Chapter 9

her vow."

If her mother had broken a promise … if her mother had kept her from Maeve, it had

been for a damn good reason. A reason that tickled at the edges of Celaena's mind, a blur

of memory.

"But now you are here," Maeve said, seeming to come closer without moving. "And a

grown woman. My eyes across the sea have brought me such strange, horrible stories of

you. From your scars and steel, I wonder whether they are indeed true. Like the tale I

heard over a year ago, that an assassin with Ashryver eyes was spotted by the horned Lord

of the North in a wagon bound for—"

"Enough." Celaena glanced at Rowan, who was listening intently, as if this was the

first he was hearing of it. She didn't want him knowing about Endovier—didn't want that

pity. "I know my own history." She flashed Rowan a glare that told him to mind his own

business. He merely looked away, bored again. Typical immortal arrogance. Celaena faced

Maeve, tucking her hands into her pockets. "I'm an assassin, yes."

A snort from behind, but she didn't dare take her eyes off Maeve.

"And your other talents?" Maeve's nostrils flared—scenting. "What has become of

them?"

"Like everyone else on my continent, I haven't been able to access them."

Maeve's eyes twinkled, and Celaena knew—knew that Maeve could smell the half

truth. "You are not on your continent anymore," Maeve purred.

Run. Every instinct roared with the word. She had a feeling that the Eye of Elena would

have been no use, but she wished she had it anyway. Wished the dead queen were here, for

that matter. Rowan was still at the door—but if she was fast, if she outsmarted him …

A flash of memory blinded her, bright and uncontrollable, unleashed by the instinct

begging her to flee. Her mother had rarely let Fae into their home, even with her heritage.

A few trusted ones were allowed to live with them, but any Fae visitors had been closely

monitored, and for the duration of their stay, Celaena had been sequestered in the family's

private chambers. She'd always thought it was overprotective, but now … "Show me,"

Maeve whispered with a spider's smile. Run. Run.

She could still feel the burn of blue wildfire exploding out of her in that demon realm,

still see Chaol's face as she lost control of it. One wrong move, one wrong breath, and she

could have killed him and Fleetfoot.

The owl rustled its wings, the wood groaning beneath its talons, and the darkness in

Maeve's eyes spread, reaching. There was a faint pulse in the air, a throbbing against her

blood. A tapping, then a razor-sharp slicing against her mind—as if Maeve were trying to

cleave open her skull and peer inside. Pushing, testing, tasting—

Fighting to keep her breathing steady, Celaena positioned her hands within easy reach

of her blades as she pushed back against the claws in her mind. Maeve let out a low laugh,

and the pressure in her head ceased.

"Your mother hid you from me for years," Maeve said. "She and your father always had a remarkable talent for knowing when my eyes were searching for you. Such a rare

gift—the ability to summon and manipulate flame. So few exist who possess more than an

ember of it; fewer still who can master its wildness. And yet your mother wanted you to

stifle your power—though she knew that I only wanted you to submit to it."

Celaena's breath burned her throat. Another flicker of memory—of lessons not about

starting fires but putting them out.

Maeve went on, "Look at how well that turned out for them."

Celaena's blood froze. Every self-preserving instinct went right out of her head. "And

where were you ten years ago?" She spoke so low, from so deep in her shredded soul, that

the words were barely more than a growl.

Maeve angled her head slightly. "I do not take kindly to being lied to."

The snarl on Celaena's face faltered. Dropped right into her gut. Aid had never come

for Terrasen from the Fae. From Wendlyn. And it was all because … because …

"I do not have more time to spare you," Maeve said. "So let me be brief: my eyes have

told me that you have questions. Questions that no mortal has the right to ask—about the

keys."

Legend said Maeve could commune with the spirit world—had Elena, or Nehemia, told

her? Celaena opened her mouth, but Maeve held up a hand. "I will give you those

answers. You may come to me in Doranelle to receive them."

"Why not—"

A growl from Rowan at the interruption.

"Because they are answers that require time," Maeve said, then slowly added, as if she

savored every word, "and answers you have not yet earned."

"Tell me what I can do to earn them and I will do it." Fool. A damned fool's response.

"A dangerous thing to offer without hearing the price."

"You want me to show you my magic? I'll show it to you. But not here—not—"

"I have no interest in seeing you drop your magic at my feet like a sack of grain. I want

to see what you can do with it, Aelin Galathynius—which currently seems like not very

much at all." Celaena's stomach tightened at that cursed name. "I want to see what you

will become under the right circumstances."

"I don't—"

"I do not permit mortals or half-breeds into Doranelle. For a half-breed to enter my

realm, she must prove herself both gifted and worthy. Mistward, this fortress"—she waved

a hand to encompass the room—"is one of several proving grounds. And a place where

those who do not pass the test can spend their days."

Beneath the growing fear, a flicker of disgust went through her. Half-breed—Maeve

said it with such disdain. "And what manner of test might I expect before I am deemed

worthy?"