close to getting away with it.

  The guard stooped and scooped up the book, presenting it to the king.

  “What is a farm girl doing with a book?” King Berenger asked without looking at it. “You could never afford something like this, so where did you get it? Did you steal it?”

  Inesa didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t tell him the truth, but what sort of lie would he believe?

  “It was a gift,” Papa spoke for her.

  “I wasn’t asking you. I was asking the girl.”

  “Yes, it was a gift,” she blurted.

  The king leafed through the pages, his face growing darker the longer he looked.

  Inesa braced herself for an explosion of rage. This was going to be it. This stupid book was going to be what cost her life and probably Papa’s too.

  “I don’t appreciate being lied to,” the king said, shutting the book with a snap. “Where did you really get this?”

  “From Sterling,” Inesa answered, staring at her feet.

  “Who is this Sterling?”

  Inesa looked to her father, but he offered her no hint as to what she should say. She decided to go with the truth. “She was the girl who was taken from our farm by your men.”

  The king’s eyes narrowed. “Was this before or after she escaped my prison?”

  Inesa’s head snapped up. “She escaped?”

  “Yes, she and her brother did something to my men, who let them walk out. We’ve been searching for them ever since. It is the reason I called you here. I thought perhaps we could make a deal.”

  So, she’d been right. He was going to make Papa do something for him again in exchange for her safety.

  “We don’t know where they are,” her father said. “We didn’t help them.”

  King Berenger waved his words away. “You mean you didn’t help them this time.”

  Her father shrank under the king’s gaze.

  “No matter. That is not what I wanted. I want you,” he pointed at Inesa, “to find this place. They said they were from another world. The same world conveniently found in this book you had.”

  “Me?” Inesa squeaked.

  “Is that not what I said?”

  “But I don’t know how.”

  “Then figure it out.” He tossed the book at her feet. “You have your little magic, so I’m sure you can find some way in. As an incentive, I’ll keep your father here with me in Daralis while you work, but be quick about it. I’m not a patient man.”

  The king snapped his fingers, and his guards stepped forward. Inesa tried to reach her father first, but they were faster.

  “Do not worry about me,” Papa said as they seized his arms and pulled him away. “Do as he says, Inesa.”

  “But Papa—”

  “Enough,” the king cut her off. “I don’t care for your whining. Get your things and get out. I expect a report in two weeks’ time, and it had better be good.”

  Inesa hurriedly grabbed her possessions off the floor and fled the golden room.